Canadian Hartleyite	

Newsletter of the Past Pupils’ Association of Canada &USA	
Vol 6, No 2, July 2002	

14th Annual Hartleyites Nite on November 9th, 2002

In this issue...

Annual Picnic on  July 20th at Oshawa	1
Joint Meeting of HCPPA branches around the world on 28th July,2002	1
More Life Members join	2
Vadamarachchi students to protest against Army Camp at Hartley College	2
News from HCPPA Canada & USA	2
News from other branches	3
Rev. C. Jeyakumar is interviewed by Sunday Leader (Sri Lanka)	4
Hartley Principal transferred	4
Edtorial	4

The 14th Annual Hartleyites Nite will be held on Saturday, 9th November, 2002 at Centennial Recreation Center Auditorium, 1967 Ellesmere Rd, Scarborough, Ontario at 6 PM.  This is in Ellesmere and Markham. Turn left on Ellesmere at the first lights west of Markham and you will be at the Centennial Recreation Center. 
We are giving the dates in advance so that all Hartleyites, especially those in distant parts of Canada and USA can plan their schedule to be present for this annual get together.
PLEASE BOOK YOUR TICKETS EARLY WITH ANY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR WITH THE CONVENERS IN ADVANCE AS THERE WILL BE NO ISSUE OF FRESH TICKETS AT THE GATES
( dinner tickets will be available at the gates for those who had made a firm booking. Please not that those who gave a firm booking and fail to turn up must pay  the ticket cost)
Tickets for dinner are priced at $ 15.00 for adults and $10.00 for teenagers. Conveners are President Dr. A. Shanmugavadivel (Tel ,416 266 5161)  drashan@hotmail.com; Secretary Mr. S. Rajeswaran ( Tel 905 896 7982) kalarajez@yahoo.com: Editor M. Atputhanathan (Tel 416 439 7696) atput @ interlog.com. Mr. Rajaratnam (te 416 502 1423)

Annual Picnic on July 20th at Oshawa
The annual Picnic of Hartleyites and Methodist Past Pupils and their families will be held on Satuday July 20th at the Lakeview park , Oshawa . The programe starts at 11.30 A.M. Convener Mr. Paranthaman in collaboration with the Methodist committee is planning to make this day a day of real recreation. His telephone no. 905 277 2774 and e-mail is ‘ bparanth@yahoo.ca.

Route:
Take 401 east, exit Simcoe Street south (to downtown Oshawa). When you take Simcoe exit, you will reach Bloor street first, on Bloor street turn left, then turn right to Simcoe street south. Park located at end of street.

Joint Meeting of HCPPA branches around the world on 28th July,2002
We gave you the news of the meeting of all branches of Hartley College Past Pupils Associations around the globe to  make an effort to stream line the financial inputs from various branches so that 
1. The finances are spent for the purpose for which it was intended and there should be accountability for the money spent.
2. Each branch to know what other branch is doing and to avoid duplication 
3. To agree on a unified plan for a fitting program to remember the lat Mr. Pooranampillai.
4. To discuss and agree on matters pertaining to the school such as the present occupation of the school by the Army and the possibility of rash actions by authorities to tamper with historical landmarks and names of houses etc.
5. Discuss and outline an action plan to meet the challenges of shortage of teachers and or inadequacy of teachers and making use of modern technology to supplement such shortcomings.
6. Future plans of help to the school in fields  identified by the Principal of the school.

DETAILS OF MEETING

Venue: Hotel Galadari

Date: Sunday 28th July, 2002

Time: 9:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m

DELEGATES

Australia, NSW branch : Mr. Elango
Australia, Victoria branch, not yet known
Canada &USA : Dr. A. Shanmugavadivel, Mr. S. Krishnalingam
United Kingdom: Mr. R. Ravindralingam and Easwaramohan
Colombo: Mr. V. Jeyarajah, Mr. M. Ravindrakumar, Mr. V. Balasundaran, Mr. Mahadevan, Dr. J.N.Chinniah, Mr. Chella Pathmanthan, Mr. S. Balachandran, Mr. Shanmuganathan, Mr. T. Ragunathan, Mr. K.B.Rajalingam
Point Pedro: Mr. Nadarajasundaram, Mr. Selvarajan
Principal of the school

Coordinator : Mr. M. Atputhanathan( Canada &USA branch. Please contact him for any further information( e-mail ‘atput@interlog.com’

More Life Members join
To remedy some technical error we are publishing the list that we gave in the last Newsletter together with the new additions.
121.  Mr. Iruthayanathan R.A
 859 273 8324
122. Mr. Gnaratnam David

123. Mr. Muruganantham N
416 695 3998
124. Mr. Thangarajah S.
416 439 9211
125. Mr. Jeyamohan Jay C
732 274 0536
126. Mr. Sivasubramaniam N
416 693 5996
127. Mr. Vasanthanathan M
905 450 3334
128.Dr.Mrs. Yothimalar Muhunthan 

