S. Thomas' College,
Mt. Lavinia
Founded in the Eighteen Hundred & Fifty First year of Our
Lord Christ.
Instituted for the Glory of God.
S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia is an Anglican Church School,
which was founded by the first Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev.
James Chapman, D. D. It was his foremost vision to build a College
& Cathedral for the new Diocese of Colombo of the Church of
Ceylon. Thus on the 3rd of February 1851 the College of St .Thomas
the Apostle, Colombo was opened with the objective of training a
Christian Clergy and to make Children good citizens under the
discipline & supervision of Christianity.
Christian values were the corner stone on which the school was
founded. Students of all races and religions studied in harmony.
The School grew from strength to strength at the place of its
origin, Mutuwal, for over a three score of years, carefully
nurtured by Wardens such as Revs. Wood, Miller, Read & Buck.
Warden Stone in 1918, found that the dusty environs of Mutuwal
were not best suited for his pupils and so shifted the College to
the picturesque campus at Mount Lavinia. Since then 8 loyal caring
Warden including the Canon R.S. de Saram have ensured that the
well preserved traditions and values are handed down from
generation to generations. In 1951 it became a private fee levying
school and is today one of the foremost educational institutions
in Sri Lanka. In fact it could, in addition, lay claim to be one
of the very best.
The College which is under the Church of Ceylon is run by a Board
of Governors which is chaired by the Anglican Bishop of Colombo
who is also known as the ‘Visitor of the College’. The
administration of the College itself is headed by a Warden
assisted by a Sub Warden. There is also a Chaplaincy connected
with the College and the famous College Chapel of the
Transfiguration. The College consists of 3 schools, namely Upper,
Middle & Lower Schools and is further divided into six main
sections under Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster and Sectional heads
viz. (The Upper School – Arts and Commerce, the Upper School –
Science, the Upper School – London A Levels, the Upper School, the
Middle School, and the Lower School.)
S. Thomas’ College, or ‘STC’ as it is commonly known, is widely
reputed to have the most beautiful campus in Sri Lanka,
approximately half an hour’s drive from the southern limits of the
City of Colombo.
The entrance to the school is marked by the awe-inspiring Chapel
of the Transfiguration, which towers over the rest of the campus.
The Chapel is a vital element in the education of STC and is the
centre of the spiritual life of the College, where many
generations of Thomians have been bred and most importantly
experienced God over the years. Dear to the hearts of all Thomians
of diverse faiths & races, the Chapel serves as a reminder to us
of our heritage, which is a gift of God.
Beyond is the blue green grass of the famous Quadrangle, the Main
school buildings, the College Hall, the Dormitories and Library.
The vast campus, modeled on the traditional English public school,
stretches down to the famous golden beaches of Mount Lavinia,
reaching the deep blue Indian Ocean.
S. Thomas’ provides a sound education in both Local (G.C.E. A/L &
O/L) & London Examination systems. Instructions are given in all
three mediums (English, Sinhala & Tamil) from Kindergarten to
College Form classes (A/L). The School is one of the best equipped
in the island, being blessed with a dedicated staff of qualified
experienced teachers who over the years have become more than mere
teachers to their young charges, which is a result of the special
attachment that can only develop through years of association with
College. STC has produced many Thomians who have over the years
done a great service to their Church as well as the Nation.
The biggest asset possessed by the school is the student body
which comprises of more than 2500 members. Although the majority
is composed of Christians, students of other faiths & diverse
races takes place in it. It is a well disciplined community and
excels in both academic and extra curricular activities.
Materially too, STC has many facilities for sports and extra
curricular activities. S. Thomas’ was the first School in Sri
Lanka to have a swimming pool, gifted by Dr. R. L. Hayman in 1933.
Two of the best playing fields viz. The Big Club and the Small
Club – probably the finest school grounds in the island – afford
Thomians the facilities for sports, namely cricket, rugby, soccer,
athletics and hockey. There are also well laid courts for tennis,
basketball and volleyball. In 1994 the indoor cricket nets were
added and the pinnacle of all facilities the Indoor Sports Complex
in 3 phases was completed in 1996. The sports complex which houses
Table Tennis facilities, Badminton Courts, 3 glass back squash
courts and a basketball court – all of an international standard,
together with one of the most modern and well equipped gymnasiums.
The Annual Cricket Encounter between us & Royal College Colombo 7
(The Battle of the Blues or the popular ‘Roy-Tho’) is one of the
oldest cricket matches, which is being held without interruption
even during the World Wars. Rowing also takes a high place in the
field of sports
S. Thomas’ also boasts in more than 50 societies of diverse
interest. The Student Christian Movement with the other 3
religious societies takes a high place in fostering religious
education on the Thomian youth. The College choir, ably trained,
by the Precentor, still continues to maintain the highest
standards in Anglican Choral music. The Annual Service of Nine
lessons and carols is a much eagerly awaited event as it reveals
the grandeur & capability of Thomian voices and as it is an event
to worship & honour Christ, the Son of God. The carol service
styled according to that of Kings College Cambridge. The Guild of
All Souls also takes a vital place in the Chapel. The Servers
Guild as it is better known assists the College Chaplain at Chapel
Services. The other clubs and societies range from different
fields from educational to social welfare. The Society for the
Preservation of Thomian Traditions, English Literary Society,
Drama society, Thomian Chamber Orchestra, the Science
Associations, Commerce Society, Interact Club, Computer Club, !6th
Colombo Scout Troupe, The Cadets Battalion & Culinary Arts Society
are some of them
S. Thomas’ also has modern laboratory facilities in the New
Science Laboratory. The up to date Computer Center is also housed
here and has a fine collection of computers. The newly built
Information Technology Room (IT Center) provides IT facilities to
students at a nominal rate. The School also runs a Boarding –
Hostel, which since the inception of the College has provided many
Thomians from distant regions of Sri Lanka.
