Canadian Hartleyite
Newsletter of the Past Pupils' Association of Canada &USA	Vol 8, No 1, April 2004

Dr. Thiagarajah Thiagendran , Founder President of HCPPA Canada & USA Passsed Away

It is with deep sorrow Canadian Hartleyite reports the passing away of the visionary Hartleyite who while he was in Canada founded the then Hartley College Past Pupils' Association of Canada with few members. This has now grown enormously to bring into its fold, Hartleyites from different parts of this vast country Canada and also those from USA.

Tributes were paid to him at our committee meeting in March by one of the co-founders Mr S. Sathyamoorthy , followed by Dr. Shanmugavadivel and his teacher Mr. M. Atputhanathan . This was followed by a one minuite silence.Mr . Sathyamoorthy talked about the days when he was in Canada and how they all banded under Dr. Thiagendran 's leadership and not only formed the HCPPA but also successfully raised funds for a needy call from Hartley. Dr. Shanmugavadivel , A dental
Surgeon himself narrated Dr. Thiagendran 's early professional carrier first in Sri Lanka and then in Nigeria where he held a supervisory position. From there he came to Canada like many Dr. Thiagendran while at the University of Peradeniya -1970

Dr. Thiagendran while at the University college, London - 1990s .

other professionals as they could not return to their own homeland. Mr. Atputhanathan , his past teacher of Zoology at Hartley related how he met him at a past pupils get together in London and thereafter he has been keeping in contact with him. He gave a glimpse of Thiagendran as a bright student at his University entrance class and the last letter that he got from him was in December 2003 about his health and retirement. HCPPA laid a wreath at his funeral through the President, London branch.

Dr. Thiagendran entered, the Dental faculty of the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and qualified as a dental surgeon with honors and he was demonstrating at the faculty for sometime before he took up dental practice. As a student he was interested in dentistry and that made him excel in that profession. Situation in Sri Lanka made him to move to Nigeria where he held a senior position and spent many years there. From there he moved to Canada. He wanted to qualify further and this made him to move to UK where he obtained his PhD in Dentistry . He then was lecturing at the University of College, London and settled down in London.

Thiagendran was one of six in the family and five of whom were Hartleyites . HCPPA Canada & USA would like to pass on their smpathy and sorrow to his wifeAbitha and two children Ajantha , and Sashikala .

His home address is 37 Sedcote Rd Enfield, EN3 4RQ , UK

Telephone# 020 8805 5915

Annual Kalai Vilza on June 12th, 2004

The Annual Kalai Vilza has been scheduled for Saturday June 12th, 2004 at Glen Forest Secondary School, 3575, Field Gate Drive, Mississauga. The program will start at 6 PM. Mr. Rajeswaran Treasurer will be coordinating on the Hartley side. Mrs. Subothini Sureshkumar will be coordinating on Methodist side It should be remembered that this is a joint event of the Past Pupils of Hartley and Methodist colleges.

DIRECTIONS FOR TORONTO RESIDENTS

Take 401 to Dixie Rd. In Mississauga go south on Dixie Rd to Burnhamthrope Rd. Turn left on Burnhamthrope Rd to go east. Then turn right on Field Gate Drive.

Please contact Rajeswaran for further information at 905 896 7982 , e-mail is ' kalarajez @ yahoo.com .' or Mrs Subothini Sureshkumar at 416 439 9445.

Hartley College Trust report - July 2002 to 31st Dec. 2003

We are glad to report that the Hartley College Trust which was set up at a meeting of all the branches of Past Pupils of Hartley, at Colombo, Hotel Galadari on 28th of July 2002 has been registered as a legal body on 31st of December 2003.

The trust has sent its report for the period from its inception to the time it was made legal. In spite of the fluid status of the trust during this period it has lived up to the expectations of the branches. The following are some highlights of the report for this period.

They had 3 meetings as a body and many meetings with interested past pupils of Hartley, Principal, vice Principal and few officials of the global branches. They have

1.Developed a vision statement for Hartley 2.Purchased a property to house sports material room for Rs 350 000 funded by London branch

3.Purchased a property to house Auditorium, for 500 000 funded by London branch

4. Purchased a property to house ICT Center or any other related activity, for Rs 300 000 jointly funded by Colombo, NSW Australia and Victoria, Australia.

5.Applied to Govt. Agency to seek equipment and fittings free of charge to ICT center.

6. Developed a Web Site to provide up to date information for branches and Hartleyites distributed around the globe. The web site is ' www.hartleytrust.com '

They have also given a statement of accounts for this period and according to this they have a balance of Rs 155 353.23.

Since then they have reported that the bank account has been officially changed to the legal Trust.

In 2004 they have prepared a Development plan along with the Principal of Hartley and circulated to branches for their comments.

