Richmond College (Sri Lanka)

Coordinates: 6°3′10″N 80°12′17″E / 6.05278°N 80.20472°E / 6.05278; 80.20472

Richmond College (Sinhala: රිච්මන්ඩ් විද්‍යාලය)(often referred to as "Richmond") is a primary and secondary school in Galle, Sri Lanka and is the oldest school in the country. It was established in 1814 by Wesleyan Missionaries as "The Galle School" and in 1882 it was renamed "Richmond College". Richmond College is considered to be one of the leading schools in Sri Lanka. It has produced many prominent citizens, including a President and a Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Presently, Richmond is a national school funded by the central government.

History

Richmond College Main Hall

Richmond College was established in 1814. Its founder was the Wesleyan Missionary Rev. Benjamin Clough. Due to the efforts of the Rev. George Baugh, it was elevated to superior school status and renamed The Galle High school in 1876, and in 1882 it was renamed Richmond College.

Rev. Samuel Langdon^[3] was the first principal of the Galle High School, and the Rev. Rowse Wilkins was the first principal of Richmond College. The school began with a staff of eight, who taught in the Galle School with 104 pupils on the roll. That total was due to amalgamation of the Richmond Hill and Magalle schools with the Galle School.

Latin, Mathematics, Science, Arts and Religion were included in the curriculum, and children were trained to sit for British public examinations. A prize ceremony was held in its very first year, and a library with 500 books was inaugurated in 1878.

The College published its first magazine in 1887, which was only the second occasion that a school in Ceylon had produced a magazine. The same year, the English Literary Union was formed and cricket was started in the school. In 1894, under the leadership of the principal, Rev. Horatius Hartley, the Richmond College Old Boys' Association was formed. Another important occurrence during that year was the establishment of the College Cadet Corps.

Past superintendents and principals

Methodist Missionary Superintendents The Galle School (1814)

• Rev Benjamin Clough 1814 – 1815
• Rev George Erskine 1815 – 1816
• Rev Samuel Broadbent 1815 (June – July 1815)
• Rev Robert Carver 1815 (June – July 1815)
• Rev Thomas Squance 1815 – 1817
• Rev James Lynch 1816 – 1817

The Galle School (1817 – 1859) including the branch schools

• Rev John Callaway 1817
• Rev John McKenney 1818 – 1819
• Rev Samuel Allen 1819 – 1822
• Rev John Callaway 1821 – 1824
• Rev Alexander Hume 1820 – 1821
• Rev Alexander Hume 1824 – 1825
• Rev Richard Stoup 1824 – 1829
• Rev Samuel Allen 1825 – 1828
• Rev John McKenney 1828 – 1834
• Rev Elijah Toyne 1833 – 1840
• Rev Charles William de Hoedt 1836
• Rev William Bridgnell 1841 – 1849
• Rev W. H. A. Dickson 1847 – 1851
• Rev Joseph Rippon 1851 – 1860

Richmond Institution/Richmond Hill Anglo-vernacular School (1859) 21. Rev John Scott 1860 – 1864 22. Rev George Baugh 1864 – 1866 23. Rev Thomas Roberts 1866 – 1869 24. Rev James Nicholson 1867 – 1875 25. Rev George Baugh 1875 – 1877

The following are the heads of the school from 1876, to-date.^[4]

• Rev. Samuel Langdon (1876–1879)
• Rev. Robert Tebb BSc( London)MA(Cantab)(1879)
• Rev. Samuel Hill (1879–1882)

Principals - Richmond College (1882 to 1962)

• Rev. Samuel R Wilkins (1882–1888)
• Rev. Arthur Triggs (1888–1893)
• Rev. Horatius Hartley (1893–1896)
• Rev. James Horne Darrell BSc( Cambs) MA(Cantab)(1896–1906)
• Rev. Percy T. Cash (1914 - 1915)
• Rev. W J T Small (1906–1922)
• Rev. Alec A Sneath MA(Manch)(1922–1939)
• Rev. John Dalby MA(Oxen) (1939–1940)
• E. R. de Silva MA (1940–1957) First Ceylonese Principal
• A. Shelton Wirasinghe BA (1957–1961)
• Claude Ivor de Silva BA (1961) - acting

Principals since vesting with the government (1962 to date)

• D. G. Welikala BSc (1962–1971)
• J. Munasinghe BA (1971–1973)
• S. Kariyawasam BSc (1973–1977)
• N. P. G. Amarakeerthi BA (1978–1979)
• B. Suriarachchi BSc (1979–1986)
• S. Illaperuma BSc (1986–1994)
• W. N. R. P. Daniyas MEd (1995–2007)
• Lt Col G. S. V. B. Shanthasiri - acting
• E. M. S. Ekanayake MSc (2008–2016)
• Sampath Weragoda (incumbent)

The Lovers Quarrel

Richmond – Mahinda annual cricket encounter played between Richmond College and Mahinda College is known as Battle of the Lovers.

Notable alumni

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richmond College, Galle.

• Official website