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Message From The Executive President
Of Ananda College Old Boys’ Association

Bimal Wijayasinghe

Executive President - Ananda College Old Boys’ Association
Media Secretary - CHSOMSF

I consider it an honour to receive this opportunity to share a congratulatory message at this juncture of
commemorating the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Colonel Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation.
It is a known fact that the Colonel Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation is comprised of eight leading
Buddhist schools in the country, which was established by Colonel Henry Steele Olcott with the intention of
imparting English education to Buddhist children. The Foundation, throughout its history of operation has
organized inter-school cricket tournaments, alumni cricket tournaments, inter-school relay carnivals as well as
badminton and table tennis tournaments in a grand manner. The Foundation, which was established specifically
to promote sports, has today widened their horizons to serve and uplift sports of member schools as well as other
schools while directing attention to organize quizzes, debates, and leadership training programs focusing on the
eight member schools located in various parts of the country over the past 25 years. Such initiatives have indeed
helped to enhance talents of students at the member schools while promoting unity and co-existence.
It is unfortunate that the sports and other programs planned to be initiated by the Foundation could not be
operationalized as expected owing to the COVID-19 pandemic situation which spread around the world since early
January 2020.
Nevertheless, with a proud history of 25 years, our organization, which was established with the amalgamation of
eight outstanding Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka with only a few members, now has a member base of close to 200,
while arrangements have already been made to double this figure in near future. It is no secret nor exaggeration
that these eight member schools have produced a large number of well-known sportsmen who have performed
and showcased their talents in both national and international arenas. The member schools of the Olcott
Foundation have also nurtured distinguished personnel in various arenas and there is no doubt regarding the fact
that such contributions will intensify in the coming years.
Our schools have the distinction of producing the highest number of players in the game of cricket, a sport for
which Sri Lanka is recognized globally. Additionally, it is with great pleasure that we mention that students who
have been educated in our schools have held and are continuing to hold the highest positions in fields of politics,
military, medicine, law, engineering and management and have constantly maintained their dignity and
reputation in their fields of expertise. We are quite fortunate to be educated in such schools and we hope that the
endeavours of the Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation will continue in future as well in order to produce a group of
youngsters who excel in sports as well as extra-curricular activities in addition education so that they could be
fruitful Sri Lankan citizens and give back to the nation in turn.
Remembering the fact that the Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation which is now celebrating its 25th anniversary
was established by a very small group of people, our founding members are reminisced and reminded of
constantly who have set the foundation to the underlying values of the growing number of members today, who
represent a wide range of fields and organize a plethora of programmes related to education, sports and
extracurricular activities aimed at the betterment of the students at member schools.
As promised at the outset, we pledge to continue our commitment to further the work of this Foundation, and I
would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have consistently provided their utmost support and
contribution at all times for the advancement of our organization. Last but not the least, I take this opportunity to
wish our Foundation which is celebrating its Silver Jubilee Anniversary this year, luck and prosperity to persevere
and serve our member schools as well as the society at large for many more years to come.