PHOTO GALLERY: The Celebration in Photos
ISLE's Silver Jubilee | Press Release - March 7, 2007 | Jubilee Planning/ISLE History | ISLE Homepage
Receiving ISLE Faculty at the ISLE Center.
Guests visiting for the Jubilee get to the know the ISLE faculty at the center, listening to presentations by faculty. (Leaning forward
on right: Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne, Material Culture instructor, absent from faculty photo on first page.)
In these photos, guests mingle with ISLE Program host families, who provide a critical component to the ISLE experience.
BELOW:
Kandyan dance master Peter Surasena performs for the guests and host families, along with drummer Mr. Sirisoma and additional dancers.
The Official Jubilee Event
The official celebration took place on Monday, January 8th, with nearly 100 people arriving at the Vice Chancellor's lodge at the University of Peradeniya. You may refer back to the full story for more details while viewing the photos.
Copies of the jubilee volume, "Identity and Difference," written by our ISLE Peradeniya faculty members,
and edited by John Holt and Punchi Meegaskumbura.
Professor Kamala Liyanage and Dr. Sam Samarasinghe (ICES).
Professor Tim Kaufman-Osborn with ISLE alum and 2006 program assistant Phil Friedrich.
Bowdoin President Barry and his wife, Karen Mills, along with Professor Edmund Gilday
.
John and Sree Padma Holt with Professor Ashley Halpe.
Professors Beverly Nagel, Edmund Gilday, Connie Hungerford,and Judy Head.
Mr. and Mrs. Chandra de Silva, Homestay Coordinators for ISLE, and Karen and Barry Mills.
Professors John Holt, Kingsley de Silva and Connie Hungerford.
President Mills and Mr. Abeyratne Ratnayake, former ISLE exchange student to Bowdoin College,
currently with the Peradeniya University.
Prof. Lily de Silva, retired Peradeniya faculty member who taught in the early years
for the ISLE Program, meets U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert Blake, Jr.
ISLE Center manager Rosemary Chunchie and Karen Mills.
John Holt with Professirs Ashley Halpe, Kingsley de Silva, and Edmund Gilday.
John Holt get a little help with his necktie.
Vice Chancellor Harischandra Abeygunawardena takes over the lighting of the oil lamp from Ed Gilday, and then ...
... passes it on to Professor Punchi Meegaskumbura. Dean Tudor Silva, Faculty of Arts at the University,
looks on (left) and also participated in the lighting, as did Prof. Ashley Halpe.
President Mills completes the lamp lighting tradition.
Sree Padma introduces the special guests attending the Jubilee events.
Prof. John Holt pays homage to those who have helped the Program since its beginning.
President Mills addresses the crowd, and thanks the University of Peradeniya for its partnership through the years.
President Mills presents a gift of appreciation to Vice Chancellor Harischandra Abeygunawardena.
Vice Chancellor Abeygunawardena addresses attendees.
Professor R. O. Thattil of the University of Peradeniya, brought and distributed copies of Sir Ivor Jennings'
autobiography, "The Road to Peradeniya" to the guests.
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Robert Blake, Jr., urges the Program to seek his assistance anytime,
and expressed his hope for continued success for ISLE.
Prof. Beverly Nagel receives her copy of "The Road to Peradeniya."
Refreshments are served.
Professor Hans Oberdieck (far left), ISLE Faculty Director in 1987, listens with other guests.
Fulbrighters and ISLE alumni Delia Kulukundis, Sarah Wright, and Toby David. (On right, Daya Sisira,
assistant to Prof. S. Seneviratne.)
Attendees listen to the Vice Chancellor's presentation.
Prof. Udaya Meddegama, Edmund Gilday, Ms. Kanthi Gamage (ICES librarian), Dr. Ram Alagan, and
Fulbrighter and ISLE alum Dan Kent with friend.
ISLE alum and Fulbrighter Jill Shirey (center), with others.
Celebrants listening to the presentations before lunch.
John Holt signing a copy of "Identity and Difference."
The festivities moved into the beautiful garden at the Chancellor's Lodge.
The event took an elegant turn at lunch.
Sree Padma talks with language instructor B. Herath (far left) and Daya Sisira, who has assisted
Prof. Seneviratne several times on the Northern Tour trip.
Vice Chancellor Abeygunawardena chats with Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne and his wife, Harsha Seneviratne.
Mr. Tissa Jayatilaka, executive director of the US-Sri Lanka Bi-national Fulbright Commission, visits with the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Hans Oberdieck greets language instructor Prof. B. Herath.
Sree Padma introduces Ambassador Blake to Kanyan dance master Peter Surasena and drummer Mr. Sirisoma.
The buffet tables await.
The guests enjoy delicious food and good company at the Jubilee luncheon. (Far left: ISLE Instructor Dr. Rajeewa Jayasinghe)
Center: Maya Perera, Violet Perera, and Rupa Algewatte, indispensable ISLE Center employees.
Ambassador Blake begins his farewells.
Gabriel Anthony (gardner at the ISLE Center), Ambassador Blake, his press officer Mr. Evan Owens,
and Phil Friedrich prepare to depart.
Celebrants trickle outside the building after lunch, ready to take on the next part of their visit:
an archeological tour of the North.
The final farewell!