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| Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
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Aquinas College Fifty years in the field of education A jubilee year is a moment of gratitude, stock taking and planning for the future. It is with a sense of indebtedness and gratitude that we think of His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray and very Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai the founder of Aquinas College of Higher Studies who are not with us today. Aquinas College of Higher Studies was established by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray in 1954 with the inspiration and assistance of Very Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai, an internationally reputed scholar, educationist, social worker and a member of the University Senate at that time. Aquinas College is registered with the tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka to conduct courses and examinations at the Tertiary level. It is also affiliated to the International Federation of Catholic Universities in Paris. One of the very special days in the jubilee calendar of Aquinas College is September 19. This year we have 700 diplomats and several university graduates receiving their certificates from one of our own devoted Alumni Hemakumara Nanayakkara, the Minister of Agricultural Research and Crop Productivity. He is a symbol of our recognition of all our alumni who have committed themselves in various fields for the uplift of our less fortunate brothers and sisters of our country and try to live according to our college motto: to dedicate ourselves to truth in love and service. Aquinas College is proud to say that it has among its alumni over 640 London graduates. Aquinas College was formally known as Aquinas University College. Since 1960s it is known as Aquinas College of Higher Studies. The College is situated over ten acres of parkland in Borella, located at the centre of the city of Colombo. The campus provides a very healthy and peaceful environment conducive to educational activities. There are over 6,000 students. The presence of students from SAARC countries and various ethnic groups with many diverse backgrounds and nationalities provides a cosmopolitan community, creating an exposure to numerous cultures. Aquinas College offers, a wide range of full time and part time certificate, diploma, degree courses and bachelors degrees from the Universities of Kelaniya, Peradeniya, Colombo and Sri Jayawardenapura. We also commenced our international diploma in management affiliated to the International Institute of Management in Hong Kong. The 47 acre farm at Walpola offers the Agriculture Faculty students to enhance their practical knowledge further. Aquinas Scholarship Board scrutinises all applications and based on their recommendation, the college offers scholarships to needy not so affluent students as part of our solidarity with the poor. As we celebrate our golden jubilee the college has acquired a new complex of buildings. We started the year by opening the 'jubilee building' some classrooms will go to form the infrastructure for the Aquinas South Asian Regional Institute of Management (ASARIM) which we hope to commence in the near future with Australian collaboration. This jubilee building was opened by His Grace the Archbishop most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis. We have also laid the foundation for making Aquinas College a degree awarding institute and an institution that could be linked up with foreign universities so as to expose our students to international qualifications. We unveiled the portraits of past rectors and mentor of Aquinas College, His Eminence the late Thomas Cardinal Cooray. The proceeds of a golden jubilee dinner dance and a sing-a-long on October 18, commemorate the 99th birthday of our founder the late very Rev. Fr. Peter A. Pillai, will be utilised to grant 100 scholarships to needy students. On January 28, 2004 we will conclude our jubilee celebrations. The Aquinas College web site will be formally launched on October 18 at the dinner dance. Fifty years of service to the nation is a historic record to any institution. We invite our friends and well-wishers who have stood by us wherever they are to join us in celebrating this glorious occasion of our Golden Jubilee (1954-2004). 'Let's hand in hand go forward in faithfulness never ceasing to build a society where all will live in love and peace." Very Rev. Fr. W.D.G. Chrispin LEO |
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