The story so far
St Michael’s College Batticaloa Alumni Association UK
How it all began
The SMCBAA UK, also known as the St Michael’s College Batticaloa Alumni Association UK, was founded in 1989 by Mr Kennedy Sabapathy and Mr Visahan Subramaniam. Their vision for the St Michael’s College Batticaloa Alumni Association (SMCBAA UK) came to life when they collaborated with Mr Ratnajothy, Mr Ananda Joseph and Mr Britto Jeykumar. Together, they embarked on a mission to create a platform that would serve as a bridge between SMC students in the UK, connecting them with their alma mater and with one another.
One of the main ways in which SMCBAA UK supports the school’s development is by organising various events and activities to raise funds. These events not only provide opportunities for Michaelites to come together and reconnect, but also contribute to the financial resources needed to support the growth and improvement of St Michael’s College.
To ensure the smooth functioning of the organisation, a constitution was drafted with the assistance of Dr Bala Cangasabey. This constitution sets out the rules and regulations under which the organisation operates.
Our patrons
Dr AHY Rajendram has been the patron of SMCBAA UK for many years, providing unwavering support and guidance to the organisation. His role as patron has been instrumental in the association’s growth and success. Throughout the years, Dr Rajendram has been a source of inspiration for the members of SMCBAA UK. His wisdom, experience and leadership have guided the association through challenging times, ensuring its continued progress and development.
Additionally, Mr David Logan has served as Vice Patron of SMCBAA UK, offering valuable support to the organisation. His commitment to the mission and goals of the association has contributed significantly to its achievements.
Both Dr AHY Rajendram and Mr David Logan have played vital roles in the success of SMCBAA UK. Their dedication, guidance and support have helped shape the organisation and foster a strong sense of community among its members.
Sport, sponsorship and service
Over the course of 34 years, SMCBAA UK organised several sporting events in the UK, including basketball tournaments and cricket matches. These events provided opportunities for members to come together, compete and foster a sense of camaraderie within the community.
Furthermore, SMCBAA UK undertook various student sponsorship schemes and bursaries, demonstrating its commitment to supporting students. These initiatives aimed to provide financial assistance and opportunities for deserving students to pursue their education.
The Presidents who shaped us
Throughout its history, SMCBAA UK has had several individuals serve as President. Among them, Mr Ratnajothy, the first President, stands out as an exceptional contributor to the association. In its early stages, he dedicated his own time and financial resources to advancing the goals of the Alumni Association. His selfless commitment and dedication laid a strong foundation for the organisation’s growth and success.
Since then, many individuals have held the position of President, including Mrs Koreira, Dr AHY Rajendram, Mr Ananda Joseph, Mr Kennedy Sabapathy, Mr Sam Jeykumar, Mr Shashangan Canagasuriam and Mr Shailesh Ganeshamoorthy.
Mr Shailesh Ganeshamoorthy made significant contributions to SMCBAA UK. Under his leadership, the organisation experienced substantial growth and transformation, establishing a strong foundation for its continued success. Mr Manickarajah Bernard Laxman subsequently took on the presidency and built upon the achievements of his predecessor. He focused on strengthening existing programmes and initiatives, further enhancing the organisation’s success.
When Mr Senathirajah Sureshkumar took over the presidency in 2017, he played a crucial role in raising funds and executing projects such as sponsoring the Prize-Giving Ceremony, which recognised and rewarded students for their academic as well as extracurricular achievements, and initiating the Fr Miller Computer Lab Project, which aimed to enhance the educational experience by providing students with access to modern technology.
Mr Nagarajah Rameshprabahar served as President of SMCBAA UK during its 30th anniversary. Under his leadership, the committee successfully executed an extravaganza evening, offering a memorable experience for attendees. Mr Rameshprabahar also initiated the computer laboratory project, aimed at modernising the school’s facilities.
Following Mr Rameshprabahar’s presidency, Mr Savarimuthu Subaskaran took over and continued the pursuit of his predecessor’s goals. Under his leadership, the committee was dedicated to celebrating the school’s 150th Jubilee year and organised the Mike London Bridge Walk. It’s worth mentioning many members from the UK OBA also joined the celebrations in Sri Lanka. In 2023, SMCBAA UK supported the construction of a parapet wall and helped establish a Junior Band at St Michael’s College. With the help of Mr Puvanasingam Vaseekaran, SMCBAA UK donated cricket equipment worth Rs 900,000. Additionally, SMCBAA UK contributed to the St Michael’s College Past and Present Teachers’ Felicitation Day, which was attended by more than 300 teachers and members of the SMC global community.
