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Message From The President
PRINCIPAL, RAHULA COLLEGE,
COLOMBO Of Dharmasoka College Past Pupils’ Association Colombo

Air vice Marshal Thilan de Silva (Retd)

The President
Dharmasoka College
past Pupils’ Association Colombo Branch.

I am extremely pleased to send this message of felicitation in view of the Silver Jubilee celebration of
Colonel Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation (CHSOMSF) which had been established in
1996 with very generous objectives at its core. On behalf of Dharmasoka College Past Pupils’
Association Colombo Branch, I congratulate CHSOMSF for achieving this remarkable feat quite
ambitiously. It has come a long way making its members lavishly proud and indeed, this milestone
speaks volumes about their hard work that had been brought to bear during this journey.

Colonel Henry Steele Olcott, unarguably the founder of Buddhist education in Sri Lanka, pioneered
establishing many Buddhist schools after his arrival in Ceylon in 1880. Born as an American in 1832, he
converted himself into Buddhism formally and founded the Theosophical Society which took the lead
to reawakening of Buddhism. If not for his superlative contributions as a Buddhist modernist and
revivalist, our blessed Island would not have produced many renowned scholars who have done their
yeoman service in almost all the fields benefitting the global population at large.

In honouring this ever great personality, the journey embarked upon before 25 years, by CHSOMSF
consisting of eight leading Buddhist schools in the Island, is praiseworthy. Ever since then, its
contributions made in the fields of sports and personality developments among students of their
schools have been a fitting tribute to this rare human being. Developing the spirit of “Sportsmanship”
among school goers is a prime necessity which seeks commitment and dedication in a disciplined
domain where leadership traits are put to the immense test. It also involves both attitude and
behaviour where fairness, honesty and politeness play a greater role in competitive realms. On the
other hand, Quiz competitions conducted by CHSOMSF among Olcott Schools are focused on inciting
mental faculties of participants which have always been admired by respective schools.

I am certain CHSOMSF has been engaged in many activities successfully in an attempt to do justice to
painstaking efforts made by Colonel Henry Olcott in reviving Buddhist education in our motherland. At
the same time, it is also our bounden duty at this momentous occasion to pay our heartfelt tribute to
a great old Sokian, a stylist cricketer, the late Mr. H. Premasiri for his gigantic support extended
throughout to the cricketing community as a tremendous benefactor until his untimely death. In fact,
it was an immense loss to CHSOMSF wherein this radiant personality used to be an ardent supporter of
all its activities.

Ever growing from strength to strength, I wish Colonel Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation,
all the very best in their future endeavours.