A scholarship in memory of Bernard Jesudasan, the long-serving master-in-charge of tennis at St. Peter’s College, Colombo, who passed away suddenly on December 1 last year was established recently.
This was done on the initiative of head coach of tennis at St Peter’s, Dinith Pathiraja, under the approval guidance, and supervision of the college Rector, Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo, the Sports Coordinator Rev. Fr. Jansze and the Sports Secretary Sunanda Fernando.
Support for the scholarship will be derived through the interest garnered from the money which has been deposited in a fixed deposit under the control of the college authorities.
Jesudasan was St. Peter’s tennis master-in-charge (MIC) for 22 years until his untimely passing and during his tenure the Peterites reached unprecedented levels of success in the competitive schools’ tennis circuit. And in his role as the master-in-charge, he was instrumental in the success of all the teams. Jesudasan was educated at St. Joseph’s College – Colombo and was the author of two books on the subject he taught at College which was Mass Communication. The scholarship will support a student who enters the university from the arts stream every year...
A sum of Rs. 1.25 million was collected in a very short period of time from the Old Peterite tennis players living in Sri Lanka and overseas.
Speaking on the occasion, Rev. Fr. Rodrigo was very appreciative of the initiative and commended all the old boys who donated generously for the scholarship. Sohan Patrick, who was present representing the old boys, speaking on the occasion said that he was also very appreciative of the initiative and requested that a system be soon established to choose the recipient of the scholarship.
Gerard Jesudasan, brother of Bernard Jesudasan, thanked the old boys and the Rector for the scholarship and appreciated everything that had been done to honor his brother’s memory. After a discussion regarding the payment of the scholarship, it was decided that the first scholarship will be awarded at the 2022 college prize giving as there won’t be a prize giving held this year because the Covid-19 pandemic. (DR)