List of the oldest schools in Sri Lanka

The following is a list of the oldest schools in Sri Lanka that are still functioning.

This is an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Richmond College, Galle, founded 1814
Jaffna Central College, founded 1817
St. John's College, Jaffna, founded 1823
Vembadi Girls' High School, Jaffna, founded 1834
Royal College, Colombo, founded 1835
St.Anthony's College, Kandy, founded 1854
Trinity College, Kandy, founded 1872
St. Michael's College, Batticaloa, founded 1873
Current name Foundation name Foundation date Founders Province District Education
zone		 Location Current
type		 References
Richmond College, Galle The Galle School 25 July 1814[note 1]Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Southern Galle Galle Galle National [1][2][3][4][5]
Methodist Central College 29 August 1814 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Eastern Batticaloa Batticaloa Batticaloa Provincial [6][7][8][9]
Newstead Girls College 31 July 1816 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Western Gampaha Negombo Negombo National [9][10]
Union College, Tellippalai Common Free School 9 December 1816 American Ceylon Mission Northern Jaffna Valikamam Tellippalai Provincial [11][12]
Jaffna Central College Jaffna Wesleyan English School 1817[note 2] Wesleyan Methodist Mission, North Ceylon Northern Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna National [9][13][14][15]
Methodist Girls' College, Trincomalee 1819 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Eastern Trincomalee Trincomalee Trincomalee Provincial [16]
Vincent Girls' High School 1820 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Eastern Batticaloa Batticaloa Batticaloa National [9][17]
Sri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya Cotta Institute 1822 Church Mission Society of the Anglican Church Western Colombo Sri Jayawardenepura Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte [18][19][20]
St. John's College, Jaffna Nallur English Seminary March 1823 Church Mission Society of the Anglican Church Northern Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna Private [14][18][21][22][23]
Methodist Girls' High School, Point Pedro Wesleyan Mission Central School 1823 Wesleyan Methodist Mission, North Ceylon Northern Jaffna Vadamarachchi Point Pedro Provincial [24]
Vigneshwara Maha Vidyalaya 1823 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Eastern Trincomalee Trincomalee Trincomalee [25]
Uduvil Girls' College Missionary Seminary and Female Central School 1824 American Ceylon Mission Northern Jaffna Valikamam Uduvil Private [14][26][27]
Vembadi Girls' High School 1834 Wesleyan Methodist Mission, North Ceylon Northern Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna National [9][28]
Royal College, Colombo Hill Street Academy 1835 Western Colombo Colombo Colombo National [14][29][30]
Manipay Memorial English School 1836 American Ceylon Mission Northern Jaffna Valikamam Manipay Provincial [31]
Hartley College Wesleyan Mission Central School 1838 Wesleyan Methodist Mission, North Ceylon Northern Jaffna Vadamarachchi Point Pedro Provincial (APS) [9][32]
St. Thomas' College, Matara 10 March 1844 Christian Missionary Society of England Southern Matara Matara Matara National [33][34][35]
Holy Family Convent, Jaffna 1845 Northern Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna Provincial [36]
Kopay Christian College 1850 Northern Jaffna Jaffna Kopay Provincial [37]
St. Patrick's College, Jaffna Jaffna Catholic English School 1850 Roman Catholic Church Northern Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna Private [38][39][40][41]
S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia College of St. Thomas the Apostle 3 February 1851 Church of Ceylon Western Colombo Mount Lavinia Private [14][42][43][44][45][46]
Udupiddy American Mission College 4 January 1852 American Ceylon Mission Northern Jaffna Vadamarachchi Udupiddy Provincial [47]
St. Anthony's College, Kandy 1854 Roman Catholic Church Central Kandy Kandy Kandy Private/Provincial [48][49][50][51]
St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa 1854 Roman Catholic Church Western Colombo Moratuwa Private [52][53][54][55]
St. Xavier's College, Nuwara Eliya 1859 Roman Catholic Church Central Nuwara Eliya [56][57][58]
St. Mary's College, Trincomalee 1864 Eastern Trincomalee Trincomalee Trincomalee National [59][60]
St. Benedict's College, Colombo 1865 Benedictine monks Western Colombo Colombo Colombo Private [14][61][62][63][64]
