S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia - Old Boys' Association Official

The history of the OBA, like the history of Rome, has been an ever-growing tree. It had its roots in the Banyan groves of Mutwal, and later began to flourish spontaneously in the unfamiliar environment of Mt. Lavinia where now the Thomian impress has been fixed upon one and all. The Old Boys’ Association was started in 1886. The fons et origo was Warden Miller who, on the 19th day of April 1886, address a letter to A. d’ A. Seneviratne, a distinguished Old Boy, who became an Advocate and lived right opposite of S. Thomas’ College at Mutwal for many years. An excerpt from Warden Miller’s letter is as follows, and speaks for itself: April 19, 1886. My dear Seneviratne, For some years past I have been possessed with a desire, which has lately become very strong, to see some sort of Society or Guild formed of Old Boys of S. Thomas’ College. The idea is not an original one as it has been developed most successfully in England, primarily with a view to the strengthening of the ties which should bind a man to the place where, it is to be hoped, he has learned some of the most valuable lessons of life. Such a society in connection with S. Thomas’ College would, I think, promote this desirable result, but it would have a further very beneficial effect. It would be a means of giving lads who find working Colombo a sort of rallying point. They would be more likely to come under good influence. They would be less liable to get lost sight of, as it is the case frequently at present. ... Yours very sincerely, E. F. Miller.