SHANAZ YUSUF KHAN
COLOMBO : Principal of Wycherley International School, Colombo, and renowned chemistry tutor, Kingsley Jayasinghe, retired from service on the 30th of June.
Known as a legend, an icon in the field of education, he began his illustrious career in 1958 at St. Peter’s College, Colombo and served the school until 1979 as a chemistry teacher and Sectional Head of the Advanced Level Section. From 1980 to 1984 he was attached to Borno College of Basic Studies in Maidugiri, Nigeria while working as a visiting lecturer in the University of Maidugiri.
When Wycherley International School was founded in 1985 with Dr. Frank Jayasinghe as its Principal, Kingsley Jayasinghe joined its tutorial staff as a tutor in Chemistry and the Head of High School.
He accepted the mantle of Principal of Wycherley in 1992 and was instrumental in the progress of the school as one of the leading international schools in the country. The most important features of a good school is its Academic Excellence and Discipline is what he believed and was greatly successful in achieving both.
‘Teaching children how to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is more important’ is one of the quotes that he is inspired and driven by, along with ‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today!’ being the other.
A visionary leader, dedicated to upholding good values and strong ethics, Jayasinghe inspired and motivated the staff and students alike to work with commitment and integrity and spearheaded the school down the path of success in the 36 years he served as a tutor and 29 years as its principal.
In addition to being respected and admired, he is loved by many for his compassionate and generous nature. Having always approached life with humility, he never failed to appreciate the contribution of the supporting staff and other ancillary employees at school.
There was an outpour of appreciation and rich tributes from members of the staff who have worked under him; grateful parents and doctors, engineers, lawyers, businessmen and several other individuals from various professions who have been his students, when the news of his retirement was announced by Jayasinghe himself in a heartfelt message to the staff, parents and all his pupils, past and present.
In his poignant note, he extended his wholehearted gratitude to all the staff members who have always stood by him; the parents of Wycherley for the unwavering confidence they had placed in him and to the Management of the school for the unstinted support provided to him.
Among the countless number of students who have been fortunate to have studied under Jayasinghe are some eminent personalities in the country including our Honorable President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, State Minister Ajith Nivaard Cabraal, Deshabandu Dr. Lakshman Weerasena, Vidya Jothi Professor Willie Mendis, Former Airforce Commander and present Governor of the Western province Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonetilleke and prominent Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Ananda Perera, to name a few.
“I’m a happy man,’ he remarked with a beaming smile, “to have been doing what I love for so many years and to have been able to help numerous students. I have no regrets.”
Although officially retired, he wishes to continue imparting his boundless knowledge of chemistry to students as he is still passionate about teaching his `pet’ subject.
We wish him all the best and a contented retirement!
