Wesley College, Colombo

Last updated

Wesley College
වෙස්ලි විද්‍යාලය
உவெசுலி கல்லூரி
Wesley College Colombo crest.png
Location
Wesley College, Colombo

Coordinates 6°55′16″N79°52′34″E / 6.9210°N 79.8761°E / 6.9210; 79.8761
Information
School type Semi Government
MottoOra et Labora
(Pray and Labour)
Established2 March 1874;150 years ago (1874-03-02)
FounderDaniel Henry Pereira
Educational authority Sri Lanka Education Department
PrincipalAvanka Fernando
ChaplainDinuka Silva
Staff300+
Grades1–13
GenderMale
Age6to 19
Enrollment3,000+
Education system National Education System
Pearson Edexcel
Language English, Sinhala and Tamil
Colour(s)Cambridge blue and Oxford blue   
Song Wesley to the Fore
PublicationThe Double Blue (est. 1898)
Affiliation Methodist Sri Lanka
AlumniWesleyites
Website wesleycollegecolombo.info

Wesley College popularly known as "Wesley" or "The Double Blues", is a Methodist school providing primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka since 1874.

Contents

History

Dam street church and school.jpg

In 1858, Rev. Joseph Rippon wanted to establish a superior educational institution for the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in South Ceylon.[ citation needed ] [1] On 2 March 1874 (the death anniversary of Rev. John Wesley) Wesley College was founded in the City Mission buildings at Dam Street, Pettah. The school's first principal was Rev. Samuel R. Wilkin and the first vice-principal was Rev. Daniel Henry Pereira.

Many years later, under the guiding hand of Rev. Henry Highfield, Wesley was moved from Dam Street, Pettah to its current residence at Karlsruhe Gardens, Borella in 1907.

The Methodist institution was envisaged to be a distinctly Christian college, but it currently provides secondary education for over 3,000 Sri Lankan students from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.[ citation needed ] [2]

Wesley College has established two branches to accommodate its growing number of students. One branch is situated in Havelock Town, Colombo, while the other is in Thampola, Katunayake.

Wesley College is named after John Wesley (1703–1791), the founder of the Methodist Church.

College song

The song was the first-ever school anthem to be written in the country.[ citation needed ] The lyrics were composed by H. J. V. I. Ekanayake in 1898, and set to the music of "Scots Wha Hae" by Robert Burns. This music is adapted from the traditional Scottish patriotic tune "Hey Tuttie Tatie", which was composed in 1314.

Houses

The house system was suggested by Rev. Henry Highfield and introduced by Rev Albert Hutchinson. Wesley College has four main houses, which were further divided by C. J. Oorloff as senior houses and junior houses. The houses are named after former principals and teachers, as follows: [3]

Notable alumni

NameNotabilityReference
Kamal Addaraarachchi actor
E. W. Adikaram social activist, philosopher, founder of multiple schools in Sri Lanka (Anula Vidyalaya, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya Kotte 1971; Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama)
Rohan Amerasekera Commander of the Air Force (19621970)
Claude Corea member of parliament (19311946)
Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke Governor-General of Ceylon (19541962)
Walisinghe Harischandra social reformer, historian, author
Don Baron Jayatilaka
Brendon Kuruppu international cricket player (19871991)
E. F. C. Ludowyk first Professor of English, University of Ceylon
Farveez Maharoof international cricket player (20042011)
Mohamed Macan Markar member of Legislative Council of Ceylon (1924 )
M. H. Mohamed Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament (1989–1994) Cabinet Minister (1965–1970, 1977–1988 & 2001–2004) member of parliament (Colombo 1965–1970 & 1977–2004 2010), Mayor of Colombo (19601962)
Wapchie Marikar Abdul Rahman member of Legislative Council of Ceylon
Mahadevan Sathasivam international cricket player (19441949)
Jeffrey Vandersay One Day International cricket player (2015present)
Sampath Wickremeratne Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Air Force
Gerard Wijeyekoon member of Legislative Council of Ceylon

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombo</span> Executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka

Colombo is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, the Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 in the Municipality. It is the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka, and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is itself within the urban/suburban area of Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District. Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life, colonial buildings and monuments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond College, Galle</span> Government public school

Richmond College is a primary and secondary school in Galle, Sri Lanka which was established as Galle High School in 1876. The founder of school was the Wesleyan Missionary George Bough. The first principal of the school was Rev Samuel Langdon. In 1882, it was renamed Richmond College. Richmond College is the first Wesleyan Methodist school to be established in Asia. The former school of Richmond College known as the 'Galle School' dates back to July 1814.

