President's tribute to Fr. Joe: Best remembered as great builder

COLOMBO: Rev. Fr. Joe Wickremesingha, Archdeacon of the Diocese of Colombo, is best remembered as the great builder, both in buildings and character of St. Peter's College, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

President made the above comment in a condolence message sent by him over the demise of Rev. Fr. Joe Wickremesingha.

The President's message:

I am deeply saddened by the passing away of Rev. Fr. Joe Wickremesingha, Archdeacon of the Diocese of Colombo at the time of his death, better known as an educationist as Rector of St. Peter's College, Colombo.

Ordained a priest in 1960, he served the parishes of Kotahena and Kelaniya before his appointment as Rector of St. Aloysius' Seminary.

He was later the Vice Rector of St. Joseph's College, Colombo. 'before his appointment to St. Peter's College, where he served for over 25 years. He took over the office of Rector of St. Peter's at a time when the college administration was in need of urgent reform. His tenure of over 25 years at St. Peter's College, the larger part of it as Rector, saw a major improvement of the college.

Fr. Wickremesingha is best remembered as the great builder - both in buildings and character. He somehow raised funds to construct much needed facilities for the College, which included the expansion of classroom facilities, the building of a special Computer Education Centre, a swimming pool, and a new nursery school. Together with expanding the physical facilities of the College he also saw St. Peter's show marked improvement in education, discipline and sports.

He was one who laid much importance on a proper balance between academic studies and sports and recreation. He also initiated a pension scheme for the teachers of the college.

Apart from his achievements in the field of education, he also proved his ability in journalism as Editor of the "Gnanartha Pradeepaya one of the oldest Sinhalese weeklies in the country.

The evening before his demise Fr. Wickremesingha, was the Chief Guest at the "Honours Night" of the Old Boys Union of the College, where 60 former Peterites who had achieved positions of eminence in the clergy, the armed services and police, public administration, the professions, in academia and entrepreneurs in the private sector, received their Certificates of Honour from him. The majority of them had received their education at St. Peter's when he was a teacher or Rector at the College.

I extend my sympathies at the passing away of this eminent priest and educationist to the Archbishop and members of the Catholic Clergy of Sri Lanka, to members of the Old Boys' Union of St. Peter's College to all old Peterites who came under his tutelage and also the present students and tutorial staff of St. Peter's as well as, the people of Pamunugama where he was born with whom he had a very close relationship throughout his life.