St. John's College Panadura
| St. John's College, Panadura | |
|---|---|
 NIHIL AMANTI DIFFICILE | |
| Location | |
|
St. John's College, Udahamulla, Panadura Sri Lanka | |
| Information | |
| Type | National school |
| Established | 1876 |
| Founder | Head Master Cyril Arnold Jansz |
| Principal | Mr. M.N.H.T.P De Silva |
| Grades | Class 1 – 13 |
| Gender | Boys & Girls |
| Age | 6 to 18 |
| Colour(s) |
Green & Silver |
| Website | http://www.sjnsp.sch.lk |
St John’s College is a prominent school in Panadura, Sri Lanka, that was founded in 1876. It is a National school with a student population of 2000 and staff of about 100.
History
St. John's College was initially known as 'Primary State English School' which had existed from about the middle of the 19th century. In 1876 it received endowments from Wasala Mudliyar Susew de Soysa (1809–1881) as well as Sir Charles Henry de Soysa and was named 'St. John's College' by the Bishop of Colombo Rt. Revd. Dr. Reginald Stephen Copleston. It was ceremonially opened by the Governor Sir William Henry Gregory on 14 June 1876 (along with the Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa).
In 1882, the Headmaster Mr. Cyril Arnold Jansz was appoined the first Principal by the Bishop of Colombo at the request of the people of Panadura and has rendered an immense service for the upliftment of the school. Starting with 75 students the numbers raised gradually and in 1885 classes for girls began at St John’s started by Mrs Jansz. The school has a proud history of more than 100 years and celebrated the 125th anniversary during the year 2000.[1][2]
School anthem
Nihil Amanti Difficille
Is our motto bold
The green-silver-green
Our noble flag
Proudly we unfold //
Our Alma mater well beloved
To thee we bring this song
All thy children far and near
To honour thee we throng
Nihil Amenti Difficille
Is our motto bold
The green-silver-green
Our noble flag
Proudly we unfold
On bended knee we bow to thee
Johnians since of your
May the rampant eagle
Fly for ever more //
Big match
The annual big match is played between St. John's College and Panadura Royal College. It is known as the Battle of the Greens and Battle of Panadura.[3]
Alumni
The alumni of St. John's College are known as Old Johnians.[4] Alumni include:
- Premasiri Khemadasa – music composer
- Prof Ediriweera Sarachchandra – Professor Emeritus, playwright and Sri Lankan Ambassador to France
- Prof Gunapala Malalasekara, OBE – Professor of Languages and Ceylon's first Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Ceylon High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ceylon's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York
- Sir Susantha de Fonseka, KBE – Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon and Ceylon's first Ambassador to Burma and Japan
- Sir Bennet Soysa, KBE – Philanthropist and member of the State Council of Ceylon and the Senate of Ceylon.
- Gate Mudaliyar Edmund Peiris – Mudaliyar of Pandadura and Kalutara
- Wilmot A. Perera – Statesman, philanthropist and first Ceylonese Ambassador to China
- Arthur V. Dias – Philanthropist and independence activist
- Leslie Goonewardena – Former Cabinet Minister of Transport, independence activist and a founder of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
- Dr. Colvin R De Silva – Former Cabinet Minister of Plantation Industries and Constitutional Affairs and a founder of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
- Lalith Athulathmudali – Former Cabinet Minister of Trade, National Security, Agriculture, Education and deputy minister of defence
- Percy Samaraweera – First Chief Minister of Uva Province
- Ravindra Pushpakumara – Sri Lankan cricketer
- Charitha Buddhika – Sri Lankan cricketer
References
- ↑ A century and quarter of St. John's College... : Its great contribution for the development of education in Sri Lanka, by L. Panditharathna Daily News (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 05 December 2014
- ↑ The De Soysa Charitaya, by C. Don Bastian Jayaweera Bandara and V. S. M. De Mel, pp. 75–6, 106–9 & 142–5. (University of California) ASIN B00H1CYGL4
- ↑ "All eyes will be on Chamara Silva Battle of Panadura on March 27 and 28". Sunday Times News Paper.
- ↑ "Old Johnians recognise a renowned old boy". Sunday Times News Paper.
External links
- St. John's College Official Web Site
- Read this article in Sinhala
- Map in St. John's College
- "Cricket Stars Contest: Royal Panadura clear lead in three categories". Nation.lk.
- "Dialog Youth Under 19 Cricket Awards" (PDF). sundayobserver.lk.
Coordinates: 6°43′22″N 79°54′50″E / 6.72278°N 79.91389°E