St. Thomas' College, Matara
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6°3′10.37″N 80°12′17.01″E / 6.0528806°N 80.2047250°E
| St. Thomas' College, Matara | |
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| File:St. Thomas' College crest.jpg | |
| Location | |
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| Information | |
| Type | National |
| Motto | Perseverando Vinces (Perseverance conquers all) |
| Established | 10 March 1844 |
| Founder | Rev Fr. N. J. Ondatjee |
| Principal | Mr. W.B. Piyathissa |
| Grades | Primary to G.C.E. (A/L) |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age | 6 to 19 |
| Enrollment | over 4000 |
| Colour(s) | Chocolate and Light Blue |
| Affiliation | Anglican (one of the first Anglican Missionaries in Sri Lanka) |
| Website | http://www.stcmatara.sch.lk/ |
St. Thomas' College is a government primary and secondary school school for boys in Matara, Sri Lanka which is located in the heart of Matara city. The College was initially founded as a private Anglican school by Christian Missionary Society of England (founded by one of the first Anglican Missionaries in Sri Lanka, Rev. Fr. N. J. Ondatjee) [1] in Wellamadama, Dondra, Sri Lanka in 1844. It presently has over 4000 enrolled students studying from primary level to secondary level education.
History
St. Thomas' College Matara was founded by the Christian Missionary Society of England in 1844. The main concern of the various missionary bodies in Sri Lanka during the early period of British rule was the determination to give their students a sound English education. As a result of this St. Thomas' School Matara later to become a secondary school in 1914 as S. Thomas' College Matara commenced its education in a bungalow at the village called Wellamadama where the University of Ruhuna presently located today.
The school was founded by one of the first Anglican Missionaries in Sri Lanka, Rev. Fr. N. J. Ondatjee in 1844 with a few students and three teachers.
In the year 1960 St. Thomas' College Matara vested in the Government after a long period of missionary control. K. B. Jayasuriya became the first principal under Government administration.
The late M/s J. E. M. Fernando, K. B. Jayasuriya and also E. A. de L. W. Samarasinghe who reactivated the college OBA which was defunct after its inauguration by S. J. Gunasekeram in 1934. B. D. Jayasekera designed the college flag and the crest in the early part of the 20th century and M/s Noel L. Rodrigo, O. C. de Alwis, Major G. W. S. de Silva, Capt. N. R. M. Dudley de Silva, Mrs. Winifred de Alwis, Lionel Waidyaratne, S. K. Upasena and Jayananda Abeysinghe.
Kumaratunga Munidasa taught Sinhala language and literature at the school. He once expressed his enthusiasm for his alma-mater by writing the following phrase in his Kiyawana Nuwana book 3, used as a text book in the school in the second form: "Among countries one which resembles the Island of Sri Lanka and among its cities, one which in Sri Lanka to Matara and among its schools, one which could stimulates St. Thomas' who will be able to emulate."
The school is one of the oldest cricket playing school in the island and played the St. Thomas'–St. Servatius Cricket Encounter with St. Servatius' College in the year 2000. This is the second oldest cricket encounter in the island, also known as the "Battle of the Blues" or Battle of the Ruhunu. St. Thomas' College Matara also introduced scouting and cadet-ting to Matara.
Past principals
- Rev. N. J. Ondatjee - The Founder
- Rev. A. Dias Abeysinghe
- Rev. J. S. Lyle
- Rev. F. H. De Winton
- Rev. F. D. Edirisinghe
- M/s Clement La-brooy
- Mr. A W Wijesinghe
- Mr. J W Bultjens
- Mr. R C Reginold
- Mr. L A Arndt
- Mr. S J Gunasekeram
- Mr. J C Handy
- Mr. M S Soloman
- Rev. C C P Arulpragasam
- Rev. R V L Pereira
- M/s J E M Fernando
- Mr. K B Jayasuriya
- Mr. E A De L W Samarasinghe
- Mr. B G Sisira
- Mr. Ratnasiri Suraweera
School Objectives
1.Providing equal educational opportunities for all students.
