St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa

Last updated

St. Sebastian's College
Address
St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa
St. Sebastian's College, Uyana, Moratuwa

Moratuwa

Sri Lanka
Coordinates 6°46′55″N79°52′50″E / 6.781952°N 79.880637°E / 6.781952; 79.880637
Information
TypeRoman Catholic Secondary School/College up to University Entrance
MottoExspecta Dominum Viriliter Age
- Expect the Lord and act manfully-
Established1854;170 years ago (1854)
RectorDaya Darshana
Faculty200
Grades1 to 13 local syllabus
Genderboys
Age5to 19
Colour(s)Green, white and gold
   
Website www.sebsmoratuwa.lk

St. Sebastian's College (Sinhala : සාන්ත සෙබස්තියන් විදුහල, Tamil : செயிண்ட் செபாஸ்டியன் கல்லூரி) is a Catholic educational institution in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, established in 1854.

Contents

The college enrolls over 4,000 students served by a staff of over 200. The college motto is "Exspecta Dominum Viriliter Age", meaning "Expect the Lord and act manfully" in Latin. [1]

History

St. Sebastian's College opened in 1854 on the porch of St. Sebastian's Church, Moratuwa, [2] with 11 pupils, administrated by parish priest Friar Bondani, with the help of a headmaster and his assistant. In 1863, it received endowments from Chevalier Jusey de Silva Deva Aditya, founding president of the church. [2] The language of instruction was English. [3] At the request of the Catholics of Moratuwa and the church authorities, the administration of the school was handed over to the De La Salle Brothers on 3 January 1926.

The last headmaster of the school was Lawrence Perera, and the first Brother Director was Irishman Brother Bonaventure Idus. The other two pioneers were a Frenchman, Brother Athanasius Charles and a Sri Lankan, Brother Glaster Oliver. The Rev. Brothers were provided accommodation at Chevalier Walauwa, the Moratuwa police station. Within a few months secondary classes began on the ground floor of the residence. The main school was situated at Uswatte Circular Road, opposite the engine shed of the Moratuwa Railway Station. [3]

Senior Cambridge and Junior school certificate classes were organised and the school was registered as a secondary school in 1927. In 1930 Evelyn de Mel and Daisy Fernando, the daughters of H. Bastian Fernando, gifted 75,000 Sri Lankan rupees to the school. [3]

Realising the necessity of rapid development, a 4.1 ha (10 acres) block of land at Uyana, Moratuwa was purchased for 30,000 rupees by obtaining a loan of 15,000 rupees from the Archbishop and a donation of 15,000 rupees from Bastian Fernando. The college commenced operations on the near site on 23 December 2004.

With the takeover of denominational schools by the government in 1960, St. Sebastian's College decided to continue as a no-fee private school. This was one of the most difficult periods in the history of the college and Rt. Rev. Bishop Edmund Fernando, then the parish priest of Moratuwa, organised the collection of funds for the maintenance of St. Sebastian's College and Our Lady of Victories convent, Moratuwa. Reverend Brother Modustus, an old boy of the college, was the college director in that turbulent period.

Benildus was the Principal of the college from 1964 to 1973. He managed fundraising projects and set up a welfare office to collect funds directly from parents[ citation needed ]. In 1974 the college faced another financial crisis and the president's counsel Eardley Perera formed the welfare society. They were responsible for maintaining St. Sebastian's College as a private school. The financial situation improved when in 1979 the government decided to give a grant to the non-fee levying private schools.

In 1989 principal, Brother Granville Perera started a large building project for the school and in two years sixteen primary classrooms were built. In March 1991 Brother Emmanuel Nicholas the Provincial Visitor introduced a Board of Governors as an advisory body to assist the administration of the college. President's counsel Eardley Perera was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governors. In June 1991 the Board of Governors established the School Development Society, to be in charge of financial management. With the cooperation of the Rev. Brothers and the Board of Governors the teachers, parents and the alumnae gathered round the college to build a three-storied classroom building and a main hall.

St. Sebastian's College entered a new era in 2003, when Brother Henry Dissanayake, the Provincial Visitor of the De La Salle Brothers, handed over the college management to the Archbishop of Colombo from April 2003. The college is administrated by Fr. Bonnie Fernandupulle, Principal, Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe, Deputy Principal, and Fr. Pradeep Fonseka, Principal Primary department.

Fernandupulle took over the Rectorship in 2003. The school functions as an 'assisted school" with substantial state funding. The school prepares students for Local Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations in Sinhalese and English.

College crest

Houses

Sports

Cricket

The Battle of the Golds is the annual cricket contest Big Match between St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa and Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa. [4] In 2011 St. Sebastian's won the Battle of The Gold against Prince of Wales' College after 44 years.

