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St Sebastians OBA to fete Sampanthan

The Old Boys' Association of St. Sebastians' College, Moratuwa will felicitate the Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan at 6.30 p.m. today (November 8) at the Ramadiya Ranmal Holiday Resort, Moratuwa.

Sampanthan who received his primary education at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna completed his secondary studies at St. Sebastian's and later passed out of Ceylon Law College as a lawyer.

He entered Parliament in 1977, again in 2001 and continued to-date to be appointed Leader of the Opposition on September 3rd.

He will be received by senior members of the OBA, including Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dr. Maxwell Silva and the Rector of the College, Rev. Fr. Bonnie Fernandopulle.

The event is coordinated by the President of the OBA.

Two titles for Rukman

Rukman Ratnayake was bestowed the ‘Sri Pushpa Padma Vishva Keerthi Sri Sasana Pradeepa’ and ‘Deshamanya Lanka Puthra’ titles by the Joint Organisation of Buddhist Monks of Tissamaharama and Lunungamvehera, in collaboration with the Dhamsara Educational Institute at the Menik Raja Maha Viharaya Tissamaharamaya under the patronage of Ven. Kapugama Saranatissa Nayaka Thera, incumbent of Sri Abhinavaramaya, Kataragama and Chief Adhikarana Sanganayaka of Ruhunu Magam Pattuwa.

A large gathering of Bhikkhus were present at the ceremony.

Rukman started his journalistic career by organising the ‘Muthuhara Lama Samaja’ from Nittambuwa and conducted children’s events in temples and schools in Kataragama and Wellawaya. At present Rukman is a correspondent for many newspapers. Picture shows Ven .Kapugama Saranatissa Nayaka Thera presenting the honour.

Pic - M. Nelson Piyaratne
Katargama Group