St. Sylvester's College
St Sylvester's College, Kandy (Sinhala: ශාන්ත සිල්වෙස්තර විද්යාලය, මහනුවර; Tamil: புனித சில்வெஸ்டர் கல்லூரி, கண்டி) (founded in 1940) is a national boys' School located in the middle of Kandy city which offers primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka. The college is controlled by the Ministry of Education.
| St. Sylvester's College - Kandy ශාන්ත සිල්වෙස්තර විද්යාලය, මහනුවර புனித சில்வெஸ்டர் கல்லூரி, கண்டி | |
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 St' Sylvester's College Crest | |
| Address | |
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Yatinuwara Veediya, Kandy Central Province | |
| Coordinates | 7°17′56.6″N 80°38′09.2″E |
| Information | |
| Type | National |
| Motto | Fortiter in re (to persevere with dedication) |
| Established | November 1, 1940 |
| Founder | Rev. Fr. Robert M. Perera |
| Status | Active |
| School district | Kandy |
| Principal | P. G. S. Bandara |
| Staff | 182 |
| Grades | Class 1 – 13 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age | 6 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 3000+ |
| Language | Sinhala, Tamil and English |
| Hours in school day | 6 hours |
| Colour(s) | Maroon, Ivory, Dark Blue |
| Alumni | Old Sylvestrians |
| Website | stsylvesterscollege |
It has around 150 teaching staff and around 3,000 students.
History
St. Sylvester's began as a separate institution on 1 November 1940 with very Rev. Fr. D. Robert Perera O.S.B. as the principal. The college owed its inception to the foresight of his Lordship Bishop Bernardo Regno O.S.B. and Abbot Weerasinghe, the heads of the Sylvestro-Benedictine congregation. They felt that a good Catholic school in Kandy town was a prime need, once the most prestigious St. Anthony's had been completely shifted to its home on the banks of the Mahaweli at Katugastota. The school started with a mere 250 pupils and 12 teachers.
St. Sylvester's has made a name for itself in the field of education, not only in Kandy but also throughout the length and breadth of the island.
Father Robert was not expected to do big things at St. Sylvester's. The buildings were not teeming with scholars, the laboratories were empty, and libraries were without books. Even the wherewithal to run the school was not available. It is said that he had to start with an over draft, but the picture of the institution now is a very different one. It is full to capacity, and its financial stability is assured. The authoritarian of the Sylvestro-Benedictines intended originally to develop St. Sylvester's only as a junior school and affiliated to St. Anthony's but such restrictions were not dampen the ardour of Father Robert. He early had visions of his institution as a collegiate school, second to none in the Island.
Principals
| In office | Principal | Notes |
| 1940-49 | D. Robert M. Perera O.S.B. | Founder of college |
| 1949-68 | D. J. N. Senevirathne (M.A.Hons. (Columbia), B.A.Hons. (London), Cert. Cey. History, Trd.) | |
| 1968-70 | K. S. Gunarathne (B.A. (London) – Trained) | |
| 1970-76 | W. B. Gopallawa (B.A.Hons. (London) – Trained) | |
| 1979 | A. Karunarathne | Interim |
| 1976-95 | Bertie Niilegoda (B.Sc. (Cey.)) | |
| 1995-98 | Ashoka B. Herath) | |
| 1998-2001 | G. W. Abeysinghe | |
| 2001 | Bandula Gunawardana | Interim |
| 2001–2017 | T. Ranil. S. Meetiyagoda | Retired |
| 2017- present | P. G. S. Bandara | Current |
School anthem
St. Sylvester's College has used various school anthems since 1940. First was the ‘Pasal Mavuni Jaya Wewa’ anthem and in the 1970s it was changed to ‘Dana Mana Ranjitha’ anthem.
St. Sylvester's Old Scout Union
In 1945 St. Sylvester's College, Kandy started their first scout troop with the patronage of founder Rev. Fr. Robert M. Perera. The scout troop had been started by B.M. Guyes.
In 1949 B.M. Guyes left the scout troop in charge of Rev. Fr. Dom. George. Next came Mr. K.S. Gunarathne. He was joined by able scouters N.H. Shalwyn and W.L.D.V. Jayawardene.
Both of these scout masters had contributed in great measure to the success of our scouts troop. In 1950 the scouts won the "Island Merit Flag", awarded to the best troop in the Island. The presentation was made by His Excellency Governor General Lord Soulbury. In 1986 and 1988 the group won the "Gulam Hussain" flag for the group with the highest number of president's scouts.
Millennium Sylvestrians Union (MSU)
Millennium Sylvestrian Union is for the Sylvestrians who sat for their A/Ls in 2000 and above in St Sylvester's College, Kandy, Sri Lanka and it was established in 2010.
Even though the MSU was formed by the batch of 2000, it has been a practice that everyone takes part in all the events organized by the MSU Sylvestrians Motor Rally which is organized annually during the Big Match (Battle of the Babes) between St. Sylvester's College and Vidyartha College is one of the main events organized by MSU.
St. Sylvester's College Gymnastics Club
In 2002 St. Sylvester's College introduced gymnastics as a primary sport to the college students. St. Sylvester's Gymnastics Club founded by Principal T.R.S. Meetiyagoda, Assistant Principal A.K.B. Dodanwala, former Prefect of Games D.C. Mahawaththage and Amal Rasanga Liyanagamage (coach and old boy).
Interact Club of St. Sylvester's College
The Interact Club of St. Sylvester's College Kandy has been an outstanding club over the past 30 years. Sponsored by the parent club, Rotary Club of Kandy, the club was charted in 1989. Interactors of St. Sylvester's College Kandy have been working with "Unparalleled Humanity" for the benefit of the underprivileged as well as for the betterment of the school. The Interact Club of St. Sylvester's College has been one of the leading clubs in Sri Lanka actively carrying out major projects through the five avenues: Finance, Community Service, International Understanding, Club Service and Green Life.
See also
- List of St. Sylvester's College alumni
- Category:Alumni of St. Sylvester's College
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Sylvester's College. |