Rubicons Come Alive

Brief History of Music at St Xavier’s College and the Origin of Rubicons

Music, arts, and drama are vital elements of human life and have been integral to the curriculum at St. Xavier’s College, ingraining themselves into the hearts and minds of young Xaverians. A close examination of the origins of many bands in this country reveals that the Church or the College often laid the foundation for their careers. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne’s book on the origins of Sri Lankan Calypso music highlights the significant contribution of the Church to Sri Lankan music.

Early records indicate that Mr. Emmanual Rodrigo, beloved father of our Former College Manager, Rev. Fr. S.J.S. Rodrigo, was among the first Sri Lankans trained in Western music by Rev. Fr. Pallas in 1873. By 1910, Rev. Fr. S.J.S. Rodrigo, a veteran in Western music, had given a more scientific touch to music at St. Xavier’s College. Since then, music has flourished at our alma mater, and today, many bands and solo artists from our school thrive in the showbiz industry.

Historical documents also reveal that Mrs. Hyde, the mother of Rev. Fr. D.B. Hyde (1916-1918), assisted the choir with her handwritten music sheets, which were used by the Church choir led by Xaverians. We take great pride in the contributions of the Old Xaverians to the country’s music industry.

In 1980’s Mr.Noel Nadeson and Rev.Sr.Felicia Jusse took efforts to revive the College band that was introduced in 1915.

The Rubicons Beat Band, formed in 1963, holds a distinguished place in the music scene for over 60 years. This Old Xaverians’ beat band began at school with members Jewel Gunetilake (formerly of Peter Prince Combo), Ananda Goonatilake, Paul Perera and Albert Thomas (a foundational music teacher for many prominent local musicians, including Dr.Rohana Weerasinghe). Under Paul Perera’s leadership, who serves as a senior advisor and former Joint Secretary of the Old Boys’ Association (OBA), the Rubicons were contemporaries of other notable bands such as the Jet Liners, Hezonites, Savages, and Super Sonics.

The original lineup featured Chrishanthus Nanayakkara (vocals), Lionel Sugathadasa (rhythm guitar), Paul Perera (lead guitar), Sena Pathirana (drums), Cecil Pelpola (bass), Mahinda Ranaweera (vocals and percussion), Nihal Jayawardena (vocals), Anton Mathew (Vocals) and Claude Mathew (guitar). They performed hits from The Shadows, Jumping Jewels, Jim Reeves, Elvis Presley, Hank Snow, Hank Locklin, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.

Paul Perera worked with Messrs. Walkers and later at Ceylon Brewery Ltd. and represented Sri Lanka in music at travel tour promotions in Germany in the early  1990s. Later, he performed solo with his Hawaiian guitar and keyboard at prestigious hotels such as the Grand Hotel and St. Andrew’s.

The late Sena Pathirana, an Old Sylvestarian, pursued a career in agriculture. Cecil Palpola, who also worked with Walkers and Ceylon Brewery, served at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy.

The late Claude Mathew worked as a tour operator, while his elder brother Anton Mathew now lives in Colombo. The Mathew brothers’ musical talent came from their father’s generation. Their parents settled in the upcountry as their father was employed as a doctor at Coombwood Estate in Talawakelle. After resettling in Colombo, Anton joined the Sri Lanka Air Force. In 2022, Anton Mathew at the age of 81 entered the World Record Book by singing 220 songs non-stop in 4 hours, 12 minutes, and 7 seconds, without a break or a drop of water.

Old Antonian Nihal Jayawardene resides in Germany. His father served as a Public Health Inspector (PHI), and his mother was the head of nursing in the medical service. Nihal was the lead vocalist known for performing many uptempo songs, including those by Trini Lopez. He has also been actively involved in various church activities in Germany.

The late Chrishanthus Nanayakkara taught at St. Xavier’s College for nearly six years. The late Lionel Sugathadasa, another Old Xaverian, ventured into business in Hatton. The late Mahinda Ranawara, who resided in Kandy, was a nine-time Presidential award-winning Batik artist.

The band’s evolving lineup included Julian Pakeer (vocals), who later joined the Jet Liners; Gorden Rebeira (vocals and rhythm), and Marshalle Outschoorne (vocals), later performed in Australia. The Rubicons played at several significant events, including the 50th Independence Anniversary of Sri Lanka in 1997, with Prince Charles as the chief guest, and a function honouring the late Speaker of Parliament Anura Bandaranaike, attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. They were also patronized by former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Anura Bandaranaike.

The late Rosney Boulton, Mohammad Niaz, Habib Shouketh, Fenzie Pathirana, Munira Assan, the Assan Brothers, Gordon Rebeira, the late Ronnie Leitch, Anton Ranaweera teamed up with Paul Perera in numerous occasions taking the name of Rubicons forward.

Paul Perera’s contributions to the St. Xavier’s Church choir have been invaluable. His efforts in training the choir, providing music and sound equipment for Mass, and being an active member of both the English and Sinhala choirs for many years are truly commendable. The parishioners are ever grateful to him and his friends for their dedication and support.In addition to his work at St. Xavier’s, Paul has also significantly supported the Western Band of Good Shepherd Convent from 2004 to 2008, generously offering his sound equipment and training the school choir. Paul Perera was honoured with the prestigious state title “Kalabushana” by the Department of Cultural Affairs on December 15, 2013.

Paul Perera’s brother, the late Noel Perera, born in 1953, also received his primary education at St. Xavier’s College and completed his education at Gamini School. Besides excelling in education and sports, his forte was music. He emerged as the Table Tennis Champion multiple times, representing both the College and the CYO in the late 1970s.

