Given the turbulent chapters of youth uprising and prolonged conflict, these Tamil speaking youth are on the right track. They are the new generation of responsible youth who have the opportunity to interact with Sinhala speaking cadets when they go on their training camps to Rantambe
Established in 1838 one of the oldest schools in Sri Lanka is Hartley College which has a rich history of 180 years. On a recent assignment to Jaffna, I took time to travel to Point Pedro and speak to the 
cadets of this school. The journey to Point Pedro is serene, passing a long stretch of coastal area. At the entrance to the school their motto is etched out in a crest ‘Fiat Lux’ – meaning let there be light.
The pioneer of this college was the late Marshal Hartley and Rev. Dr. Peter Percival. We met the present principal Mr. T.Mukunthan. He explains “The cadet platoon was started in 2010. It was something new but the boys embraced the whole concept with much enthusiasm.
Today we have 25 cadets students from Grade 10 to Grade 13. We have done well at the annual assessment camps”.
The cadets are a unique band of students among the 1200 others studying here.
Given the turbulent chapters of youth uprising in the Northern Province which subsequently led to a prolonged conflict, these Tamil speaking youth are on the right track.
They are the new generation of responsible youth who have the opportunity to interact with Sinhala speaking cadets when they go on their training camps to Rantambe. They also interact with the Army, who monitors their cadet training. I spoke to the platoon sergeant Gunatheep a grade 13 commerce student “ I am happy that our school has cadeting. It is a platform for us to be trained as disciplined leaders. I am also a college prefect, and I have played cricket, volleyball and also learnt karate”. Interestingly their cadet teacher in charge is also an old boy of the college Mr. S. Nalan, who adds “ We are proud of our cadet platoon.
Though established in 2010 we were placed 1st in 2012 among the Tamil schools and 2nd in 2017. We are part of the 20th Battalion”.
To these youth of Point Pedro the cadet platoon is a close knit fraternity that prepares them to face the challenges of the future.