St. Joseph's College, Wattala

St. Joseph's College, Wattala.
College Crest
Location
Enderamulla, Wattala Sri Lanka
Coordinates	6°55′29″N79°51′37″E / 6.924822°N 79.860405°E / 6.924822; 79.860405
Information
Type	Semi Government
Motto	Latin: In Scientia et Virtute (In Knowledge and Virtue)
Religious affiliation(s)	Christianity
Denomination	Roman Catholic [1]
Established	1996;29 years ago (1996) [2]
Rector	Rev. Fr. Ruwan Deshapriya
Staff	95
Grades	1 – 13
Gender	Male
Age	5to 19
Area	7.3 ha (18 acres)
Houses	Bonjean   Melizan   Courdet   Marque
Color(s)	Blue and white
Alumni name	Josephian
Website	sjcwattala.lk

St. Joseph's College, Wattala also known as "St. Joseph's College Colombo 10 - Wattala Branch" was formerly known as St. Joseph's College, Enderamulla. It is a Catholic Semi-Government school situated in the suburbs of Colombo. It is a selective entry Catholic school commenced on 10 January 1996 under the guidance of Rev. Dr. Stanley Abeysekera. ^[3] The College enrolls over 1,400 students with a staff of over 85.

The school is a non-fee levying school, whereby it receives some state funding, relying mostly on funds from an extensive network of alumni worldwide. ^[4]

School buildings cover 7.3 hectares (18 acres) and include a College chapel, and auditorium.

History

The college was the first branch school of St. Joseph's College, Colombo. The school opened on 10 January 1996 with sixty students. The first Rector was Stanley Abeysekera. ^[5]

The school was constructed on land of 3.2 hectares (8 acres) donated by Esther Seneviratne on 17 January 1991, a member of the Catholic Parish of Enderamulla. She donated this land in memory of her husband Wilfred Seneviratne. On 28 August 1992, the President, Ranasinghe Premadasa, donated a 4.0 ha (10 acres) land to Nicholas Marcus Fernando. It was during this time that the Gomis and Fernando drew up a plan to put up the second branch school of the Archdiocese of Colombo within the aforementioned properties and in the vicinity of Enderamulla. ^[6]

At first, in a temporary building, a nursery for the children of Enderamulla, Mabole, Wattala and Kelaniya was opened in 1995 by the Directress of the Nursery Section, Lourdes Marie. The first teacher in this nursery was Mariya Sarojini Coin. While the nursery was functioning, the construction work for the new school was begun with the financial support of the Catholic Businessmen and Professionals Association, affiliated to the Archdiocese. ^[7]

The president of the Association was Joel Selvanayagam, who with the other members initiated this project to construct a branch school of St. Joseph's College. In a year's time, the first two-storey building with six classrooms was ready to start the school. ^[8]

On 10 January 1996, the first academic year was started with 60 students from neighbouring areas including Wattala, Mabole, Ragama, Kelaniya and Weliveriya. ^[9]

Past Priests-in-Charge, Principals and Rectors

Priests-in-Charge

Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke	1996–2000
Rev. Fr. Kennedy Perera	2000–2001
Rev. Fr. Sam Quintus Perera	2001–2003
Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke	2003–2005

Principals

Rev. Fr. Anthony Fernandopulle	2006–2008
Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi	2008–2011

Rectors

Rev. Fr. Stanley Abeysekera	1996
Rev. Fr. Victor Silva	1996–2005
Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe	2005–2011
Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi	2011–2014
Rev. Fr. Gemunu Dias	2014-2017
Rev. Fr. Prasad Niranjan Fernando	2017-2022
Rev. Fr. Sudham Perera	2022–2023
Rev.Fr. Sudath Gunetileke	2023–2024
Rev.Fr. Ruwan Deshapriya	2024–present

College Identity

Flag

The official college flag consists of two navy blue stripes and a white stripe in the middle which are all equal in size. In some occasions, a flag with the college Crest placed in the middle is also used.

St. Joseph's College Flag

St. Joseph's College flag with the College crest

Houses

Bonjean House

• Named after Christophe Ernest Bonjean, first Archbishop of Colombo. ^[10]
• Colour :  

Melizan House

• Named after Andrew Melizan, second Archbishop of Colombo. ^[11]
• Colour :  

Coudert House

• Named after Anthony Coudert, third Archbishop of Colombo. ^[12]
• Colour :  

Marque House

• Named after Peter Marque, fourth Archbishop of Colombo. ^[13]
• Colour :  

References

1. "St. Joseph's College, Colombo 10, Wattala Branch, Phone [phone]".
2. "St. Joseph's College (Fees & Reviews) Sri Lanka, Enderamulla".
3. "News - St. Joseph's College Colombo 10 Wattala Branch".^{[ non-primary source needed ]}
4. "St. Joseph's College Colombo | 10 Old Boys' Union - SJC Old Boys' Union".^{[ non-primary source needed ]}
5. "News - St. Joseph's College Colombo 10 Wattala Branch".^{[ non-primary source needed ]}
6. "News - St. Joseph's College Colombo 10 Wattala Branch".^{[ non-primary source needed ]}
7. "News - St. Joseph's College Colombo 10 Wattala Branch".^{[ non-primary source needed ]}
8. "News - St. Joseph's College Colombo 10 Wattala Branch".^{[ non-primary source needed ]}
9. "News - St. Joseph's College Colombo 10 Wattala Branch".^{[ non-primary source needed ]}
10. "Christopher Bonjean - 1st Archbishop of Colombo".
11. "Andrew Melizan - 2nd Archbishop of Colombo".
12. "Anthony Coudert - 3rd Archbishop of Colombo".
13. "Peter Marque - 4th Archbishop of Colombo".

External links

• Official website