After Mr S Subaskaran’s tenure, Mr Nareshkumar Nagarajah assumed the role of SMCBAA UK President in 2024. He arrived with a clear vision for the future and implemented a series of changes within the UK OBA. Mr Nareshkumar continued to support St Michael’s alma mater by honouring our prize-giving commitment to school students. Under his leadership, the association successfully participated in the Festival of Cricket and the TSSA Cricket Tournaments in 2024 and 2025. The committee also faced the loss of our Vice President, Mr Velayuthampillai Umashanger. SMCBAA UK will continue to remember his contributions and honour his legacy.
A new chapter
Following the presidency of Mr Nareshkumar Nagarajah, Dr Shiyamsundaran Mahalingam took over as President in April 2026, determined to bring a breath of fresh air to this established organisation.
Under his leadership, the committee successfully revived the “Big Match”, a long-standing tradition between our two brother schools, St Michael’s College and Methodist Central College. The event was a tremendous success and, more importantly, brought the two school communities together once again after a two-year absence.
We would like to extend our gratitude to our past Presidents, Mr Manickarajah Bernard Laxman and Mr Sam Jeyakumar, for their commitment, encouragement and support in making this event a success.
Continuing with the sporting theme, the committee was also pleased to support the annual Festival of Cricket (FOC) and the TSSA Cricket Tournaments shortly afterwards.
Honouring Rev Fr Eugene John Herbert
We had the privilege of organising a Memorial Service to commemorate the life and service of Rev Fr Eugene John Herbert. The service was warmly embraced by our community here in the UK, as well as by Fr Herbert’s family in New Orleans, Louisiana. We were deeply touched to receive a message from Fr Herbert’s nephew, Mr Emile Dumesnil, on behalf of Fr Herbert’s sister, Mrs Gertrude Herbert Dumesnil, expressing their gratitude to SMCBAA UK for honouring Fr Herbert’s memory and recognising his dedication to our beloved school.
Projects for our students
The current committee has been actively involved in planning and delivering projects aimed at further developing and supporting our school. One of our key achievements has been the completion of the computer project, which was originally initiated in 2019. We are delighted to announce that, after several years, this project has finally been completed, with 25 additional computers and the required furniture provided for the school.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr Puvanasingam Vaseekaran for his generous support, which played a significant part in making this project possible.
In addition to our infrastructure and development projects, the current committee is equally committed to investing in the future of our students by continuing to support the Student Sponsorship. This programme currently supports seven financially challenged students, helping them continue their educational journey while easing some of the financial pressures faced by them and their families. We are particularly grateful to our current committee members who have personally committed to giving back and supporting the next generation of Michaelites.
A platform for our community
Another important milestone for SMCBAA UK is the launch of our new website, something that has been on our wish list for quite some time. The website will provide a central platform for keeping our community informed about the latest developments of our projects, SMCBAA UK announcements and publications, updates from our school, student achievements, upcoming events, membership information and sponsorship opportunities.
More importantly, we hope this platform will become an important link connecting Michaelites in the UK and around the world, helping us stay connected to one another and to our beloved school, wherever we may be.
We would like to extend our special thanks to our past President, Mr Nareshkumar Nagarajah, who strongly advocated for the need for such a platform and recognised its importance to our association. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our current committee members, Mr Krishana Sandrasegeram and Mr Sritharan Niwethushan, for dedicating their time and expertise to designing and building the website.
Our Annual Ball
Keeping with our tradition, we gather to celebrate our Annual Ball, an occasion that allows us to come together, enjoy one another’s company, celebrate our shared achievements and recognise the tremendous work carried out by those who came before us. Most importantly, it reminds us of the commitment we all share towards the continued development of our school and the success of its students.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, we are also in the process of installing solar panels and battery storage systems at the school. Our goal is to generate sufficient renewable energy to power the computer laboratory entirely through solar power, while significantly reducing the school’s monthly electricity costs.
This initiative will not only help the school reduce its ongoing operating and maintenance costs, but will also enable our school to embrace clean and sustainable energy, reduce its carbon footprint and play its part in the global effort to combat climate change.
Together, we make a difference
None of these achievements would have been possible without your generosity and continued support. Whether it has been through significant contributions towards the computer project, sponsoring our Annual Ball, helping us prepare and sell the delicious food at our events, purchasing raffle tickets or simply making a donation, every contribution has made a difference.
Since the AGM in April 2026, the current committee has raised more than £30,000. It is truly remarkable to reflect on what we have been able to accomplish together in such a short period of time.
These achievements belong to all of us. On behalf of the committee, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for your generosity, encouragement and unwavering support.
Together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference to the future of St Michael’s College and, most importantly, to the education and success of the students who will carry its legacy forward.