News - HCCPA Canada &USA

SCHEDULE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR 2004

Feb. 22nd Mr. M.Atputhanathan 's residence

March 21st Dr. V. Shanmuganayagam ' residence

May 16th Dr. Shanmugavadivel 's residence. Committee Photograph will also be taken on this occasion.

June 6th Mr. Rajeswaran 's residence

July 11th Mr. Anandakrishnan 's residence

August 8th Mr. N. Radhakrishnan 's residence

October 10th Mr. N. Sivasothilingam 's residence

November 7th Dr. A. Thangarooban 's residence

ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 2004

March 27th Benefit show- Hartley PPA

April 24th Benefit Show - Methodist PPA

June 12th Kalai Vilza Joint event of Hartley and Methodist PPAs

July 1st ( Canada Day) Annual Cricket encounter between Hartley and Jaffna Hindu

July 4th Annual Picnic- Joint event by Hartley and Methodist PPAs

September 25th Methodist PPA - Annual General Meeting and Dinner

November 20th Sixteenth Hartleyites Night and Annual General Meeting

TRANSFER OF CANADIAN FUNDS TO THE HARTLEY TRUST BY COLOMBO BRANCH

Mr. Thiruneelakandan , Treasurer, HCPPA Colombo branch has notified our secretary that they have transferred both the sports Fund and the scholarship fund and the interests arising from it up to date to the Hartley Trust on 22 March 2004.

Chairman Trust has informed us that they have received the Canadian funds from the Colombo branch. Details of the present holdings of Canadian funds with Trust are as follows:

Sports Fund - Rs 525 800. 00

Interest from this fund - Rs 21 558.00

Scholarship Fund - Rs 364 063.94

Interest from this fund - Rs 8 521.00

Chairman, Trust also informed the Secretary that he is trying to contact the President of HCPPA Point Pedro, Mr. Nadarajasundaram , regarding the promised Transfer of Canadian Funds held by Point Pedro to the Hartley Trust.. These are the Library development fund and Best Sportsmen Fund and the interest earned from them.

ANNUAL PICNIC AND CRICKET ENCOUNTER

The dates for these two events can be found in this Newsletter. . Mr Jeyaraman (Tel 905 787 0136) and Mr. N. Sivapalan (Tel 416 746 0307) will be coordinating the Cricket encounter. Watch for details in the Website .

Mr. S. Sivasothilingam and Mr Paranthaman will be the conveners. Along with them some of our committee members and some from Methodist will help to organize the Picnic.

VISIT OF CHAIRMAN OF HARTLEY COLLEGE TRUST

Secretary Dr. Shanmuganayagam informed the committee that Chairman of theTrust Mr. Shan Shanmuganathan has accepted the invitation by the HCPPA Canad & USA to visit Canada this year when he comes to USA on a private visit.

REQUEST TO INFORM CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND OR TELEPHONE NUMBER

Mr. K. Rajaratnam , Vice President who is in charge of the Membership register is making an appeal to all members to inform him of any change of address and or Telephone number so that members will get all publication.

His telephone number is

416 431 0987

HIS ADDRESS : 55 Greencrest Circuit,

Apt # 604, Scarborough, On M1G 3T9

VISIT TO HARTLEY BY TREASURER MR . R. RAJESWARAN

Mr. Rajeswaran visited Hartley in November 2003 and reported to the committee his observations. According to him though attempts are being made to give a face lift to the College by renovating some buildings and build Library and some classrooms, the basic need for learning like the chairs and tables for the classrooms and equipment and furniture for the laboratories are according to him in a ' pathetic plight'. This was echoed by others too . President then referred to the development plan submitted by the Trust, which he said included these needs in addition to others.

Committee then asked Mr. Atputhanathan , a past teacher and Science education officer, Northern Region to give priority to these two needs - Classroom facility for daily learning and basic laboratory facilities- and study and report of an action plan when he visits Hartley in August this year.

News of Hartley

MAS. RATNARARAJAH RAHULAN BECOMES PROVINCIAL CHAMPION

North and East Provincial Dept of Education held Math and Science Quiz in its 24 zones and selected the winners. All these 24 winners participated at the Provincial level and Mas. Ratnararajah Rahulan of Hartley became the Provincial Champion.

RELAXATION OF ENTRY OF PAST PUPILS AND PARENTS TO HARTLEY

Entry of Past Pupils and Parents into school premises is now permitted on application to the Army every day as against the earlier procedure of one day per week. It should be noted that HCPPA Canada& USA sent an appeal to the Sri Lankan Government to relax the entry late last year.

UPGRADING THE LIBRARY

It has been reported that the Trust has arrange for the Asia Foundation to donate books to the Library. Colombo branch has arranged with Indian Cultural affairs to donate books .

The Trust informs that second hand books that are out of date are not needed and that the college would like to have the latest books and reference material for Library.

Construction work on Upgrading the Library has started at a cost of 3 million funded by NECORD .

It is estimated that about Rs 200 000 would be needed to put in new book shelves, tables and chairs for the Library.