Vadamarachchi students to protest against Army Camp at Hartley College
According to news trickling from Colombo, A protest was held on May 23rd by Students of Hartley College. They were also joined by students of sister school Methodist Girls College. At this protest march a petition was  presented  to Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe, seeking the removal of this Army camp. In this petition the students and teachers of Hartley say that their school work has been greatly disturbed as a result. The students had to study in make shift sheds and in the church as part of the school building is occupied by the Army.
It was also learned that the Prime Minister had sent economic affairs minister Milinda Moragoda to Jaffna to evaluate the situation with regard to Army camps being located within schools and places of worship in the Jaffna peninsula. It is also estimated that the government will need around 400 million rupees to relocate the camps outside school buildings and temples.
There was also news to the fact that this protest was followed by a sit in , in front of Army positions in school by all students of vadamarachchy  schools.
Latest news from President of Colombo branch of HCPPA is that the Army has agreed to move out from Hartley College by August this year.
News from HCPPA Canada & USA

A SUCCESSFUL KALAI VILZA
Though the Kalai Vilza was held in the adjoining city of Mississauga, there was a packed house. Keeping to Hartley tradition the program started on schedule and ended at a comfortable time around 9:45 p.m.
The items were excellent . Audience was heard saying that the quality of items at Hartley Kalai Vilza was becoming better every year. This year Our sister school, Methodist Girls college jointly participated and this some say was the key to high turn out and also to high quality of performance. But everyone was unanimous in the fact that the success of the Kalai Vilza was the untiring joint efforts of the conveners Mr. Rajeswaran from Hartley and Mrs Subo Sureskumar from Methodist.
 
COMMITTEE DECIDES TO FREEZE ALL REMITTANCE TO HARTLEY

The committee has tried all avenues to get proper accounts for the money deposited both with  Colombo branch and with Point Pedro branch for the FOUR projects that it had started for Hartley namely supporting sports activities, academic scholarships in the names of late S.T.Samuel, Late Mr. R.M.Gunaratnam and late Mr. W.N.S.Samuel, Sportsmen of the year in the name of late Mr. P. Ehamparam and equipping Library( in place of the burnt down) in the name of late Mr. Ratnasabapathipillai. Though our deposits now stands around little over one Million repees, we are at a loss to know what the interest and what the details of the expenditure are.
In view of this situation, till the joint committee of all HCPPA branches decide on the formation of the trust committee to look after the deposits, the committee decided that the funds collected for these projects this year and the funds donated by Dr. Eswara to develop Biology in the name of Mr. Atputhanathan and Miss Navaratnasingam , all amounting to nearly half a million rupees   be frozen temporarily.

MR. SELVANANDAN PASSES AWAY

Mr. Selvanandan one of our member passed away end of last month. He is one of those who makes our functions lively. He is a contemporary of Mr. Atputhanathan, Mr. Ramachandran and many others. Hartleyites were there to pay respects to him at the viewing. On behalf of all Hartleyites we pass on our sorrow to his family.

FORMATION OF A TRUST COMMITTEE TO MANAGE THE FUNDS OF ALL BRANCHES IN SRI LANKA

The committee discussed in length the proposed Covenant prepared by UK branch and  later President, Secretary and coordinator discussed the suggestions given by Melbourne branch.

The proposal as it stands now will compose of a Trust Committee of 5 members made up of 3 permanent members, 2 from Colombo( one of whom will be the secretary) and one from Jaffna who will hold office for a period of three years; and Presidents of Colombo and Point Pedro branches who will hold office for the year they are presidents( provided they are duly elected at the AGM every year).

This trust committee will receive, action ,monitor and report on the flow of funds as entrusted by various branches in accordance with the respective wish letters.

This trust committee will hold the funds of each branch in separate Bank accounts in Colombo and sbmit to each branch a detail statement of accounts every year.

Replacement on rotation and removal of of permanent members of the trust will be by a majority vote of the branches.

( This is a summary of the proposal which UK branch will propose for discussion and approval at the joint meeting) 

ANNUAL CRICKET ENCOUNTER POSTPONED

The annual cricket encounter between Hartley and Hindu College has been postponed . Convener Jeyaraman says that they are trying to get a date suitable for the convenience of the players and the availability of grounds.

MR. S. KRISHNALINGAM , OUR DELEGATE FOR JOINT MEETING

Mr. Krishnalingam long time committee member and once Vice President will be the delegate for Canada & USA at the joint meeting. He has gone to Point Pedro to study the situation at Hartley, meet with Point Pedro branch and later attend the joint meeting. He had already had discussions with the President of Colombo branch Mr. V. Jeyarajah. Dr, A Shanmugavadivel, our President may also attend if he could release himself from some urgent work at hand.

DR. THANGAROOBAN & Mr. S. GUNANAYAGAM (THASAM) VISIT HARTLEY

Dr. Thangarooban met the Principal of Hartley Mr. Sripathy and had a very fruitful discussion with him. The proposals that were drafted for discussion at the joint meeting was appreciated by the Principal and he promised to give detail estimates. He also met some committee members of Point Pedro and Colombo but could not meet either of the Presidents.
Mr. Gunanayagam had a longer stay and had opportunity to meet many people and study the situation at Hatley. He gave a detail account of his observation to our President Dr. Shanmugavadivel.