Wesley College may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ananda College</span> National school in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Ananda College is a prestigious Buddhist school in Maradana, Colombo. It was established as the English Buddhist School by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott in 1886. In the present day, it provides primary and secondary education on a campus of 15 acres (61,000 m2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Sri Lanka</span>

Education in Sri Lanka has a long history that dates back two millennia. While the Constitution of Sri Lanka does not provide free education as a fundamental right, the constitution mentions that 'the complete eradication of illiteracy and the assurance to all persons of the right to universal and equal access to education at all levels" in its section on directive principles of state policy at (27. Sri Lanka's population had an adult literacy rate of 96.3% in 2015, which is above average by world and regional standards. Computer literacy in 2017 28.3% and phone users in 2017 105%, website users 32% in 2017. Education plays a major part in the life and culture of the country, which dates back to 543 BC. Sri Lanka's modern educational system modeled after Christian missionary system was brought about by its integration into the British Empire in the 19th century. Education currently falls under the control of both the Central Government and the Provincial Councils, with some responsibilities lying with the Central Government and the Provincial Council having autonomy for others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaffna Central College</span> Public national school in Jaffna, Northern Province, Sri Lanka

Jaffna Central College is a national school in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Founded in 1816 by British Methodist missionaries, it is one of Sri Lanka's oldest schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick de Silva Kularatne</span> Sri Lankan (Sinhala Buddhist) educationist and politician

Patrick de Silva Kularatne was a Sri Lankan educationist and politician. He was a Member of the State Council of Ceylon (1942-1947) and Member of Parliament (1960-1965). He served as Principal of Ananda College and Dharmaraja College and established Nalanda College Colombo, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Moratuwa Vidyalaya and Dharmapala Vidyalaya. As a member of the executive committee on Education, he played an instrumental role in the realisation of free education from kindergarten to university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isipathana College</span> National school in Sri Lanka

Isipathana College(Sinhala: ඉසිපතන විද්‍යාලය) previously known as Greenlands College. Isipathana College is a national school for boys in Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It was established in January 1952. Presently it provides primary and secondary education on a campus of 4.5 ha ranging from grades 1 to 13, with an enrollment of more than 5,000+ students.

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

Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, established in 1940 and it is the largest co-educational institution and the most populated suburban school in Sri Lanka. The school is situated on a land donated by Anagarika Dharmapala, whom the school is named after. The school was upgraded to National school status in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Baron Jayatilaka</span> Sri Lankan Sinhalese educationalist, statesman and diplomat

Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka, KBE known as D.B. Jayatilaka was a Sri Lankan Sinhalese educationalist, statesmen and diplomat. He was Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Ceylon; the Minister for Home Affairs and Leader of the House of the State Council of Ceylon; and Representative of Government of Ceylon in New Delhi. Sir D. B. Jayatilaka is also considered as a flag bearer of Buddhist education in Sri Lanka.

Methodist College, founded in 1866 is a girls school in Colombo, managed by the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka.

Richmond Hill is a hill in Galle, the capital of southern Sri Lanka. The hill is located in the village of Kumbalwella. Situated on the hill is Richmond College, a primary and secondary school for boys, which is the first Methodist school in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal College, Colombo</span> Public school in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Royal College, Colombo also known as; Royal Colombo, Colombo Royal College or Colombo Royal) is a boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started by Joseph Marsh in 1835, it was established as the Colombo Academy by Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton in January 1836, as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the Colebrooke Cameron Commission (1833), and was the first government-run secondary school for boys in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Girls' High School</span> Public national school in Batticaloa, Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka

Vincent Girls' High School is a national school in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

St. Sebastian's College is a Catholic educational institution in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, established in 1854.

The Methodist Church of Sri Lanka is a Protestant Christian denomination in Sri Lanka. Its headquarters is in Colombo and was established on 29 June 1814. It is a member of the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and the World Methodist Council.

Rippon College is the oldest girls' school in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. The school was established in 1817 by the Rev. John McKenny as the female branch or department of the 2nd Wesleyan English School in Ja koratuwa, Megalle, Galle in 1817.Methodist missionaries at Richmond Hill, Galle. At the beginning the school was the Galle Girls' School. in 1857, the school was moved to Richmond Hill along with Galle School and several branch schools and was called the Richmond Hill Girls' Boarding school. In 1876, the Rev George Baugh separated it from the boys' school and renamed it as the Whitfield Road School for Girls, and later it was again renamed in honour of the Rev. Joseph Rippon who founded the Richmond Hill circuit and served as the Superintendent Missionary of Galle in Ceylon during the period of 1850 to 1860. The school presently provides primary and secondary education to girls aged 6 to 19 and has a student population of around 2,550.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity College, Kandy</span> Private school in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Trinity College, Kandy is a private Anglican boys' school located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It offers both day and boarding facilities. It was founded in 1872 by British Anglican missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, modelled on British public school tradition. Trinity offers primary and secondary education, and is a leading private school in Sri Lanka managed by the Anglican Church of Ceylon.

Randles Hill is a hill located in the suburb of Mulgampola in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methodist Church, Pettah</span>

Methodist Church in Pettah is a Methodist church situated in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is considered as the first Methodist church, established in Sri Lanka as well as Asia. The church building has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological protected monument in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 17 May 2013 under the government Gazette number 1811.

References

  1. "Rev. Joseph Rippon".
  2. "Official College history".
  3. "College houses". 14 September 2021.