Celebration of Principal’s Birthday and spontaneous reunion of former students, March 5, 2024.

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Celebration of Principal’s Birthday and spontaneous reunion of former students, March 5, 2024.

Celebration of Principal’s Birthday and spontaneous reunion of former students, March 5, 2024.

Preparations for this birthday party started weeks in advance. The students and staff had all kinds of secrets. Messages came from former students who wanted to come this day, because the Deaf School was also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

It was a very special, emotional and heart-warming day. No fewer than 70 former students came to Moratuwa, most from remote areas and some even brought their relatives. 9 former teachers also came. What a surprise! All this happened spontaneously, we had not sent any invitations.

We started by lighting the oil lamp and cutting the cake. Mudithe and Pathum had made a PowerPoint about the life of Tineke de Silva and the developments of the Deaf School since its founding in 1984. There was also an impressive personal song for the Principal, made by Mudithe and a friend, with beautiful images.

Our students did a dance, just like a group of former students. Eight talented students, led by Pathum, had created a beautiful painting with colourful flowers and butterflies. There were speeches by former students, of which Salika’s had a message for everyone. Tineke de Silva thanked everyone for coming and for the many flowers and gifts.

Fortunately, a catering company had been hired to provide lunch, so we could have dinner with 120 people at 1 p.m.

It wasn’t until 7 p.m. that the last former students went home, after another hour of playing cricket on the lawn with our oldest students.

Everyone agreed that a reunion of former students and teachers should be organized annually on March 5! Next year we hope to reach hundreds of deaf former students who were not there this time. That is definitely worth it!