St. Joseph's College, Colombo
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St. Joseph's College is the leading Catholic educational institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1896 by French missionaries, with Rev Christopher Ernst Bonjean playing a leading role. The college currently has over 4000 students with a staff of over 200. Distinguished former students who have walked the hallowed portals of St. Joseph's College include Cardinal Thomas Cooray the first and last Cardinal to date in Sri Lanka and Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne was a prominent Sri Lankan politician and diplomat,President Ranasinghe Premadasa as well as Niranjan Deva-Aditya, the first person in history to be born in one continent (Asia), to be elected to parliament in another continent (UK). The motto of the college is "In scentia et virtute" meaning "in Fruits of Knowledge and Virtue".
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[edit] History
The College was opened on March 2, 1896 with 211 boys in the College proper and 96 in the Preparatory school. As the building was unfinished at the time, only one half of it was open to students, and for some time the voices of pupils and masters mingled with the incessant clang of hammers. To this inconvenience was added another which was more keenly felt. Masters and pupils were strangers. All sorts and conditions of boys had flocked together from almost every school in the Island, and it required 'no little tack, care, and patience' to weld these diverse elements into a homogeneous whole, but before this could have been accomplished, some unsuitable boys left of their own accord, a few were expelled, their places were filled up, and in the words, of the Rector "a healthy tone began to reign in the College". These changes have led to St. Joseph's College being renowned for inculcating discipline and strong social skills which has enabled it to send out its students to society as men with values and knowledge.
By November 1896 construction was completed at a cost of Rs.120,000, supplied one-half by the people's contribution, the other half by the donation of His Grace, Archbishop Melizan. On November 27, H. E. Mgr. Zaleski solemnly blessed the building which was formally opened on the following day by H. E. Sir Joseph West Ridgeway.
The school was not without its teething problems. Despite partial government funding a major share of the expenses had to be borne by the Church. The financial constraints were somewhat improved with the dawn of independence.
However a major setback was the government takeover of missionary schools in 1962, which led to the school being forced to function till the change of government till 1977, without levying fees. Undaunted the College continued helped by generous donations and scrupulous financial management. It is presently managed by the Archdiocese of Colombo.
[edit] The Present College
Currently the school functions as an "assisted school" with substantial state funding but mainly from its hard core old boy unions branched in many parts of the world, and in Australia, England and United States more actively than in others. Situated in the heart of the City in a land previously owned by an Arabian Prince in exile in the ancient times, its impressive set of buildings span 12 acres and comprises a fully equipped Sports Complex and a swimming Pool that is built to Olympic Standards which was the first among schools in Sri Lanka. They conduct classes preparing students for local Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations in Sinhalese, Tamil and English Mediums. With recent and timely building constructions keeping in line with the original architecture of the old buildings, St Joseph's College is known for its aesthetically classical appearance. In 1996 the latest branch School of St. Joseph's College was opened in Enderamulla, Wattala, about 15km from Colombo. Another branch school that has become a leading Catholic school in the country is St. Peter's College, Bambalapitya (Previously known as St. Joseph's South, it was built to cater to the families in the southern part of Colombo), which is considered their main rivals and compete in many friendship encounters in many areas which are famously known as the Battles of the Saints in Sri Lanka. With its strong education of English and Aesthetic studies (Drama, Speech, Debating etc.), the school has been in demand by the elite in Colombo to educate their sons in a healthy Catholic atmosphere. Dominating in sports such as Swimming and Cricket for decades and having an extraordinary record in winning the most swimming championships continuously for years, it astonishes other schools with a larger student population in its success.
[edit] Past rectors
1 - Rev Fr. Charles Collin (1896 - 1910)
2 - Rev Fr Charles Lytton (1910 - 1912)
3 - Rev Fr Emil Nicholas (1912 - 1919)
4 - Rev Father Maurice Legoc (1919 - 1940)
5 - Rev Fr Peter Pillai (1940 - 1961)
6 - Rev Fr W.L.A.Don Peter (1961 - 1971)
7 - Rev Fr Mervyn Weerakkody (1971 - 1974)
8 - Rev Fr Quintus Fernando (1974 - 1979)
9 - Rev Fr Neville Emmanuel (1979 - 1983)
10- Rev Fr Stanley Abeysekara (1983 - 1996)
11- Rev Fr Victor Silva (1996 - 2005)
[edit] Current rector
12- Rev Fr Sylvester Ranasinghe (2005 - To Date)
