VISAKHIANS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Extract from the Sunday Times, 24 October, 1999
Visakhians break new ground
Young Visakhians have launched into business management - not to challenge the opposite sex but to know and understand more in this exciting field. Calling their organization "The Visa Wise Company", these young lasses while yet in school, have thought it useful to be aware of the methods and systems that go to make a success in commercial enterprise.
The Visa Wise Company organized and conducted its first symposium recently at the Sagami International Hall in Dehiwala. Well-known businessman Patrick Amarasinghe has lent his leadership to this young enterprise supported by Mr. Premasiri Weliwita.
In its three months of operation, the Visa Wise Company achieved a net profit of over fifty thousand rupees by the purchase and sale of Elephant House ice cream as an experimental project.
The Board of Directors of the Visa Wise Company are: Upeka Caldera (President), Shivandani Liyanage (Secretary), Roshini Chandrasekera (Asst. Secretary), Shona Ranatunge (Director, Finance) Thavisha Alwis (Director Marketing), Ruvani Wijenayake (Director, Human Resources) and Theekshana Disanayake (Director - Production).
These officials automatically vacate their position as soon as they leave school and will be replaced by yet another senior group in the school, which means it is an on-going process, offering them a sound practical training in business. The symposium ended with an evening of music.
Extract from the Daily News, Junior Page, 7th October, 1999
VISAKHIAN SELECTED THE BEST PRESIDENT'S GUIDE - 1999
by Nedra Vittachi
The Annual General Council meeting of the Sri Lanka Guides Association was held at the Girl Guide Headquarters, Colombo with UNICEF rep. Colin Glennie as the chief guest. Nineteen girl guides were awarded the prestigious President's award which is the highest award a girl guide can receive. Kamilka Malwatte from the 11th Colombo Visakha Vidyalaya was selected as the Best President's Guide for 99 and also awarded the Mrs C. P. Jayawardena scholarship award after a lapse of 3 years. Kamilka and her mother Indira (nee Perera) go on record as the first mother-daughter combination to be given this award with Indira receiving it 27 years ago.
To be President's guide, a wide area of subjects have to be covered such as first-aid, child care, cooking, knots, map-reading, etc. It is remarkable that all this is done while the girls are preparing for the O'Level exams in December. Guiding helps to build character and leadership and above all to be useful citizens in society and the country. Guiding gives the required skills to face life in this tough world. Guiding is essential for girls because it gives you discipline and motivation and a sense of achievement. You learn that if you persevere and put you mind to it you can achieve anything and this gives you the right approach when you become an adult and have to be a mother, wife, social worker, or just a professional.
Also, guiding can be a lot of fun. You go on camping trips, make new friends, have campfires where you sing, act and dance, do social service and many more fun things. So go ahead and be a guide before you are too old.
Yours with affection,
Aunty Vitta
Article in the Sunday Times 1st August, 1999
Teen who stole the show
by Laila Nasry and Ruhanie Perera
Three public speaking titles in one weekend - that's talented Visakhian
Nilakshi Parndigamage's success story.
Full Story
Nilakshi raises youth problems in international forum
Excerpts from the article which appeared on Sunday Observer, 24th Jan 1999 supplement: Leisure
'MBE' from the Queen for former Visakhian
Voice of London by Lord Reggie
Lakshmi de Zoysa Head of Language Services in the Borough of Brent in Greater London and present president of the Past Pupils Association of Visakha (UK) who was made an MBE in the Queen's New Years Honours has brought honour and pride not only to her motherland - Sri Lanka - and to her alma mater Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, but to her compatriots in Britain as well.
Hers is a tale of triumph in the face of almost impossible odds, particularly when her duties involved the organising of teaching English in England though not to the English. There were bouquets from everyone I spoke to and Lakshmi, is probably the very first to be given an honour for services to developing English as an additional language in the England.
John Simpson the top man in education at Brent told Lord Reggie; "I have known Lakshmi for twelve years during which time she has made an outstanding contribution to the education of bi-lingual children in Brent. She has brought expertise from all over the world to this part of London and has established a very high reputation for herself both in this country and across the world."
She is the daughter of the late Proctor H. A. de Abrew JPUM and Mrs.Clarice de Abrew. Her early education was at Tissa Vidyalaya, Kalutara North - the first Buddhist School in Kalutara North founded by her father. Later she joined Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, from where she entered the University. She obtained the BA degree and subsequently the Diploma in Education specialising in teaching English as a second language.
In 1964 she won the Full-bright Award to Indiana University, USA, where she obtained an MA in Applied Linguistics.
She was also a lecturer in English and Linguistics at the Government Specialists Training College, Maharagama and was selected by the Education Department in Sri Lanka to be Director of the first language laboratory in the country. She also specialised training in Tokyo and USA and traveled to 12 centers of English Language Teaching - and set up the laboratory sited at Peradeniya Teachers' Training College.
Lakshmi also had a stint as a lecturer at the University of Texas in Houston and was also visiting lecturer at Vidyodaya University and Colombo University.
Having arrived in England at the time of a new influx of refugees from Uganda, she joined Brent Language Centre to teach English to these newcomers. Later she jointed ILEA Language Division and was the first Director from the ethnic minority group of this nationally recognised centre. When ILEA was disbanded she returned to Brent as Head of Brent Language Service in 1988.
Lakshmi's work involves bidding for funds for education of children who do not have English as a first language - from the Home Office, recruiting teachers, training them, placing them in schools, monitoring their work and reporting back to the Home Office on the efficient use of this money. She has a staff of 83 in 49 schools. She's also responsible for organising a number of training services relating to teachers and also a range of courses.
She is also the president of the Past Pupils Association of Visakha (UK).
Lakshmi told Lord Reggie that Brent is the most ethnically diverse education authority in Britain and nearly two thirds of the pupils speak English only as their second language - so the language service is very important. When Lord reggie mentioned that much praise had been poured on her by everyone Lord Reggie spoke to, and asked about the award - Lakshmi in her usual unassuming manner said; "The award is an honour to myself and my team of teachers who really work hard in all schools. I am just a link in the chain, and I could never have done my job so well without support from all areas. It all benefits those who are the most important part of the educational system - the children."
Jolly good show Lakshmi and congratulations from Lord Reggie and all our readers. We are all proud of you.
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