Plaque presented to former Canadian Ambassador James George

The Junior Technical Officers (JTO) who passed out from the Institute of Practical Technology, Katubedda (IPTK) celebrated their Golden Jubilee earlier this year.

At the event a plaque was presented to Bruce Levy to be handed over to James George, the High Commissioner of Canada at the time of establishing the Institute in recognition of his assistance in obtaining a generous gift from the Government and People of Canada for establishment of Institute of Practical Technology, Katubedda in 1961. Levy, the former Canadian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka presented this plaque at George’s residence in Canada recently.  George could not attend the commemoration and the Golden Jubilee celebration in April 2012 due to his advanced age.  However, he sent a message to the event which was read out by Levy, the Canadian High Commissioner at the time of the Golden Jubilee, who was the Chief Guest at that occasion. The plaque was presented to George for his untiring efforts in establishing the Institute of Practical Technology, Katubedde in 1962 under a Canadian Government aid package. A recording of the video conference Leslie Dep had with George was also shown at the commemoration held at the James George Hall, Katubedde prior to the Golden Jubilee celebrations at Lake Nest Resort that took place the same evening.      Levy undertook to hand over the plaque personally to George on his return to Canada.  Indirani Jayawardena of the Canadian High Commission was instrumental in coordinating the invitation to the High Commissioner and outlining the diplomatic protocol in this regard.