Mr. Anton Ferreira by Shelton de Silva
Courtesy L. K. Hettiarachchi
(2) Friends Who Like Saint Aloysius' College Galle photos 1950/1960 | Mr Anton Ferreira | Facebook
Anton Ferreira
( article by Mr Shelton de Silva - a faithful student)
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| Anton Ferreira, Shelton de Silva |
Anton Ferreira a great “Aloysian” - kindhearted counsellor and devout Catholic
Anton Ferreira, our beloved teacher, passed away on October 4, 2007, at his residence “The Anchorage”, 236, Colombo Road, Mahamodera, Galle.
Sir, you may have departed physically from our midst but, you still live in our memories. Sincerity, Integrity, Simplicity and Purity are the main characteristics depicted throughout the life of this great teacher.
It is my bounden duty, as a devoted student, to pen my thoughts deeply buried within me. I consider this as a tribute to an exemplary teacher, who sacrificed his time, money and energy, to the cause of education at St. Aloysius College (SAC), Galle.
Anton Ferreira was a student of this prestigious seat of learning from 1929-1940. After the death of their beloved father, Rev. Fr. A. De Mattia SJ was spiritual leader to the Ferreira family. He exerted tremendous influence on this great educationist.
As a student, he took part in extra curricular activities of the college, especially, drama, singing, scouting and social activities.
Rectors of SAC during that period were Rev. Fr. E. Lermusieaux SJ and Rev. Fr. R. Chiriatti SJ and the Prefect of Studies was Rev. Fr. Ernst Gaspard SJ.
He passed the Cambridge Senior Examination in 1940, with flying colours. He joined the tutorial staff of SAC in February 1941 and rendered yeoman service as a teacher till July 1971, when a batch of teachers, along with him, was transferred out from the college. This unfortunate incident is crystal clear from Mr. Ferreira’s own words. “After the disastrous handing over of the school at that time, I was forced out by politicians, because I refused to toe their line”.
As a member of the tutorial staff, he was the House Master of “Standard House”. He was the winner of the Woodward Badge for scouting, and was the first scout master at SAC. He was a musician, active member of the college choir and played a major role in college dramas. English language and Western History were his favourite subjects. His General Knowledge and Moral Science classes were very popular among the students. Advance Level students of SAC eagerly waiting to join the annual excursion, duration of which is nearly a week where our Reverend Guru played an important role in enhancing the knowledge of all participants.
Mr. Anton Ferreira was fortunate in having three brothers and two sisters. Clarence, the oldest, was a staff officer at Hayley’s and won colours for athletics, football and cricket. His blazer is an item well preserved in the college museum. Mervyn was musician and he too taught at the college. Ben was a sportsman and served on the staff of SAC and Richmond. Ben represented the National Football Team. Eric was a trained teacher and a staff member at SAC and later at Royal College. Mrs. Zeeta, presently domiciled in Australia and Miss. Eileen at Panadura, are his sisters.
He was a source of inspiration to students and guided thousands of students still in Sri Lanka and domiciled abroad. Numbers too numerous to mention. Few of them are R.L.T. Alles, Dr. Michael Roberts, Dr. Granville Dharmawardene, Mervyn Weerasooriya, Dr. D.P. Athukorale, Harold Solomons, Professor Mohideen, Professor Devotta, Ariyaseela Wickramanayake, Dr. D.V.J. Harischandra, Dr. Kapuge and Rev. Fr. Peter Kurukulaarachchi.
He was a kindhearted counsellor and a devout Roman Catholic, a senior citizen of Galle town, and the last male of the old burgher community at the Fort Galle. He was a pioneer of scouting at SAC and until his death, he was Vice President, Galle District Scout Association.
His contributions to the SAC and OBA are remarkable. He was a Joint Secretary, Consultant etc. till his demise. He was a livewire of the organisation and was the binding link with foreign branches of the OBA Australia and U.K.
“Tsunami of December 26, 2004, was a red letter day for our Reverend Guru. It was a miracle escape that he experienced.
The following quotation is most applicable to Anton Ferreira.
“There comes a time for all of us, when we must say goodbye
But memories of those we love, live on and never die”
This is true of our beloved Guru
To our most Beloved teacher
All your devoted students wish you Eternal Bliss and Happiness
May you continue to Rest in Peace and enjoy eternity’s sunshine with Jesus.
Your faithful student (1946-1958) at SAC
E. Shelton de Silva
Consultant
St. Aloysius College,
Old Boys Association
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Letter to the Editor, Sunday Times by Rohan Jayatilleke and
Response by Anton Ferreira
Let Galle Prisons make way for a Football/Rugby Grounds By Rohan Jayatilleke
The interview of Bernie Wijesekera with the Minister of Tourism and Sports and published in The Sunday Times of July 22, 2001, captioned, 'Facelift for Football in Galle District', is most opportune and laudable. The Minister's response to broad basing football, which is a game played by approximately 200 countries globally and now eclipsed both in popularity and money value by cricket played only by ten countries who are full-fledged members of the International Cricket Council and now the highest sponsorship oriented game in the world, with bookmakers too making 'blood money' or 'sweat money' through match-fixing deals.