Methodist College, Colombo Kollupitiya Girl’s English School 7 November 1866 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Western Colombo Colombo Colombo Private [9][65][66]
St. Joseph's College, Trincomalee 27 July 1867 Oblates of Mary Immaculate Eastern Trincomalee Trincomalee Trincomalee National [67][68][69]
All Saints College, Galle 1867 Anglicans Southern Galle Galle [70]
Jaffna College 1867 American Ceylon Mission Northern Jaffna Valikamam Vaddukoddai Private [71][72]
St. Anne's College, Kurunegala 1867 North Western Kurunegala Kurunegala
Rippon College Whitfield Road Girl’s School 1871 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Southern Galle Galle Galle National [1][9]
Trinity College, Kandy 17 January 1872 Church Mission Society of the Anglican Church Central Kandy Kandy Kandy Private [73][74][75][76][77]
St. Anthony's College, Kayts 1872 Northern Jaffna Islands Kayts Provincial [78]
St. Michael's College, Batticaloa St. Mary’s English School 1873 Roman Catholic Church Eastern Batticaloa Batticaloa Batticaloa National [79][80]
St. Thomas' College, Matale 1873 Central Matale Matale Matale National [81]
Wesley College, Colombo 2 March 1874 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Western Colombo Colombo Colombo Private [9][14][82][83][84]
Bishop's College, Colombo February 1875 Church Mission Society of the Anglican Church Western Colombo Colombo Colombo Private [14][85][86]
Drieberg College Drieberg English School 1875 American Ceylon Mission Northern Jaffna Thenmarachchi Chavakachcheri Provincial [87]
Methodist Central College, Hakmana 1875 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Southern Matara Mulatiyana Hakmana Provincial [9]
Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa 14 September 1876 Western Colombo Piliyandala Moratuwa National [88]
St. John's College, Panadura 1876 Western Kalutara Panadura [89][90]
Victoria College, Chulipuram Chulipuram Hindu English School 1876 Northern Jaffna Valikamam Chulipuram Provincial [91]
Girls' High School, Kandy May 1879 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Central Kandy Kandy Kandy National [9][92][93][94]
Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte Kotte Bauddha (Buddhist) Mixed School 4 November 1880[note 3] Western Colombo Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte National [95]
Southlands College, Galle Girls' High School 1885 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Southern Galle Galle Galle National [9][96][97][98]
Ananda College English Buddhist School 1 November 1886 Buddhist Theosophical Society Western Colombo Colombo Colombo National [99][100][101][102]
Dharmaraja College Kandy Buddhist High School 30 June 1887 Buddhist Theosophical Society Central Kandy Kandy Kandy National [103][104]
Jaffna Hindu College The Native Town High School 1887 Northern Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna National [105]
Piliyandala Central College 1887 Western Colombo Piliyandala Piliyandala National [106]
Maliyadeva College Kurunegala Buddhist Institution 30 September 1888 Buddhist Theosophical Society North Western Kurunegala Kurunegala [107][108][109]
Nelukkulam Kalaimagal Maha Vidyalayam 1888 Northern Vavuniya Vavuniya South Nelukkulam Provincial
Rambaikulam Girls' Maha Vidyalayam 1890 Northern Vavuniya Vavuniya South Vavuniya National [110]
Kingswood College, Kandy The Boys' High School 4 May 1891 Wesleyan Methodist missionaries Central Kandy Kandy Kandy National [9][111][112][113][114]
Musaeus College Musaeus Buddhist Girls’ School 1891 Buddhist Theosophical Society Western Colombo Colombo Colombo Private [115][116][117][118]
Mahinda College 1 March 1892 Buddhist Theosophical Society Southern Galle Galle Galle National [119][120][121][122]
Zahira College, Colombo Al-Madrasathul Zahira 22 August 1892 Colombo Muslim Educational Society Western Colombo Colombo Colombo Private [123][124][125][126]
St. Aloysius' College, Galle 1895 Jesuits Southern Galle Galle Galle National [127]
Chundikuli Girls' College 14 January 1896 Church Mission Society of the Anglican Church Northern Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna Private [14][128]
St. Joseph's College, Colombo 2 March 1896 French Roman Catholic missionaries Western Colombo Colombo Colombo Private [14][129][130][131][132]
St. Servatius' College 2 November 1897 Southern Matara [133]
R. K. M. Sri Koneswara Hindu College 1897 Eastern Trincomalee Trincomalee Trincomalee National [134]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Richmond College claims its foundation to be 1 May 1876 which is when the school was upgraded to a superior school and renamed Galle High School.