In 1977, Noel Perera, bringing with him a wealth of musical talent, became a promising musician when he joined the celebrated beat band, the Rubicons. Over time, he became a key member of the band.

In the early 90s members of the Rubicons Band were actively performing at high-end hotels in Nuwara Eliya as a Calypso Band under the leadership of Paul Perera, and did their initial travel tour promotions for Sri Lanka in 93 and 94 in Germany in collaboration with the Reisewelt Group.

Paul Perera mentions that in the mid-90s  the ‘Creations’ band was formed under the leadership of Noel Perera and continued with the tour promotions in Germany and contracts in the Maldives. In the mid 90’s these musicians brought colour and light to the guests of leading hotels.  During this time, the band produced their first cassette, “Popular Hits of Sri Lanka,” due to the popular demand of regular European guests, offering it free of charge to their audience.

Noel Perera did not stop there; he went on to produce his maiden CD with ten original hits. His second CD, released in 2007, comprised 14 songs. A few months before his demise, he expressed his anticipation for the OBA 75th Anniversary, where he hoped to see all Old Xaverian musicians back on the same stage. In a way, the ‘Rubicons Come Alive’ is a realization of his dream.

The bands were accompanied by notable musicians such as Shaky Fernando who is in the height of the showbiz in Colombo as a solo artist. Prince Fernando, Patrick Arokiam, Mahinda Silva, Robert Joseph, and Nadeeka Guruge. Nadeeka Guruge is an internationally acclaimed musician, composer, and academic. He is the Founding Head of the School of Music at SLTC Research University and created Sri Lanka’s first bachelor’s degree in music for a non-state university. He is also a main judge on the popular reality TV singing competition “Derana Dream Star.” The lineup also included Sumudu Guruge, Jimmy Pathirana, Sunil Jayaweera, Calistus Dissanayake, Henry, Timothy Wanigasekara, Susantha Kumara, Vipula Kumara, Pathum Akalanka, Paul Perera’s beloved daughter Nirmaline Perera,Dilan Dominic and many others who performed alongside Paul at various times.

The late Shanel Ariyaratne was a talented composer, while Mahinda Silva joined the Rubicons as a drummer and later led various bands. In 1982, he joined SEAC Entertainment and performed in Colombo. Later he reunited with the Old Xaverians with the band ‘Creations’ led by Noel Perera. Mahinda celebrated his 30th anniversary by releasing a CD with duets by Farzana Jaleel and music arrangements by Chathura Fernando, son of the renowned musician Freddy Fernando. Mahinda currently performs with the band ‘CALYPSA’ and specializes in unplugged music.

Susantha Kumara founded and led the Blue Max Band while still in Grade 9 and later performed in Verona, Italy. Rukman Mark, Ajith Rayen, Anton Tunnard, Clement Luke, and Kamal Gunaratne, of Xaverians beat Band toured many countries, including Germany, showcasing their musical talents.

Sons of Old Xaverian Christy Tunnard, Richrad, Ranjith, Collin, and Anton are well talented singers with melodious voices and sing in all three languages. Lasantha Herath T.D. Amith( (drummer of the Sri Lanka Army beat band), Ranga Ruberu, and Anton Sanampriya, Ex.President of the Nuwara Eliya Arts Forum, have all made significant contributions to the showbiz scene in Nuwara Eliya.

The legacy of music at St. Xavier’s College is rich and enduring, with many Old Xaverians continuing to leave their mark on both local and international music scenes.

The arrival of Cecil Pelpola from Italy in June this year, coupled with the enthusiasm of Suren Swaminathan and Paul Perera, inspired the OBA to organize a Sing-Along event. This gathering, titled “Rubicons Come Alive,” invites Old Xaverians and feature guest artists to perform at Nazareth House, Nuwara Eliya on July 14, 2024, commencing at 5:00 p.m. The evening program will commence with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Shivantha Rodrigo, the Rector of Our Lady’s School. He is an enthusiastic educationist and a descendant of Rev. Fr. Alexander Siriwardene, who was the manager of St. Xavier’s College in the 1920s.

The evening promises to be a musical delight with well-known music director Ajith de Silva, Kithsiri Gamage of Super Stars, and Old Sebastianite Peter Romulus leading the entertainment. They will be joined by Nirmaline Perera, Mahinda Silva, Richard Tunnard, Ranjith Tunnard, Susantha Kumara, Kamal Gunaratne, Susantha Kumara and Dilan Dominic. Chathura Fernando and his band Index 33 will provide instrumental backing for the event.  The organizing committee for this special occasion includes RM Nawaz, Suren Swaminathan,             Benjamin Jeganathan, Nilan de Zoysa, UC Emmanuel, Chandana Fernando, Subash Gorden, Rohan Peiris, Hiran Kodithuwakku, Vadivel Balendran, Dilan Dominic, Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, S.Vincent, Joy Crooze, John Christopher, and Nirmaline Perera.

Photographs:  Old Xaverians Paul Perera, Ananda Gunathilake and Cecil Palpola at the opening ceremony of the two storied College building on the 11^th Oct 1958.

Rubicons -Rio teamed up in 1960 with Anton Mathew, Sena Pathirana, Manager Susira  Cecil Palpola, Claude Mathew, Paul Perera and Nihal Jayawardene.

Peter Prince Combo with Jewel Gunathilake

Memories of Cecil Palpola; Sena Pathirana, Edward Solomons, Munira Assan and Paul Perera  in action.

           Creations Calypso Band  Nadeeka Guruge with is clan

           St Xavier’s College Western Band-1980