In this scenario, it is a ray of hope for football that in England, the home country of cricket, football games attract more crowds than at cricket, due to the 90 minutes of play in the evenings when the shadows lengthen, rather than sit it out for days on end over five days, in the summer, when summer could be better enjoyed in other pursuits.
The game of football, which was once a popular game, both at school level and club level in the districts of Galle, Matara, Colombo, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya (Hatton as well), Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kandy (including Gampola and Nawalapitiya) is now gasping for breath, and would have been pronounced dead as a dodo if not for the action taken by a few football veterans (like Nevile Abeygoonewardena) and a few well-wishers of the game, to keep the game alive and kicking at least in minute manner over the years.
The first school to play both football and cricket in Galle was All Saints' College, Fort, Galle established by Christian Missionary Society in 1840 (subject to correction) as the first Anglican Church was established in 1819 at Baddegama, twelve miles from Galle along the Ginganga (river). This school produced great players and the family of Pandithas was the most outstanding in the game of football.
In later times another footballer of this school D.K. Podimahatmaya, who was taken into the Army by the caretaker Prime Minister Dr. W. Dahanayake, excelled in the game and finally passed away in harness, I believe, as a Colonel. The other schools to play football were in those far off days, St. Aloysius College, Mahinda College and Vidyaloka Vidyalaya, Galle and in Matara Rahula College and St. Servatius College, Matara. Of all these schools St. Aloysius College managed by Jesuit Catholic priests were the flag bearers of the game.
There was one Rev. Fr. Morelli, who I believe became the Rector of the College, was seen in the evening leaving his cassock aside and playing football with the boys. He encouraged and coached his college players.
Another name of a student footballer and later a name that came to be synonymous with football in Galle was Ben Fereira.
Another old St. Aloysius footballer, who was the Welfare Officer of the Prisons, Damien Alles, conducted the Galle District Clubs Football Tournament for many years with distinction and acceptance.
The game grew as the only ground available for football, athletics and cricket was the Esplanade centrally situated in the heart of the town.
In this scenario, although this writer has no direct interest in Galle, except the family vault where his kith and kin are resting, and permanently domiciled elsewhere, would suggest that the eye sore of the Prisons' buildings sitting in Kaluwella, and a vestige of British imperialism be shifted elsewhere, at least towards Kottawa and the vacant premises converted to a playground with a 400 metre track and fit for all ball games such as Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Netball, Hockey and Rugby. This move would provide ground facilities and also beautify the city.
The interview of Bernie Wijesekera with the Minister of Tourism and Sports and published in The Sunday Times of July 22, 2001, captioned, 'Facelift for Football in Galle District', is most opportune and laudable. The Minister's response to broad basing football, which is a game played by approximately 200 countries globally and now eclipsed both in popularity and money value by cricket played only by ten countries who are full-fledged members of the International Cricket Council and now the highest sponsorship oriented game in the world, with bookmakers too making 'blood money' or 'sweat money' through match-fixing deals.
In this scenario, it is a ray of hope for football that in England, the home country of cricket, football games attract more crowds than at cricket, due to the 90 minutes of play in the evenings when the shadows lengthen, rather than sit it out for days on end over five days, in the summer, when summer could be better enjoyed in other pursuits.
The game of football, which was once a popular game, both at school level and club level in the districts of Galle, Matara, Colombo, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya (Hatton as well), Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kandy (including Gampola and Nawalapitiya) is now gasping for breath, and would have been pronounced dead as a dodo if not for the action taken by a few football veterans (like Nevile Abeygoonewardena) and a few well-wishers of the game, to keep the game alive and kicking at least in minute manner over the years.
The first school to play both football and cricket in Galle was All Saints' College, Fort, Galle established by Christian Missionary Society in 1840 (subject to correction) as the first Anglican Church was established in 1819 at Baddegama, twelve miles from Galle along the Ginganga (river). This school produced great players and the family of Pandithas was the most outstanding in the game of football.
In later times another footballer of this school D.K. Podimahatmaya, who was taken into the Army by the caretaker Prime Minister Dr. W. Dahanayake, excelled in the game and finally passed away in harness, I believe, as a Colonel. The other schools to play football were in those far off days, St. Aloysius College, Mahinda College and Vidyaloka Vidyalaya, Galle and in Matara Rahula College and St. Servatius College, Matara. Of all these schools St. Aloysius College managed by Jesuit Catholic priests were the flag bearers of the game.
There was one Rev. Fr. Morelli, who I believe became the Rector of the College, was seen in the evening leaving his cassock aside and playing football with the boys. He encouraged and coached his college players.
Another name of a student footballer and later a name that came to be synonymous with football in Galle was Ben Fereira.
Another old St. Aloysius footballer, who was the Welfare Officer of the Prisons, Damien Alles, conducted the Galle District Clubs Football Tournament for many years with distinction and acceptance.
The game grew as the only ground available for football, athletics and cricket was the Esplanade centrally situated in the heart of the town.