Notable alumni

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
NameNotabilityReference
Maxwell Silva Auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2011–Present) [5]
Valence Mendis Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Kandy, Sri Lanka (2022–Present)

Apostolic Administrator of Roman Catholic Diocese of Chilaw (2022–Present) Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Chilaw, Sri Lanka (2006-2022)

 [6]
Duleep Mendis Test and One-Day International (ODI) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team (1982-1988) [7]
Susil Fernando Test and One-Day International (ODI) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team (1983-1984) [8] [ failed verification ]
Romesh Kaluwitharana Test and One-Day International (ODI) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team (1992-2004) [9] [ failed verification ]
Prasanna Jayawardene Test and One-Day International (ODI) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team (2000-2015) [10] [ failed verification ]
Dinusha Fernando Test and One-Day International (ODI) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team (2003) [11] [ failed verification ]
Oshada Fernando Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team

(2019–Present)

 [12] [ failed verification ]
Amila Aponso Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team

(2016–present)

 [13]
Avishka Fernando Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team

(2016–present)

 [14]
Praveen Jayawickrama Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team [15] [ failed verification ]
Dunith Wellalage Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team (2022–present) [16] [ failed verification ]
Nuwanidu Fernando Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) cricketer for Sri Lanka national cricket team (2022–present) [16] [ failed verification ]
H. Lalith R. J. Nonis Mayor of Moratuwa (1991–1995) [17]
Harindra Joseph S. Fernando Professor of Engineering and Geosciences

Wayne and Diana Murdy Endowed Professor of Engineering and Geosciences, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences Concurrent Professor, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

 [18]
Ajith Nivard Cabraal 12th and 16th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (2006-2015/2021-2022) → Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister on Economic Affairs → Alternate Governor of the International Monetary Fund → Chairman of the South East Asian Central Banks Research and Training Centre (SEACEN) Board of Governors → Chairman of the SAARC Central Bank Governors Forum. [19]
Rajavarothiam Sampanthan Leader of the Opposition Parliament September 2015 to December 2018.

Member of Parliament - Trincomalee (2001–present)

Abdul Bakeer Markar Member of Parliament - Beruwala (1960, 1965–1970, 1977–1989), Speaker of the Parliament (1978-1983), Governor of the Southern Province (1988-1993)
Reginald Cooray Member of Parliament - Kalutara (1994-2000, 2004, 2010–2015), Governor of the Northern Province (2006–present)
Sunil Perera Musician

Related Research Articles

Baila is a form of music, popular in Sri Lanka and among Goan Catholics in India. The genre originated centuries ago among the Portuguese Burghers and Sri Lankan Kaffirs. Baila songs are played during parties and weddings in Sri Lanka, Goa, and Mangalore accompanied by dancing.

Moratuwa is a large municipality in Sri Lanka, on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo main highway, 18 km (11 mi) south of the centre of Colombo. Moratuwa is surrounded on three sides by water, except in the north of the city, by the Indian Ocean on the west, the Lake Bolgoda on the east and the Moratu river on the south. According to the 2012 census, the suburb had a population of 168,280.

De Soysa International Cricket Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Moratuwa, in southwestern Sri Lanka. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 15,000 people and hosted its first Test match in 1992. The ground opened in 1940 and gained Test status in 1979. Moratuwa, located just eight miles (13 km) south of Colombo is renowned for its carpentry, cricket and its philanthropists. Indeed it was the most famous of these families that initiated the development of De Soysa Park Stadium, when they donated the 5 acre plot of land to the Urban Council in 1940, to develop the Sports Complex. An additional 2 acres were sold under its market value by another member of the family. The ground was named De Soysa Park and subsequently used mainly for Moratuwa Sports Club (MSC) and school competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singhalese Sports Club</span> First-class cricket club in Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) is a first-class cricket club in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Singhalese is the most successful club in Sri Lankan domestic cricket, having won the Premier Trophy a record 32 times to 2017. Although the name is correctly spelt with the old spelling "Singhalese", the name is sometimes misspelt with the modern spelling "Sinhalese". Three former Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka have been presidents of the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Thomas' College, Matara</span> Government public school in Matara, Sri Lanka


St. Thomas' College is a government primary and secondary school for boys in Matara, Sri Lanka. The college was initially founded in 1844 as a private Anglican school by Rev. Fr. N. J. Ondatjee, a missionary of the Christian Missionary Society of England, in Wellamadama, Dondra. It presently has over 3,600+ enrolled students studying primary to secondary education.

Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club are a first-class cricket team based in Moratuwa, southwestern Sri Lanka. Their home ground is De Soysa Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Anne's College, Kurunegala</span> School in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, North Western, Sri Lanka

St. Anne's College, Kurunegala, is a Roman Catholic boys' school located in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. Established by Francis Saviour in 1867. Students of St. Anne's College are known as Annites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Henry de Soysa</span> Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist

Charles Henry de Soysa Dharmagunawardana Vipula Jayasuriya Karunaratna Disanayaka popularly known as Charles Henry de Soysa, JP was a Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneering planter, industrialist and was the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank, the Moratuwa carpenters guild, the Ceylon Agricultural and National Associations. He is widely regarded as the greatest philanthropist of the island for contributions which includes the De Soysa Maternity Hospital, the Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, the Model Farm Experimental Station and many other institutions and acts of charity, establishing infant-maternal healthcare and secular education for girls in the country. He would have been the island's first Knight Bachelor, but having died prior, his widow was given the rare honor of the use of the style and dignity of wife of the Knight Bachelor and was known as Catherine, Lady de Soysa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa</span> National school in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Prince of Wales' College is a selective-entry boys' school in Moratuwa, a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, was founded and endowed in 1876 by Sir Charles Henry de Soysa, a famous 19th century Sri Lankan philanthropist and was named in honour of Prince Albert, Prince of Wales

St. Thomas' College, Matale, or (STC), is a secondary school for only boys; located in Matale, Sri Lanka.