  2. ↑ Jaffna Central College claims its foundation to be 1 August 1816 which is when the missionaries purchased the land/property.
  3. ↑ Ananda Sastralaya claims its foundation to be 1 January 1890 which is when the school was renamed Kotte Bauddha (Buddhist) English Mixed School.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dias-Jayasinha, Ananda (13 January 2012). "Richmond College - the oldest school". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  2. ↑ "Our History". Richmond College, Galle.
  3. ↑ Hardy, Robert Spence - The Jubilee Memorials of the Wesleyan Mission, South Ceylon 1814 – 1864, p. 210
  4. ↑ The Missionary Register for M DCCC XVI -1816; p.111
  5. ↑ The Rev. Benjamin Clough's Journal, The School of African Studies (SOAS) archives, University of London
  6. ↑ "Selected for 21st Century Award". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 13 April 2002.
  7. ↑ "Methodist Conference in Batticaloa". The Island (Sri Lanka). 29 August 2008.
  8. ↑ Casinader, Prince (29 June 1997). "Pioneers of education". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 9.10 9.11 9.12 "Our siblings". Richmond College, Galle.
  10. ↑ "Newstead turns 196". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 5 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Historical Context". Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C.
  12. ↑ "Being the Memoirs of I.P.Thurairatnam". Union College, Tellippalai.
  13. ↑ "Graves of Peter Percival, R B Foote, discovered at Yercaud". TamilNet. 8 July 2009.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9 "From T. D. S. A. Dissanayake's 'War or Peace...' - University entrance: standardisation suicidal". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 29 June 2003.
  15. ↑ "‘Govt to make Sri Lanka trilingual’". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 7 February 2012.
  16. ↑ "Trinco Methodist College holds prize giving". TamilNet. 28 February 2003.
  17. ↑ "Jaffna’s GCE exam qualifying rate said among lowest in Sri Lanka". TamilNet. 8 July 2003.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Sri Jayawardenapura MV and St. John's Jaffna revive historic match". Ceylon Today. 18 December 2011.
  19. ↑ Obeysekera, Srian (12 March 2006). "St. Thomas' and SJMV in search of victory". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
  20. ↑ "History (Part 1 – 1822 to 1867)". Sri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya.
  21. ↑ "Playing for peace". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 19 December 2011.
  22. ↑ Palakidnar, Ananth (15 March 2009). "‘Battle of the North’ with a difference". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
  23. ↑ Martyn 1923, p. 188.
  24. ↑ "Achievements". Methodist Girls' High School, Point Pedro.
  25. ↑ "Trinco Tamil School holds prize giving day". TamilNet. 26 May 2004.
  26. ↑ "Founder’s day service". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 19 November 2008.
  27. ↑ Martyn 1923, p. 171.
  28. ↑ "Milestones". Vembadi Girls' High School.
  29. ↑ Fernando, Shemal (1 July 2009). "Royal College salutes Royalist war heroes: A royal tribute from alma mater". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  30. ↑ "175 years of right ROYAL glory". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 18 July 2010.
  31. ↑ "History". Manipay Memorial English School.
  32. ↑ "Hartley College Milestones". Hartley College.
  33. ↑ "Matara St. Thomas’ College celebrates 160th anniversary". The Island (Sri Lanka). 10 March 2004.
  34. ↑ "S. Thomas' College Matara is 160". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 10 March 2004.
  35. ↑ "St. Thomas' College Matara is 160". St. Thomas' College, Matara.
  36. ↑ "Holy Family Convent". Holy Family Convent, Jaffna.
  37. ↑ "History". Kopay Christian College.
  38. ↑ "Jaffna St. Patrick’s College celebrates 150 years of service to youth". The Island (Sri Lanka). 14 July 2000.
  39. ↑ "St Patrick’s Jaffna Colombo alumni all set for centenary celebrations". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 29 July 2012.
  40. ↑ Martyn 1923, p. 198.
  41. ↑ "History". St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.
  42. ↑ "Magical pull of the Blue Black and Blue". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 27 March 2012.
