Tuesday 24th February 2026

I had a rather late start this morning, which was lovely, as I got a few things done in the apartment. My first appointment today was a meeting in my 'cabin' (they call offices 'cabins' here) with Lalanga, where we particularly looked at the use of behaviour charts (similar to a 'report card') for students whose behaviour was becoming increasingly unmanageable. I believe what I shared with Lalanga could have a big impact at the school.

My next appointment was with a new senior member of staff at the school, where I had a 1.5 hour training session with him on 'Effective classroom control and mastering effective classroom management', which was a wonderful use of my leadership and management skills, which have developed over the past 45 years, since I first completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Education in July 1981 at The College of Ripon and York St. John.

I absolutely loved the 1.5-hour training session, and I have two more lined up with the same new senior member of staff tomorrow. I went straight from that session to a feedback session with the Managing Director, and it was great to be able to catch up with him at last. I have greatly enjoyed my work here at the Royal International School, as it has been sufficiently interesting and challenging for the whole of my time here - indeed, I could even have done a little more.

Madam Sandra summoned me for an afternoon trip to Cafe Amakie, which has been quite a favourite haunt of mine on my three previous visits to Kurunegala, but this was my first visit this time around, so I really enjoyed it. It enabled me to have a long one-to-one conversation with Madam Sandra where we covered a variety of key topics concerning the school and its future. I think we have a great mutual respect for each other, and I greatly value her friendship.

Today's photographs are just a few that I took during our afternoon visit to Cafe Amakie.