De Mazenod College (DMC), founded in 1931, is a Catholic school in Kandana, Sri Lanka, now managed by the De La Salle Brothers. De Mazenod College is a mixed school and has classes from grade 1 to grade 13. Classes are conducted in Sinhala as well as English. Girls are admitted to the school from grade 6 upwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Ceylon</span> Anglican Church in Sri Lanka

The Church of Ceylon is the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka. It is an extraprovincial jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who serves as its Metropolitan. It was established in 1845 with the appointment of the first Anglican Bishop of Colombo, James Chapman and until 1950 it consisted of a single diocese; in that year a second diocese was established at Kurunegala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalutara Vidyalaya</span> Public school in Sri Lanka

Kalutara Vidyalaya is a Buddhist boys' school in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The college was founded in 1941 by Sir Cyril de Zoysa. It is a national school providing primary and secondary education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Match</span> Annual school cricket match series in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lankan cricket, a Big Match is an annual school cricket match typically played between two rival schools in Sri Lanka. These schools often have a long history of competition, some rivalries lasting over a century. Big matches have become a significant part of modern Sri Lankan culture, involving both school children and adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">W. A. de Silva</span> Ceylonese veterinary surgeon, politician and philanthropist

Wilmot Arthur de Silva was a Ceylonese veterinary surgeon, politician and philanthropist. He was the Minister of Health (1936–1942) in the second State Council of Ceylon and a former President of the Ceylon National Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince of Wales–St. Sebastian's Cricket Encounter</span> Annual School Cricket Match Series

The Prince of Wales'–St. Sebastian's Cricket Encounter is an annual cricket match played between Prince of Wales' College (PWC) and St. Sebastian's College (SSC) since 1933. It is known as The Battle of the Golds due to the colours of the two school's flags i.e. Purple, Gold and Maroon of Prince of Wales' College and Green, White & Gold of St. Sebastian's College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vishwa Fernando</span> Sri Lankan cricketer

Muthuthanthrige Vishwa Thilina Fernando, commonly as Vishwa Fernando, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who represents the national side in all three formats. He had his education in St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa. He is the elder brother of the emerging cricketer Nuwanidu Fernando.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tissa Central College</span> National school in Kalutara, Sri Lanka

Tissa Central College, located in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, is a national school. It is the first Buddhist English School in the northern part of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Golds (Panadura and Moratuwa)</span> Annual School Cricket Match Series

Battle of the Golds is an annual Big Match played between Sri Sumangala College and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya since 1934. It is known as The Battle of the Golds due to the colours of the two schools' flags i.e. Green, Gold and Blue of Sri Sumangala College and Maroon, Gold & Maroon of Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.

John Eardley Russel Perera PC was a Sri Lankan lawyer and the 2nd president of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (1977–78). He was a member of the Law Commission and the Council of Legal Education. Mr. Perera was in the first batch of President's Counsel appointed in 1981, having refused silk as a Queen's Counsel in 1967.

References

  1. ↑ admin (2 January 2017). "About". Old Boys' Association of St. Sebastian's College. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 Chevalier Jusey de Silva, Knight of St. Gregory - Dr. K.N.M.D.Fernando Cooray Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) Retrieved 22 December 2014
  3. 1 2 3 The De Soyas of Alfred House by Rupa de Soysa, p.74-5 (Karunaratne & Sons)
  4. ↑ Tame draw at Battle of the Golds Moratuwa
  5. ↑ "Bishop Sampathawaduge Maxwell Grenville Silva [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
  6. ↑ "Bishop Warnakulasurya Wadumestrige Devasritha Valence Mendis [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
  7. ↑ Moratuwa-Moratuwa, A. C. I. Fernando (The Island) Retrieved 9 January 2015
  8. ↑ "Susil Fernando Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  9. ↑ "Romesh Kaluwitharana Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  10. ↑ "Prasanna Jayawardene Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  11. ↑ "Dinusha Fernando Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  12. ↑ "Oshada Fernando Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  13. ↑ "Amila Aponso Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  14. ↑ "Avishka Fernando Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  15. ↑ "Praveen Jayawickrama Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  16. 1 2 "Nuwanidu Fernando Profile - Cricket Player Sri Lanka | Stats, Records, Video".
  17. ↑ "අප ගැන – Moratuwa Municipal Council" . Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  18. ↑ "Harindra - Fernando // Notre Dame Energy // University of Notre Dame".
  19. ↑ "Ajith Nivard Cabraal | Central Bank of Sri Lanka".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.