  43. ↑ "A prize for excellence". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 30 July 2006.
  44. ↑ Dissanayaka, T. D. S. A. (25 February 2001). "Well done S. Thomas’ Esto perpetua". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  45. ↑ "So, Royal really lost 1885 match to S. Thomas'". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 1 February 2004.
  46. ↑ "About College". S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.
  47. ↑ Neelakandan, Kandiah (13 October 2002). "150 years of Uduppidy A.M. College". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  48. ↑ Herath, Nihal (12 March 2004). "St. Anthony's College Kandy completes 150 years". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  49. ↑ "St. Anthony's: 70 years at Katugastota". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 15 February 1998.
  50. ↑ Marikar, Hafiz (20 November 2011). "Piyal Wijetunge - Old Antonians Cricket Wing President". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
  51. ↑ "A History of 150 years". St. Anthony's College, Kandy.
  52. ↑ Ratnayake, Sunalie (13 August 2006). "St. Sebastian's - from strength to strength". The Sunday Leader.
  53. ↑ "A new chapel for St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 7 February 2010.
  54. ↑ "Sebastianite Awards of Excellence". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 9 August 2007.
  55. ↑ "History". St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa.
  56. ↑ http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/10/16/spo22.asp
  57. ↑ http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=101493
  58. ↑ http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=20498
  59. ↑ "St. Mary's College in Trinco holds awards day". TamilNet. 16 August 2003.
  60. ↑ "St. Mary's College, Trincomalee". St. Mary's College, Trincomalee.
  61. ↑ "St. Benedict’s College celebrates its 146th anniversary". The Island (Sri Lanka). 10 July 2011.
  62. ↑ "Young Bens showcase their talents". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 11 September 2011.
  63. ↑ Leonard, Elmo (27 November 2005). "St. Benedict's College : Yearning for a playground...". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
  64. ↑ "The Story of St. Benedict’s By Bro. Anselm Calixtus". St. Benedict's College, Colombo.
  65. ↑ "Methodist College prepares to celebrate 150th anniversary in 2016". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 6 May 2012.
  66. ↑ "College History". Methodist College, Colombo.
  67. ↑ "Trinco St. Joseph's celebrates 136th annual college day". TamilNet. 19 March 2003.
  68. ↑ ""Learn from the past"- Anuradhapura Bishop". TamilNet. 26 September 2004.
  69. ↑ "Birth and Growth of St. Joseph's College". St. Joseph's College, Trincomalee.
  70. ↑ "Minister opens new building". The Island (Sri Lanka). 18 June 2000.
  71. ↑ Martyn 1923, p. 225.
  72. ↑ "Jaffna College, product of a liberal view of Christian evangelism". Tamil Canadian.
  73. ↑ Dassanayake, M .B. (20 February 2004). "Trinity College, Kandy - 132 n.o.". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  74. ↑ "Trinity College past teachers get together". The Island (Sri Lanka). 18 May 2012.
  75. ↑ "Trinity Chapel to resound with the sounds of carols, today". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 6 December 2009.
  76. ↑ "Trinity College Choir". The Sunday Leader. 5 December 2009.
  77. ↑ "http://www.trinitycollege.lk/accounts%20hib.html". Trinity College, Kandy.
  78. ↑ "The History of St.Anthony's College, Kayts". St. Anthony's College, Kayts.
  79. ↑ "IOM upgrades facilities at St. Michael’s College, Batticoloa". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 2 December 2007.
  80. ↑ "IOM upgrades facilities at St. Michael’s College, Batticaloa". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 3 November 2007.
  81. ↑ "Thomian Facts". St. Thomas' College, Matale.
  82. ↑ "Edmund Disanayake A legend at Wesley". The Island (Sri Lanka). 16 February 2011.
  83. ↑ "Wesley ‘Walk Of Grit’". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 25 July 2010.
  84. ↑ "Wesley's request". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 4 October 1998.
  85. ↑ "Founder's Day celebrations of Bishop's College today". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 23 January 2006.
  86. ↑ "History". Bishop's College, Colombo.
  87. ↑ Balaratnam, A.S. (7 January 2001). "Let Drieberg's 'lamp of life' shine on". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  88. ↑ "History of the School". Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa.
