Appreciations

L.W.N. Labutale - a principal of high calibre, an eminent administrator of education, and accomplished sportsman died in Kandy a year ago. He was 76. His first death anniversary fell on December 6.

Mr. Labutale started his life as an assistant teacher in 1951 at Pelmadulla Central College after completing his primary and secondary education at Mahinda College, Galle, and Central College, Gampola respectively. At the latter, he was the first student to be enrolled.

His sporting prowess blossomed to the fullest, when he was at the Teachers’ Training College, Maharagama. He was awarded the Thornhill Challenge Cup, after being adjudged the most outstanding athlete in the government services. That was in 1954, and two years later under the tutelage of the renowned Duncan White, he established a new national record in 400 m. hurdles, which stood for many years.

In 1958, the University of London conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours on him. Subsequently he obtained a diploma in teaching English as a foreign language, again from the same university. It was while working as a lecturer at Katukurunda, that he was posted as the Principal of the Central College of Anuradhapura at the relatively young age of 36, along with his wife - herself a teacher.

Although the school was the largest in the province, many including those in the parlance of education considered it as a trouble spot.

Noticing the low levels of discipline, he launched on a project to build a shrine room, probably in anticipation of improving moral values, since the vast majority of students came from a Buddhist background. After more than 40 years, the edifice still stands in its pristine glory as a fitting tribute to its builder.

Then he set in motion many extra curricular activities simultaneously.

The college cadet corps after intense training under its indefatigable master-in-charge Amaradasa and the constant motivation of the principal, won the coveted Herman Loos Trophy in 1965. Many in that platoon joined the armed forces, and rose to higher ranks. The present Chief-of-Staff of the Army is one of them.

Then, it was also under his stewardship the school produced its first undergraduate from the science stream.

It was also under his stewardship that the all-island public schools athletics meet was held for the first time in Anuradhapura. To achieve all these, he was fortunate to have the backing of a galaxy of young and talented teachers. Susil Siriwardene - the Oxford alumni whose brain child was Janasaviya, the youthful Gamini Munasinghe, who switched professions later to become a diplomat and Gunaratne who rendered his voice exactly like that of his Guru maestro Sunil Santha, are a few among a vast and colourful staff.

It was during his usual walk from his quarters to the office, minutes before the first bell that we had a chance to see him up close. Clad in full suit in spotless white and holding a briefcase, he would pause to talk to a teacher in a clear and authoritative tone, either in English or Sinhala.

After a successful term of two and half years at Anuradhapura he went to Kingswood to succeed the famous educator Kenneth de Lanarolle, thus becoming the first Buddhist principal of that school. He managed the transition smoothly in the first half of his tenure, and was chosen to follow a one term course in education administration and supervision at Morey House College, Edinburgh, Scotland in 1972.

However, the latter part of his stint at Kingswood was not that smooth, and it was said that political interference was the root cause of it. As a result, he was finally transferred to Poramadulla Central College, where he served as the principal till 1977.

Soon, he was back in contention, this time as the Director of Education, North Central Province. He served three years in that capacity until he was summoned to Colombo to head a new stream called non-formal education. He also served in the reserve police force as a superintendent, until his retirement from the government service in 1987.

Mr. Labutale’s period was undoubtedly the golden era of our school and what he helped achieve with the limited resources, under the given constraints, still remains to be surpassed, particularly in the field of extra curricular activities. We were fortunate to be his students and his influence still remains vividly in our memories. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.