"The greatest use of a life is to use it for something that will outlast it". These simple yet inspiring words of a sage sprang to our mind when we heard that Mr. K. Pooranampillai had passed away in UK on Sunday 22nd April 2001.

A recollection of his life that spanned nine decades reveals that those words had been his motto. The excellent use he made of it has earned him a permanent niche in our heritage as a distinguished Principal and educationist in Sri Lanka.

Mr. K. Pooranampillai B. A (Lond) Post Grad. Trd (Birmingham) was born on 30th October 1909 in Thunnalai, a village close to Point Pedro where he rose to his fame as the Principal of Hartley College.

When Mr. C. P. Thamotheram retired in 1943 having made the college one of the brightest stars in the educational firmament in the island the obvious successor could be none other than Mr. Pooranampillai. His credentials were so good.

He was a brilliant pupil of the college. He had been under the tutelage of Mr. Thamotheram as an accomplished teacher. He came from a good Christian family background.

He was the grandson of Mr. J. C. T. Sherrad and a son of Mr. S. S. Kanapathipillai who had been formidable Principals at Hartley long before Mr. Thamotheram. In fact Mr. Pooranampillai made an interesting reference to this connection of his as one of "two umbilical cords" when he spoke at the Ter jubilee celebrations of the college in Colombo on 10th June 1989.

Mr. Pooranampillai's personality was an impressive blend of a keen intellect, a sound mind, an iron will, a computer-like memory and an eloquent tongue. He dedicated every inch of it to add a new dimension to his school's glory.

He had a vision for the school. Following the model of Thomas Arnold of Rugby, a renowned Head Master in England, he wanted to raise the stature of Hartley equal to the popular Grammar schools in UK. In his firm belief, that the head of a school should be a king in his castle, he instituted a strong administration that welcomed no extraneous influence.

He believed that a school should have up to date facilities providing a high quality of mental and physical development to the students. There should be discipline, planning, delegation and effective supervision in the work done at college.

He introduced the Prefect System. Brought in the school uniform - white shirt and blue shorts in the Lower Forms, white shirt and trousers in the Advanced Level. Built a gym. for physical education. Made sports and games compulsory for all. Ushered in unions and clubs for the moral, civic and aesthetic development of young minds. Held weekly General Assemblies to foster familial feelings amongst the staff and students.

In short the college became an institution for an all-round development of the pupils who could hold their heads high in any arena of public life maintaining a lifetime friendship as Hartleyites.

No wonder the new streamlined administration produced marvellous results. The college struck a new height in the educational sphere. The Principal gained an outstanding status at home and abroad and his initials became a household monogram.

The Hartleyites holding high positions today in scholarly disciplines, scientific and technological fields and professions both at home and abroad are a living testimony to K. P's success.

Thanks to him, as well as his predecessors who laid the foundation for his work and his successors who jealously follow his footsteps, the college's future is assured.

To ensure this, the Hartleyites have a commonwealth of Past Pupils Associations with its center in Pt. Pedro and branches in Colombo, London, Canada, USA and Australia. They are not only cherishing their fellowship but also magnanimously fostering the scholarship of the succeeding generations at Hartley College.

Mr. Pooranampillai retired in 1967 and after a brief period of service as Principal of St. John's College, Jaffna went to London to live with his wife and daughters. However unto his last he maintained intimate and fruitful connections with all the PPAs and his alma mater.

Hartley College shall remain an eternal monument to him bearing as its epitaph the prophetic words - "Hartley will know no decline"- he uttered at his farewell in 1967.

May His Soul Rest in Peace.

P. Balasingam