Jaffna Central College Old Boys' Association Canada Branch came into existence to fill in the vacuum left in the hearts and minds of the Old Boys and Girls of Central who left the shores of their motherland. Their dedication and aching love for their Alma Mater knew no bounds. Each and every Centralite, nurtured in an environment of community and humanity, which is the bedrock of Central's Philosophy, longed to continue the tradition in their second Homeland - Canada.

During the year 1988 a few young enthusiastic, vibrant Old Centralites teamed up together with a group of Vembadi Old Girls, and successfully organized the first ever "Joint Dinner Dance" in Scarborough, Ontario, attended by a large group of young and old Centralites and Vembadians. The following year "1989", this same vibrant young group of Old Centralites joining together with a group of Old Johnians, conducted the maiden "Old Centralites VS Old Johnians" cricket match at Dominion Park Grounds, Scarborough, on 19th. August 1989 witnessed by a fairly large crowd.

The Old Centralites cricketers who came forward with pride to play in this maiden encounter were, S.Nadarajah, K.M.Shanthikumar, M.S.Rameez, M.Murukanantharajah, S.Suseenthiran, V.Sutharsanan, R. Mahinda, D. Raveendran, B. Nimalan, P.Jeyakumar, Kennath Mahesan, Lavendran, Bahirathan, Arunkumar, Eeswaramoorthy and S. Sivakumar. The names of these cricketers published in the 1989 Match Souvenir, is reproduced for record purpose.

These two Old Boys groups organized this Jaffna Central - St. John's cricket encounter that continued unabated with pomp and pageant alternatively, during the periods 1989 to 1992. The personnel and the hearts behind the Central organization were not in print except in the year 1991.

This young organizing committee of the 1991 cricket match (names appear in the Match Souvenir) together with some silent but enthusiastic Centralites were the backbone of this organization, who not only spent their time and energy but also spent their personal finances as well to make these encounters a success.

This was the dawn of the era for the formation of an official Old Boys Association for our Alumni. Due to lack of concrete data, not much of information is available to incorporate in this brief history of the Canada O.B.A., the names of the organizers who did the foundation work during the periods 1989 to 1992.

After the initial steps to form the Alumni Association were taken by a group of enthusiastic young and old Centralites with valuable advice from a couple of former staff members, they unanimously decided to form the Canada O. B. A., Association for the Alumni.

This nucleus group went to work on the project, which culminated in the birth of the Alumni OBA Association in 1992. Their determination made it possible to hold an inaugural meeting on October 10, 1992 at the Tamil Christian Church of Canada, Scarborough and inaugurated formally the Jaffna Central College Old Boys' Association Canada Branch.

The Central O. B. A., Canada took off to a good start. Thanks for the dedication and commitment of all the Old boys present at the inaugural meeting, the effort of all the young Old Centralites who laid the foundation work during the years 1989 to 1992 and to the members of the first committee under the guidance and leadership of the first President, Krish Jeyanathan, Secretary K.J. Thirukumar and Treasurer K. M. Shanthikumar.

This Committee conducted the first official n Jaffna Central - St. John's Old Boys Cricket match (being the Fifth Annual encounter in Canada - first match was played in 1989) on Saturday July 10th. 1993 at Sunnybrook Park Grounds and the first ever "Central Nite" Annual Dinner Dance on Saturday 26th. June, 1993 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Hall, Scarborough, Ontario.

This Association has embarked on many projects to raise funds to help the Alma Mater, the College Students in their educational upliftment and our suffering brothers and sisters back in our Motherland.

Particular reference should be made to the successful conduct of the Cultural events "Madya Deepam" and the "Central Nite" Dinner Dances. These two annual events provide an opportunity for all Old Boys and teachers to interact and contribute their share for the greater good of the Alma Mater.

The Cultural evening namely "Madya Deepam" needs special mention. The 1997 OBA Committee under the pragmatic leadership of Dr.T.Sooriabalan started this program. Hard work of the dynamic Committee and the open hearted-ness of our community with the overwhelming support of the Old Boys and their families, with extraordinary generosity of our Donors and Advertisers, made these events not only successful culturally but monetarily too. The funds collected through this project will primarily be utilized for the educational upliftment of the College students.

Finally, it is important that mention should be made herein, the passing away of distinguished teachers and old boys from our midst. The following former Staff members Messer's Tommy Abraham, Alfanso, V.D.Jeyaratnasingam and Old Boys Messers Jeya Kanaganayagam and K. J. Thirukumar is no more with us. We mourn for them and will always remember them for the meritorious services rendered to our College and the OBA Association in Canada.

" Central's Flag shall never be lowered "