An Extract from the Speech made by Rev Fr Daya Dharshana Perera at the Installation Ceremony as the 5th Rector of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa.

Charting a Course of Excellence: Rev Fr Daya Dharshana Perera Inaugurated as 5th Rector of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa

Today marks the commencement of a journey at St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, a journey that, as I envision it, will be carried out with love and dignity, akin to the path that Christ took to Mount Calvary.

I stand before you with deep honour as I take on the role of the 5th Rector of St. Sebastian’s College, guided by the college motto, Exspecta Dominum Viriliter Age– a call to Expect the Lord and act manfully in Latin.

In recent years, this esteemed institution has achieved remarkable standards, marked by distinctive regional features. These accomplishments are a testament to the joint efforts and support of everyone within the college. As we set sail into the future, propelled by the college's 169-year history, I emphasize the importance of drawing wisdom from our past, cherishing the contributions of our predecessors, and embracing innovation. In this torch relay, we will continuously step forward, striving for perfection and innovation. To propel the college forward, I commit to listening to the views of all stakeholders, building communication pathways for staff, fostering mutual trust, and pooling ideas together. Our collective objective is to formulate strategies that pursue excellence, refine our education system, and make St. Sebastian’s College impactful at both the national and international levels. Allow me to share my initial ideas encapsulated in the acronym "BE READY FOR LIFE":

R - Religious: Nurturing a strong religious foundation.
E - English: Emphasizing proficiency in the English language.
A - Academic: Striving for academic excellence.
D - Discipline: Fostering a disciplined environment.
Y - Yes for what is right only: Encouraging ethical decision-making.

Our first focus is to refine the integrated education model, nurturing talents and skills at different levels and for various fields. As the future of Sri Lanka and Moratuwa lies in the hands of our students, we must cultivate talents and skills across diverse fields, aligning with the government's vision of 'building a better Sri Lanka through education.' The fundamental pursuit of a high-level college is to provide quality education. Therefore, we will optimise our whole-person education system, encompassing general education, discipline-specific education, and peer and community education. Collaboration among colleges and faculties will be actively promoted, along with the launch of innovation and entrepreneurship education. Our second focus is to create an environment that unleashes the potential of our staff. Recognizing the pivotal role of teachers, we aim to build a dynamic team of professional teaching staff with academic integrity and international standing. A supportive and collaborative working culture, where efforts are recognized and appreciated, will be fostered to strengthen staff members’ sense of belonging to the College. Perfecting the evaluation mechanism for academic staff and recruiting distinguished scholars are steps towards building a strong faculty with an excellent academic reputation. St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, should embrace a mission of serving our community, contributing to our nation, and promoting humanity, integrity, propriety, wisdom, and sincerity. Upholding the ideals encapsulated in the college motto, we will transform this institution into one that the local community feels proud of, where outstanding students aspire to study, and where top scholars wish to work. In conclusion, I extend my wishes for good health, good luck, every success, and God’s love to all.