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Chief Guest emphasises need for discipline and core values
The St. Thomas’ Preparatory School prize giving was held last Friday, with leading President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Iswaran gracing the occassion as chief guest. Addressing students, staff members and parents, Kanag-Iswaran —an alumnus of Jaffna Central College and the University of London— stressed the importance of discipline and core values in students.
Chief Guest President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Iswaran (centre) being led by St. Thomas’s Preparatory School Headmaster N.Y. Cassie Chetty (right) and the school’s Chaplain Fr. Sunil Ferdinandez (left). Pic by Susantha Liyanawatte
“Have you wondered or asked yourself what would happen if one day, the sun decides it will not rise in the morning? One day it decides it will not set in the evening?” Kanag-Iswaran asked. “…you know the sun will never do it. Why not? Because it is disciplined. Yes my friends, because discipline is the first law of nature.”
St. Thomas’ Preparatory School was founded by the late William Thomas Keble in 1938. At last year’s Ordinary Level examinations, 73 percent of candidates received ‘A’ in English and 48 percent received ‘A’ in Mathematics. Awards made at the ceremony included, special prizes such as the ‘Golden Jubilee Scholarship’ and the ‘J.E.M Obeysekera Memorial Prize’ for best results at the GCE O/L exam in December 2012.
In his speech, the chief guest explained that changing times have caused society to alter radically, asking students to keep in mind the importance of the two “self evident” truths —discipline and core values. “Today’s influences on impressionable minds are at most times frightening. Values have changed. Value systems have been altered… even greater challenges confront you… the youth of today, exposed as you are to irrationality, unethical public conduct, questionable role models and the enticement of the information highway with easy access to indiscriminate and injurious material,” Kanag-Iswaran pointed out.
Discussing the significance of core values, he said students should look to their school to shape their core values early in life. He went on to identify the essential core values of security, tradition, benevolence and universalism. Kanag-Iswaran, who has been appointed a Commissioner of the Law Commission of Sri Lanka, also called on students to recognise and develop their contribution to the world.
“Every single one of you has something to offer. Recognise it and develop it. Only you can write your destiny,” he advised.
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