The achievements of STC and its products are far too numerous to
be mentioned here. But it must be said that it is one of the
foremost educational institutions in Sri Lanka, which has made a
significant contribution to the nations progress over its 150
years of existence. Among its proud products stand a host of
Christian Clergymen, Prime Ministers ( Rt. Hon. D.S. Senanayake,
Hon. Dudley Senanayake, Hon. S.W.R.D Bandaranaike, Hon. W.
Dahanayaka) Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Judiciary, Scholars,
Scientists, Diplomats, Doctors, Engineers, Accountants, Musicians,
Artists, Dramatists etc. All Thomians in diverse walks of life
have not only learnt of Books & Men & how to play the game but
also to be Gentlemen.
S. Thomas’ College is therefore much more
than just a school. It is an institution rich in tradition,
characterized by nearly one and a half centuries of hard work,
dedication and achievement, all imbibed with the legendary Thomian
Spirit. A pioneering institution which has understood and nurtured
the very best in youth; where mere boys went in and great men came
out to be "men and gentlemen always" men who beat the odds with
the legendary "Thomian grit" and gentlemen who up held the motto
of the school
Wardens of S. Thomas' College
The Rev. Cyril
William Wood D.D. 1851 - 1853
The Rev. Joseph Baly M.A. 1854 - 1860
The Rev. George Bennet 1863 - 1866
The Rev. James Bacon B.D. 1871 - 1877
The Rev. Edward Miller M.A. 1878 - 1891
The Rev. Philip Read M.A. Lit.Hum. 1892 - 1895
The Rev. W. Armstrong Buck M.A. 1896 - 01
The Rev. William Arthur Stone M.A. 1901-1924
The Ven. Kenneth C. McPherson M.A. 1925-1931 (Archdeacon Emeritus
of Bombay)
The Rev. Canon Reginald Stewart de Saram M.A. O.B.E. 1932-1958
(The 1st Ceylonese & Old Boy Warden)
Mr. Charles Henry Lambert Davidson M.A. Dip in Ed. 1959-1965 (The
First Lay Warden)
The Rev. Anton John Chandiah Selvaratnam B.A. B.D. Dip. in Ed.
1965-1970
Mr. Samuel James Anandanayagam B.Sc. 1970-1977
Mr. Michael Llewelyn Christopher Ilangakoon M.Sc. 1977-1982
Mr. Wilfred Michael Neville de Alwis B.A. L.L.B. L.L.M. 1983-1998
Dr. David Arjunan Ponniah B.Sc. M.Eng. PhD. MBA. CEng. MICE.
2001-2008
Sub-wardens of S. Thomas' College
The Rev. G. Bennet
B.D. (Lambeth) 1870-1871
The Rev. T.F. Faulkner B.A. F.S.A. (Cantab) 1872-1879
The Rev. P. Gethen M.A. (Cantab) 1888-1892
The Rev. G.A.H. Arndt B.A. (Calcutta) 1892- 1908
The Rev. J. Parker M.A. (Oxon) 1908-1910
The Rev. O.J.C. Bevan M.A. (Cantab) 1911-1917
The Rev. Canon P.L. Jansz M.A. (Oxon) 1917-1919
The Rev. G.M. Withers M.A. (Oxon) 1919-1926
The Rev. R.S. de Saram B.A. (Oxon) 1926-1932
Dr. R.L. Hayman D.Phil. M.A. (Oxon) 1935-1957 (The Longest Serving
Sub-Warden)
Mr. C.H.L. Davidson M.A. (Lond.) Dip-in-Ed. 1957-1958
Mr. F.J. Senaratne 1959-1962
Mr. S.J. Anandanayagam B.Sc. (Lond.) 1962-1966
Mr. F. Jayasinghe B.A. (Lond.) 1968-1971
Mr. E.St.P. Gunawardene B.A. Dip-in-Ed. 1972-1977
Mr. O.A. Abeynaike 1977-1981
Prof.
Rajiva Wijesinha
D.Phil. (Oxon) 1981-1982
The Rev.
D.K. de Chickera
B.Th. (Cey) M.Sc. (Oxon) 1983-1989 (The Present Bishop of Colombo)
Mr. D.A.Pakianathan M.Sc. (Lond.) Dip-in-Ed 1991- 2002
Mr. H D Perera L.L.B 2002