It should be noted that HCPPA Canada&USA has agreed to deposit 1 million and the interest is to be used for continuous upgrading the library with books, furniture, computer and other items. Nearly half a million was with Point Pedro branch from 2002 onwards. Another quarter million is to be deposited this year.

LABORATORY

NSW branch(Australia) has offered to purchase cabinets up to Rs 25 000 to hold equipment and the Trust has asked the Principal to proceed with the acquisition.

CANTEEN

Mr. Mathivanan a past pupil and an official of Colombo branch has come forward to sponsor the building and furnishing of the Canteen . Trust is awaiting the estimates from the Principal to commence work.

CONSTRUCTION WORK ON ADDITIONAL CLASS ROOMS STARTS

Construction work has commenced through the negotiation by the school and the Hartley Trust on 12 class rooms funded by NECORD . This is expected to be a 3 level building to house 12 classrooms and the top floor is to be used for assembly hall till the Auditorium is built in the new premises bought by the HCPPA , London. After that this hall also is to be converted to class rooms.

This project was estimated to cost 6 million and this was to be given by NECORD . But now due to escalating prices and the risk involved the cost has gone up by another 3 million. The Hartley Trust is appealing to HCPPAs or Hartleyites to come forward to put up this extra 3 million.

Hartley College Development Plan from HCPPA Trust

We give below a Summary of the Hartley College Development Plans, needs resources and available gaps broken into short term, medium term and long term prepared by the Trust and circulated to all branches.

This has been passed on to all Exco members of HCPPA Canada/USA for study and it will be taken up at the next meeting to decide on our response and contribution.

INFRASTRUCTURE

1.Auditorium: 150' X 20' to 1200 seats with stage on the land available opposite school. Estimated cost RS. 9 million. Funds promised by former Prime Minister. Furniture and fittings estimated at 3 to 4 million. Need a Past pupil, Architect to draw up plans(short term)

2.Facade to School entrance:Need a proper facade to school entrance. Need an Architect past pupil to volunteer to draw the design(short term). Funding to build the facade(medium term).

3.Additional Classrooms: To build additional classrooms about 17 to replace temporary sheds and make shift arrangements. Land is available. NECORD and NGO has promised to build 12 classrooms at a cost of 6 million ( refer details under Hartley news).Funding needed for the balance ( short term)

OTHER FACILITIES

1. ICT Centre : To build this in the land available in front of the school and to be used by school as well as by the community . This is to house internet cafe, telephone for IDD and local, an information Kiosk, citizen services such as passport forms, birth certificates etc, computer lab for IT training etc. Need an Architect to plan the structure or a sponsor to out source the cost of about RS.150 000. Application has been made to Govt for funds.

2. Sports: To build a sports infrastructure consisting of visitor stand, change rooms, kitchen, canteen toilets, sports material storage etc. Land available and a property close to grounds has been purchased, but this is occupied by the army. When made available renovation will cost Rs 150 000. Funds for the structure will be around Rs 3 000 000 .

2. Library: Refer under Hartley News for details.

Laboratories: Refer under Hartley news for details.

3. Canteen. Refer under Hartley news for details.

4. Staff room: To upgrade the staff room .Need to build 20' X 20' room. Estimated cost 500 000. Upgrading the furniture will cost about Rs 100 000. Need sponsor to finance the building and furniture costing Rs 600 000. (Short term).

They have also indicated construction of special rooms for special activities, Teaching aids and better facilities for English language education.

Editoial

As the readers scan through this newsletter, it will be apparent that the focus of the news is on the development of Hartley which one can say is one school that has been destroyed to the most in Jaffna district.. As you are all aware from the news, the HCPPA Trust which was formed to avoid duplication of efforts, wastage and go forward with a coordinated plan to help Hartley in which all branches of HCPPA around the Globe will become partners, has been achieved by finally making the Trust a legal body . As you are aware an added advantage is that the trust members will have a continuity of service for a period of 3 years with the possibility of re election.

We are glad that they wasted no time in their task. Even before they became a legal body they have started functioning with purchase of property for Hartley. The development of website to make their activities more transparent and the preparation of not only the development plan but negotiation with NGOs and Govt. for the development efforts have shown that the Trust has lived up to its expectations. On behalf of the HCPPA Canada/USA we would like to congratulate all members of the Trust and specially the chairman Mr. Shan Shanmuganathan and Mr Chella Pathmanathan , its Secretary cum Treasurer for their unstinted support and devotion.

HCPPA Canada/USA is reviewing its yearly regular activities like Benefit show, Kalai Vilza , Cricket encounter, Picnic and Hartleyites Nite . You will be getting a questionnaire to express your opinions on what to be retained, what to be added and what to be deleted. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUITES TO RESPOND TO IT.

M. Atputhanathan

Editor

We apologize for any mistakes that might have crept in inadvertently.