Themiya – the silent benefactor of St. Peter’s College
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Themiya de Mel presenting the donation to refurbish the St. Peter's College main hall
When Themiya de Mel first hit the rugby field, as an 11-year-old youngster at St. Peter’s College in 1975, he was asked to tackle a fellow player on the first day of practice by the then coach Archibald Perera. So did he oblige, only to approach his target from the wrong side, and thus suffering a concussion.
The greatest advice Themiya received from the legendary coach Archibald was, ‘rugby is not your game’ and his one day stint at St. Peter’s came to an abrupt end. But that incident did not prevent Themiya from turning him into an ardent rugby supporter. He followed the St. Peter’s rugby team wherever they played until 1982, when he left school and stepping into the country’s workforce as a trainee clearing and forwarding executive, he continued to follow rugby.
With time Themiya ended up in the United Kingdom a few years later and pursued his dream by forming his own freight forwarding establishment, which is by today a successful business. The success he achieved over many years of hard work and dedication, has helped Themiya to do what he always longed to do, to support his alma mater – St. Peter’s College – in any way possible.
“I owe my school a lot, for many reasons. It’s a known fact that I was never able to play rugby for my school, but that doesn’t mean I’m not eligible to support. I have passionately supported St. Peter’s now for many years, unconditionally and continuously, and I will, until I’m able,” Themiya said, during his short visit to Sri Lanka to pledge his support for another project of St. Peter’s.
Over the years, through the profits gained from his well-established business in the UK, Themiya has been able to come in as a benefactor of St. Peter’s College. Among his projects are sponsoring the well-equipped and up-to-standard science laboratory, the new pavilion at the college ground in Bambalapitiya and the latest, providing the necessary funds to renovate the college main hall.
“These projects, if I may mention, could be amounted to millions, but I do what I do with my whole heart. That’s because as a schoolkid, I too had to experience something bad because of a situation at home. My father wanted me and my brother to be taken out from St. Peter’s but my Rector then, Fr. Joe (Wickramasinghe), was so generous that he let us continue until our senior stage. That gratitude I wanted to return someday, and I’m glad that I’m now able to do that,” he added.
Taking the experience in a positive manner, Themiya initiated a fund that comes under the direct supervision of the Rector, with the intention of providing scholarships for students who face difficulties. Upon initiation he has constantly provided funds to the project, which has a healthy kitty that could help St. Peter’s College provide scholarships depending on their requirement.
Apart from supporting the school itself, Themiya is one of the top contributors to the St. Peter’s rugby team for many years. His unceasing contributions over the years, at good and bad times, has helped the college’s First XV team and the management conduct in a professional manner, on and off the field.
“I’m a rugby fanatic. I’m a platinum member of Saracens back in the UK, and I sponsor the tight-head prop. I work from dawn to dusk during the weekdays and take off the weekend to watch rugby and attend to home needs. But I’m always well updated of what’s taking place with St. Peter’s rugby by our mates in Colombo,” with a sense of pride, he noted.
Being pushed to charity and social work by his father-in-law, a highly regarded diplomat, Themiya also plays a major role with Sylvia Lanka Foundation, a UK based charity organisation initiated by his in-laws. Through this foundation Themiya has been able to facilitate many benefitting projects to the country, mainly health and hospital supplies that are unaffordable here.
“I’m highly grateful to my wife, daughter and mainly father-in-law, who mentored me since the day I stepped on UK soil. That’s the biggest reason for what I have become as a benefactor for by country, school, kith and kin. I will continue contributing as long as I can, for that gives me an immense amount of happiness,” concluded Themiya, who is also a key player in the St. Peter’s OBA branch of the UK.