2.Providing encouragement and secure locality for all students through implementation of well-organised educational programme.
3.Building up of self-confidence in all students in order to promote their achievement levels by developing their potential.
4.Developing and implementing a conducive family environment within the school premises.
School Vision
Gifting of an excellent Thomian to the nation and the universe.
School Mission
Creating a perfect individual, well-equipped with knowledge, attitudes and skills, who can face the challenging situations with confidence.
College Anthem
Our School is old in story
Her record fair as long
So, young and old and hoary,
Come join in rousing song!
Hurrah, again hurra-ah,
Hurrah, while still we say
Saint Thomas’ for ever,
Saint Thomas' for aye!
We boast not of our merit
All credit we disclaim,
Our pride is we inherit
A fair untarnished name.
We’ll endeavour to maintain it,
while deed and word proclaim
Saint Thomas' for ever
Saint Thomas' for aye!
In playing field and class room
Our heads we’ll carry high,
We’ll yield no shred of honour
In loss or victory,
Then "Vinces" be our motto
"Perseverando" cry
Saint Thomas’ forever
Saint Thomas’ for aye!
REFRAIN:
Saint Thomas‘ we uphold her honour everywhere
Let east or west or north attest
That we are Thomians ture!
Whatever our estate
We unite to celebrate
The Chocolate and Light Blue!
Saint Thomas’ she is our proudest fondest boast
Our Hearts o ‘erfiow, our spirits glow
With pride and loyalty!
Her faithful children we,
Strong in unity
Until one day we prove the Pride of Lanka!
(This song was composed by the late Mr. L.A. ARNDT, a former Principal, 1931 - 1933)
College houses
College houses' names and colours:
- Bulljans : Red
- Dias : Blue
- Ondatjee : Yellow
- Edirisinghe : Green
Sports
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St. Thomas'–St. Servatius Cricket Encounter
St. Thomas-St. Servatius Cricket Encounter (known as Battle of the Blues (Matara) or Battle of the Ruhunu) is the annual school cricket match played between St. Thomas' College, Matara and St. Servatius' College played since 1900.This is the second oldest cricket encounter in the island which has won the hearts of the common people not only in Matara but even the rural folks of the deep south. People from all parts of the southern province rush to witness this big match every year which is popularly known as the Battle of the Ruhunu of Ruhuna. and also second Battle of the Blues in the Sri Lanka. It is second only to the Royal-Thomian annual cricket encounter. The match has been played as a 3 day game since 2000, which was the centenary match.
Thomas - Rahula Football Encounter
The annual Thomas-Rahula Football Encounter' or "Battle of Golden Ensigns" football Match is played between St. Thomas' College, Matara and Rahula College. It is one of the first annual inter-school football matches in Sri Lanka.
Clubs and societies
- Health Club
- Green Hands Club
- Board of Prefects
- Debating Society
- Buddhist Society
- Birds Club
- Social Services Association
- Muslim Majlis
- Science Association
- Red Cross Unit
- Cadetting
- Commerce Society
- English Literary Unit
- Media Unit
- Road Safety Association
- Western Band
- First Aid Unit
Alumni
List of alumni of St. Thomas' College, Matara;
- Madihe Pannaseeha Thero - Buddhist monk
- Kumaratunga Munidasa - Sri Lankan (Sinhala) writer and poet
- Hon. Sir Cyril de Zoysa - Sri Lankan industrialist, Senator and a philanthropist. Former President of the Senate of Ceylon
- Jabez Gnanapragasam - The former Bishop of Colombo
- Hon. Chandrasiri Gajadeera - Sri Lankan politician, a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and Former Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison.
- R.S.S. Gunawardena - The UNO’s Permanent Representative in Sri Lanka
- Dr. Al-haj Badurdeen Mohamed - Ex Minister of Education
- Indika de Saram - Sri Lankan cricketer
- Prabath Nissanka - Sri Lankan cricketer, Assistant National Bowling Coach for Sri Lanka Cricket.
- weerasumana weerasinhe - minister of south provincial.