News from other branches
COLOMBO

Mr. V.Jeyarajah President of Colombo branch informs that their annual General meeting and Dinner will be on the 4th of August. He has invited all the delegates from other branches for the joint meeting to join them for Dinner.
Colombo branch also is hosting all the delegates for dinner on the day of the meeting, 28th of July.

UNITED KINGDOM

Mr.  Ravindralingam and Mr. Eswaramohan both former presidents and now members of the UK trust committe will be the delegates from UK. They were instrumental in drawing up the conenant for the Trust committee to be discussed at the joint meeting.
They are also meeting the family of late Mr. Pooranampillai and hope to bring the family’s view on the Pooranampillai Memorial project to be discussed at the meeting.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Dr. Thava Seelan, president informes that One of their founder member and past president Mr. Elango will be their delegate for the joint meeting.
The secretary Mr. Paskarajothy informs that their Annual General meeting will be on July 6th.

VICTORIA

Mr. Ananda Ganeshan informs that they have sent money for a full set of cricket equipments for the under 13 cricket team.
Mr. Parameswaran, former President had gone to Point Pedro and supposed to have had lengthy discussion with the Point Pedro branch.

Rev. C. Jeyakumar is interviewed by Sunday Leader (Sri Lanka)
We are informed that there are still some more members, who pledged to contribute to HUDEC project to feed the starving children of Vanni, had to fulfill their pledge. We hope they will do it soon .
We are also appealing to our USA Hartleyites to send in their contribution to this worthy project.
We give below some aspect of the interview that the popular newspaper Sunday Leader had with the HUDEC director Rev. C. Jeyakumar.

Q: The peace attempts of the present government that had paved the way for the opening up of the economy in Jaffna, is viewed as a silver lining in the cloud. But most of the people are cautious about the government’s move because they believe luxury could lead to ultimate corruption. What is your opinion?
A: True. We do not want peace at any cost. We do not want to achieve peace at the expense of our values and traditions. While attaining peace and stability in Jaffna in particular and in the country in general, we should also retain the old charm of Jaffna city.
Q: But do you agree that such an opening could help Jaffna develop further?
A: I totally agree. We only ask for checks and balances for the open economy. You see the poverty line in Jaffna is very low. Nobody even knows about it. The people who come from the south always interact with the elite of society and return. They fail to understand there is a huge crisis over poverty. So I am not saying that such an opening will not help Jaffna. But at the same time we do not want to see an erosion of values and traditions.
Q: It is amazing to see the people of Jaffna continuing to survive with smiles on their faces even after protracted war. How come?
A: It is because of the extended family system that has been cherished here from the inception. Our family systems are very  strong. This is why we even survived with an embargo imposed on us. For instance once,  a person is living abroad, he /she sends money and that is being shared here. So we survive .
Q Most men are addicted to  liquor. Is it due to stress?
A: I think most men are under severe stress. They have no place to run to and they try to drown their sorrows by drinking. Now that the cream of the society is gone away from the peninsula and these men think they cannot handle the situation. This is the negative aspect of the war. But if you take Japan for instance, after the war, all the educated people and intellectuals stuck on to rebuild Japan. But here it is not happening. Most educated men have gone abroad while others have been killed. So Jaffna lacks educated men to take on the challenges.
Q: Would the people of Jaffna still prefer an interim administration under the control of the Tigers especially with the Tigers being accused of extorting money from people?
A: It is like this. If the LTTE come back, it might have to change for the better. If the tigers continue to extort money and conduct affairs the way it did in the past, they will lose the mass support.

Hartley Principal transferred
There is news received from Colombo branch President Mr. V. Jeyarajah that the the present Principal Mr. Sripathy, an old student of Hartley has been transferred to Education Department.
There has been speculation that this might happen after Point Pedro branch initiated an inquiry into the way Mr Sripathy was handling the affairs of Hartley with tradition of over 160 years.Mr Chella Pathmanthan, a veteran of Colombo branch was asked by Colombo to handle this in collaboration with Point Pedro. It appears that an inquiry was held and the result appears to be this transfer.

Editorial
We have just heard the transfer of the Principal of Hartley College, Mr. Sripathy who is an old boy and has been doing his best to the college in ways that he thought was fit. One of the things that Hartleyites cherish is the proud traditions of the College which is more than 160 years old and also the excellence in academic performance that the school has built over the last 50 years or more. 
It appears that  what angered most Hartleyites was poor results,  renaming a long standing ‘house’ and similar  actions. Any how as far as Canada &USA branch is concerned we were satisfied with the findings of our vice president Dr. Thangarooban who spent few days in Pont Pedro speaking to many people including the Principal. However the best people who would know what was actually happening in the school was people on the spot like Point Pedro branch, and Colombo branch.
There is an item in the joint meeting Agenda which asks the delegates to  deliberate on how such issues pertaining to integrity and dignity of the school should be handled in the future We hope that this and other items in the agenda like forming a trust body, avoiding duplication etc. will bring better  coordinated effort  to put Hartley back to its former glory.
M. Atputhanathan
Edtitor

(Apologies for any inadvertent mistakes)