  89. ↑ Amit, Naushad (3 July 2011). "St. John's is proud to have their own cricket grounds". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  90. ↑ "School Profile". St. John's College, Panadura.
  91. ↑ "Victoria College - Its History". Victoria College, Chulipuram.
  92. ↑ "British Missionaries – Great Women". The Island (Sri Lanka). 10 March 2012.
  93. ↑ "Girls' High School Kandy passes 75 years". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 4 November 2004.
  94. ↑ "History of Girls' High School, Kandy". Girls' High School, Kandy.
  95. ↑ "Ananda Sastralaya Kotte celebrates 115 years". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 2 January 2005.
  96. ↑ "Taking women’s education to a new dimension". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 5 May 2010.
  97. ↑ "Threat to Galle’s World Heritage Site". The Island (Sri Lanka). 7 December 2003.
  98. ↑ "History". Southlands College, Galle.
  99. ↑ Wipulasena, Aanya (25 March 2012). "Ananda College to mark 125th anniversary with exhibition, cultural and musical shows". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  100. ↑ "Ananda Abhiman exhibition". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 1 April 2012.
  101. ↑ Seneviratne, Sudharshan (20 December 2011). "Revering Ananda... Matha". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  102. ↑ "Foundation of Ananda College". Ananda College.
  103. ↑ Melpitiya, Ananda (24 June 2012). "Dharmaraja College: 125 years of service to the nation". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
  104. ↑ Jayetilleke, Rohan L. (20 April 2003). "Dharmaraja College archives: A Buddhist heritage for posterity". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  105. ↑ Martyn 1923, p. 239.
  106. ↑ "History". Piliyandala Central College.
  107. ↑ "Devans gather at annual dinner". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 16 August 2011.
  108. ↑ "VR, Officer and a Gentleman". The Island (Sri Lanka). 20 July 2011.
  109. ↑ "History". Maliyadeva College.
  110. ↑ "Rambaikulam Girls' Maha Vidyalayam". Rambaikulam Girls' Maha Vidyalayam.
  111. ↑ "First school to play rugger". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 6 May 2007.
  112. ↑ Marikar, Hafiz (1 May 2011). "Kingswood has produced outstanding cricketers and rugby players". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
  113. ↑ Warakaulle, H. M. Nissanka (30 September 2003). "Remembering L. E. Blaze' of Kingswood". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  114. ↑ "About". Kingswood College, Kandy.
  115. ↑ Dandeniya, S. (14 November 2011). "Musaeus College Celebrates 120 Years of Excellence!". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  116. ↑ "Musaeus College celebrates 120 years of excellence!". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 20 November 2011.
  117. ↑ Dharmadasa, K. N. O. (11 July 2012). "Historical details of Museaus College". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  118. ↑ "About Our School". Musaeus College.
  119. ↑ Epasinha, Premasara (6 June 2005). "D. D. Jayasinha - brilliant cricketer cum administrator and the GOM SL Cricket". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  120. ↑ Warnakulasuriya, Kasturiarachchi (1 August 2003). "Revival of Buddhist education: A new boost given". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
  121. ↑ de Silva, Eric J. (7 February 2011). "The Peradeniya Model and its demise". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  122. ↑ "History". Mahinda College.
  123. ↑ "Zahira goes from strength to strength". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 1 July 2012.
  124. ↑ Farook, Ruzaik (14 March 2012). "Quality education a must - minister". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  125. ↑ "Zahira College gets new Swimming Pool". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 14 July 2012.
  126. ↑ "Zahira’s first 100 years". Zahira College, Colombo.
  127. ↑ "Aloysian staff Day - 2002". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 1 July 2002.
  128. ↑ "History of Chundikuli Girls’ College 1896 – 2008" (PDF). Chundikuli Girls' College.
  129. ↑ Martyn 1923, p. 62.
  130. ↑ Abeyratne, Ruwantissa (12 April 2010). "St. Joseph's College: What made it different". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  131. ↑ "Rowing facilities for St. Joseph's". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 5 March 2000.
  132. ↑ "Our History". St. Joseph's College, Colombo.
  133. ↑ Mahaarachchi, Lenord (28 September 1997). "St. Servatius College Matara is 100 years old". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  134. ↑ "Koneswara Hindu College celebrates national school day". TamilNet. 1 February 2003.

References