In this scenario, although this writer has no direct interest in Galle, except the family vault where his kith and kin are resting, and permanently domiciled elsewhere, would suggest that the eye sore of the Prisons' buildings sitting in Kaluwella, and a vestige of British imperialism be shifted elsewhere, at least towards Kottawa and the vacant premises converted to a playground with a 400 metre track and fit for all ball games such as Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Netball, Hockey and Rugby. This move would provide ground facilities and also beautify the city.
It is hoped that the request of the Minister of Tourism and Sports Lakshman Kiriella to nominate a place for a playground, that this suggestion would be pursued by the Minister with the Minister of Urban Development and Public Utilities Mangala Samaraweera, who could under Urban Development Authority take appropriate action to have matters represented to the Minister of Justice to have the Galle Prisons shifted at least to Boosa (former Detention Camp) and make way for a football grounds in Galle, a crying need of the Sothern Province.
Courtesy: Saint Aloysius' College Galle photos 1950/1960's Post
October 3, 2019
An article by Mr Anton Ferreira ( Courtesy- Sunday Times, Sports Section)
Galle Jail should not be shifted
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Reference the letter of Mr. Rohan Jayatilleke in your issue of 26.08.2001, may I make a few observations.
Mr. Jayatilleke rightly observes that Galle is in dire need of a football stadium, but the jail of Galle should not be shifted, least of all turned into a stadium.
This prison was built at a time when the Fort was the town and Kaluwella a suburb. A football stadium built just beneath the Roman Catholic Cathedral will surely disrupt the religious services of that venerable institution. As it is, when loudspeakers in the Town Hall often interfere with religious services, the Parish Priest has to go in person and appeal to the organizers to reduce the volume of the speakers.
Imagine a crowd of thousands cheering just below the church when a service is going on. Moreover, the jail should remain, I feel, in the heart of the town to serve as a grim reminder in these days of escalating lawlessness; that criminals could still not evade the law.
The attempt to take over the B.T.S. grounds at Dadalla to convert them into a football ground should be abandoned. It is ludicrous, crowds cheering at a football match on one side and mourners weeping over their dead right across the road at the cemetery at the same time.
There is plenty of land available for a splendid football field and even for a athletics centre or swimming pool. If any official capable of putting a plan into operation will see me by appointment, I will show him the place I have in mind. The town could spread out, congestion could be relieved, and employment found for many.
To make a correction or two in Mr. Jayatilleke's letter, I was never a footballer though soccer was the best game I enjoyed. Mr. Jayatilleke must have been referring to my elder brother Clarence who was an astute footballer in his day or to my younger brother Ben who was the All-Ceylon goalkeeper after he left school. Also, Fr. Morelli who did so much for football at St. Aloysius' College, never took off his cassock on the field. It was another young Jesuit Lay Brother, Andrew, who used to tuck up his cassock and joined the students at football practices.
If so much has been done for cricket in Galle, it's lovely town having been places in prominence in the international cricketing world, should we not add to this glory by creating a football stadium? Surely it will be, like our wonderful cricket stadium, something for the town, country to be proud of while at the same time fulfilling a dire need of Galle.
Anton B. Ferreira
October 3, 2019
An article by Mr Anton Ferreira ( Courtesy- Sunday Times, Sports Section)
Galle Jail should not be shifted
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reference the letter of Mr. Rohan Jayatilleke in your issue of 26.08.2001, may I make a few observations.
Mr. Jayatilleke rightly observes that Galle is in dire need of a football stadium, but the jail of Galle should not be shifted, least of all turned into a stadium.
This prison was built at a time when the Fort was the town and Kaluwella a suburb. A football stadium built just beneath the Roman Catholic Cathedral will surely disrupt the religious services of that venerable institution. As it is, when loudspeakers in the Town Hall often interfere with religious services, the Parish Priest has to go in person and appeal to the organizers to reduce the volume of the speakers.
Imagine a crowd of thousands cheering just below the church when a service is going on. Moreover, the jail should remain, I feel, in the heart of the town to serve as a grim reminder in these days of escalating lawlessness; that criminals could still not evade the law.
The attempt to take over the B.T.S. grounds at Dadalla to convert them into a football ground should be abandoned. It is ludicrous, crowds cheering at a football match on one side and mourners weeping over their dead right across the road at the cemetery at the same time.
There is plenty of land available for a splendid football field and even for a athletics centre or swimming pool. If any official capable of putting a plan into operation will see me by appointment, I will show him the place I have in mind. The town could spread out, congestion could be relieved, and employment found for many.
To make a correction or two in Mr. Jayatilleke's letter, I was never a footballer though soccer was the best game I enjoyed. Mr. Jayatilleke must have been referring to my elder brother Clarence who was an astute footballer in his day or to my younger brother Ben who was the All-Ceylon goalkeeper after he left school. Also, Fr. Morelli who did so much for football at St. Aloysius' College, never took off his cassock on the field. It was another young Jesuit Lay Brother, Andrew, who used to tuck up his cassock and joined the students at football practices.
If so much has been done for cricket in Galle, it's lovely town having been places in prominence in the international cricketing world, should we not add to this glory by creating a football stadium? Surely it will be, like our wonderful cricket stadium, something for the town, country to be proud of while at the same time fulfilling a dire need of Galle.
Anton B. Ferreira
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