Short Notes on Four Principals

Principals come in all shapes and sizes, and this is no exception for Kingswood, too. From the earliest days of the founding father, Louis Blaze to the current Head of Institute, the aloof Mr. M.P Weerathunga, Kingswood has so far had 16 Principals in its 125 year history. This number excludes Acting Principals like Mr. Thambapillai (in 1958) and Mr. H.K Upasena (1998-2000) and Mr. Ananda Weerasuriya (2012-2014) who have, at decisive moments, taken the mantle of leadership into their hands. Of the Principals who lead the school in times good and bad, there are those who are remembered for their personality, a stand out character trait, or some idiosyncrasy, which memorably adds to that Principal’s profile.

Louis Blaze, the founder, who was Principal of the school from 1891 to 1923, is often referred to as a mild mannered school master, gentle in speech and courteous in bearing. In his own words, he has begun the school as an “experiment in education”, for  Blaze seems to have despised the tyrannical relationship between teacher and student as he experienced in the general education set up in the late 19th century. Yet, Blaze seems to have been keen on discipline, one that reflects an overall balance and refinement in the student. Blaze is also known to have been a tactful, composed and calm individual, with a mind tempered by in depth reading and education. It is once said that a mischievous student had written on a school wall: “L.E.B is an ass”, to which Blaze had calmly added “L.E.B is an ass-driver”.

Another reputed Kingswood Principal was found in Kenneth Mervyn de Lanerolle, who head the school from 1958 to 1967. With a calm demenour complete with thick eyebrows, de Lanerolle is said to have been a strict disciplinarian in the old school form, who used to “do the rounds” as a daily practice. de Lanerolle’s route and routine was so meticulous that his dog is said to have accompanied the Principal; in fact, go ahead of the Principal by a few paces. This approach of the dog was a signal for all the mischief-makers in classes to get into order, and pipe down to discipline. de Lanerolle is also famously remembered when he awarded a Big Match win to Dharmaraja, after consulting the scoresheets at the end of a game that ended in a confused riot, setting a solid example of gamesmanship and discipline for the student to follow.

Reminiscent of de Lanerolle’s order in more recent times is Mr. R.B Rambukwelle, who was Principal from 1989 to 1997. Rambukwelle was a short, stocky, solid individual with a terse, solemn bearing, rounded up with a proverbial musto in the David Boon style. He was fondly referred to as “Burusuwa” behind his back, while very few syllables would come to any mischief-maker in front of him. Rambukwelle took over from Mr. Nihal Herath (1985-1989), who had exacted student discipline to the dot, bringing back to Kingswood good order and a respectability that had earlier hit the rock bottom in the 1970s and early 1980s. Rambukwelle continued what Herath had begun, and his moderate, non-extravagant ways, pragmatism and integrity were the hallmarks of his years in office. Rambukwelle was a good student of the past and Kingswood’s own traditions, and he was instrumental in bringing back to the school’s culture Louis Blaze’s KFE: The Story of Kingswood in a new edition, to coincide with the school’s centenary in 1991. Rambukwelle was a soft but firmly spoken economist of words, who spoke no more than what was necessary and essential. Method was important to him, and he practiced what he preached.

The post-Rambukwelle period, between 1997 and the present, has seen five Principals: at an average of a Principal every 4 years. This is in a context where Mr. Ranjith Chandrasekara (2000-2012) had been at the helm for 12 of those 20 years. Principals B.A Abeyrathne (1998), Nelson Rathnayake (1998-1999) and P.G.S Bandara (2014-2015) had relatively short lives. Abeyrathne’s appointment was petitioned against, while Rathnayake left school after the infamous coup against the administration in 2000. Principal Bandara was transferred on corruption charges. Of the Principals of the more recent years, the name Ranjith Chandrasekara will be remembered for a significant improvement of the school’s culture and material uplift. In Seeking a Continent: A Decade in Team Building and Team Management at Kingswood, Kandy, Chandarsekara is referred to as follows: “[he] was a man who knew his limitations and played to his strengths. He showed good signs of being able to manage resources and to take initiatives on the stride… he got Kingswood up and running, showing intent and enthusiasm… Chandrasekara’s cardinal virtue was his strength in reading situations and in adapting to the changing game. He was remarkably perceptive of seeing the bigger picture or the scene-to-be and in shifting gears” (pg. 65-66).

Chandrasekara was a managerial whiz in a very difficult and testing time. He was a maverick and a game-changer, and often ready to bypass the red tape that stood in the way. This radical spirit was both positive and at times negative, specially when viewed from a traditional perspective. But, he had in him a tireless commitment and a sense of direction from which Kingswood benefited in the early and mid 2000s. The man also had a genuine love and commitment to the school, and was keen to learn and study the culture, the history and the traditions of the institute. Chandrasekara, as such, is a good example for teachers and administrators of more recent dating, who come to school from outside and try to adjust the school’s culture to suit the culture of places where they came from; and who try to implement policy and make decisions without knowing the traditions or the history of a Kingswood practice. One example is how Principal Bandara, without being properly informed – and not having the sense to inquire either – removed the three shields from the school prize giving. The Crowther, Luterz and Randles shields are part of the school’s 125 year history and are traditionally awarded  at the prize giving. He also suspended the publication of the souvenir which is annually distributed at the prize giving. The unwillingness to study and to learn the culture thus has resulted in the negative.