26 February 2022 12:47 am Views - 410
The demise of our longstanding beloved friend and Senior Old Boy Fauzul Khalid creates an irreplaceable void which is strongly felt amongst the Old Boys of Isipathana College both young and old. I joined Isipathana College (then Greenlands College ) in 1959 and my early memories of Fauzul dates back to early 1960’s. Our School was founded in 1952 with just 400 Students. When we were called for our routine dental checkups while seated on the bench outside the dental facility waiting for our turn, fond memories go back when we enthusiastically watched our hero’s the cricketers, rugby players, cadets and other outstanding senior students walk along the long corridors of the newly established school brimming with confidence. I still remember vividly Fauzul among them.
Some of Fauzul’s contemporaries who caught our admiration were Priya De Mel, Dayalu Perera, Ana Saranapala, Wijeya Yapa, Sonna Cassim, Randy Peitersz, Chuck Paulusz, Sunil Wickremasuriya, Sarath Senannayake, Ashroff Aziz, Rodney Garnier, Anwer Dole, Aubrey Wijewardena Ranjith Weerasinghe, Naveen Gunawardena, Laki Wickremasinghe, Prasanna Goonetilleke, Sri Lal De Silva, Ivan Perera, Wijayabahu, Lal Soysa, Nihal Gunawardena, Sunanda Jayaratne, Silvatha Ekanayake, Prasanna Perera, Gamini Gunasena and Pittu Merchandani. It must be mentioned that the founder Principal the Late Mr B.A. Kuruppu -an outstanding product of Royal College and a great Educationist himself- was rather selective when enrolling students. He gave preference to boys from influential families to ensure that the school would have a strong foundation and that the Parents would generously contribute for the long-term stability of the newly established school. Fauzul joined Greenlands College from Ladies’ College, Colombo 07. His mother the Late Mrs Hajianifatim Khalid former Principal of Aluthgamaveediya Muslim Girls National School and father the late Mr B.A. Kuruppu were attending Government Teacher Training School as batchmates.
Educationists and the visionaries of that time who established Greenlands College at that time realised that there was a dire need, mainly to accommodate the inflow of excess applicants to Royal College Primary. The Department of Education in 1950 acquired a 7 Acre prime land located in Colombo 05 for the birth of a new educational establishment. Fauzul and his contemporaries were in the first batch to be produced. Some of them are today scientists, Doctors, engineers, industrialists, businessmen, senior managers either in the private and public sector. Fauzul became a senior manager at Unilever.
Over the years Fauzul had taken the forefront in Organizing Isipathana Vs Thurstan Big Matches and raising funds for our Champion College Rugby Team for the purpose of embarking on foreign tours. He was made an OBA Life Member. It was a sad moment when Fauzul passed away just one month before the School celebrated its 70th Anniversary.
Fauzul comes from an illustrious family which has done outstanding Social Services to the Sri Lankan community. He is the son of the Late Al-Haj HM Khalid, the Public Health Officer of Dharga Town and the Late Mrs Hajiani Khalid, the Principal of Aluthgamveediya Muslim Girls National School, Dharga Town. Fauzul married Shanaz, daughter of the Late Tony Jayah, the eldest son of the Late Dr. T. B. Jayah. Fauzul held several key positions in the All Ceylon Muslim League, the sole major political movement of the Muslims. At the time of his demise he was its secretary apart from being one of the Trustees of the Colombo Grand Mosque.
Fauzul also held key positions in the Lions Club as was elected as District Governor of Lions. He was also the Secretary-General of the Jaycees International in the 1970 s and was later elected National President of the Jaycees International in 1982.
Fauzul was a very devoted and a dedicated family man and a loving Husband to Shanaz, beloved Father of Sherouza, Father-in-Law of Azam Anzary and beloved Grandfather of Alisha, Ayman and Ammarah.
Anura Serasingha
Former Senior Vice President
Isipathana College OBA