124th Commemoration Oration of late Dr. T.B. Jayah
Saturday, 4 January 2014 00:00
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Pix and text by Ashraff A. Samad
The 124th Commemoration Oration of the late Dr. T.B. Jayah by the Dr. T.B. Jayah foundation was held on 1 January at Colombo 10 Muslim Ladies Study Circle Auditorium.
Dr. T.B. Jayah Foundation President Ashraff Hussain presided at this event.
The keynote address was delivered by Chief incumbent Sri Naga Viharya Kotte Ven. Dr. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Rahitha Bogollagama also addressed this meeting.
Dr. Maduluwawe Sobhitha said Dr. Jayah was one of the great leaders who championed the cause of an independent Sri Lanka. “Dr. Jayah taught N.M. Perera, Philip Gunawardena and Robert Gunawardena at the Ananda College. Philip Gunawardena was a bright but difficult student. P.D.S. Kularatne who was Principal at that time decided to sack him. He told Dr. Jayah, who was then Philip’s teacher, ‘I’ll have to get rid of this boy,’ but Jayah had told the Principal, ‘Sir, give him one more chance. If he causes trouble one more time not only will he be expelled, I give you my word, I will give up teaching in this school and find another job.’
“So on that compassionate plea, the Principal gave another chance and of course we later know what a wonderful and brilliant contribution Philip Gunawardena made. So that was the calibre of person and great teacher Dr. Jayah was.”
