St. Sylvester's College (Sinhala: ශාන්ත සිල්වෙස්තර විද්යාලය; Tamil: செயின்ட் சில்வெஸ்டர் கல்லூரி) is a national boys' school located in Kandy, adjacent to the St. Anthony's Cathedral. It was founded by the Sylvestro Benedictine Congregation in 1940. It offers primary and secondary education and the college is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education.
It has more than 500 teaching staff and more than 6,000 students.
History
The first decades
Bishop Bernard Regno, 3rd Bishop of Kandy, one of the co-founders of the college
St. Sylvester's began as a separate institution on 1 November 1940 (All Saints' Day) with Fr. D. Robert Perera as the principal. The college owed its inception to the foresight of Bishop Bernardo Regno and Abbot Weerasinghe, the heads of the Sylvestro-Benedictine congregation. They felt that a Catholic school in Kandy was a prime need, once the most prestigious St Anthony's College had been shifted to the banks of the Mahaweli at Katugastota. The school commenced with 250 pupils and twelve teachers.
During the tenure of Perera as principal from 1940 to 1949 and as rector from 1949 until his death in 1956, St. Sylvester's underwent a transformation from a senior secondary school to an "A" grade institution.[1] Under the stewardship of Perera, the Pancrazi Memorial Hall, and Cingolani Memorial Hall were built and two new blocks were added as well.[2]
Perera negotiated with the education department and obtained another parcel of land above the Kandy-Matale railway line, which skirts one side of St. Sylvester's. A science laboratory, workshop, and library were creations of Fr. Robert, who was, the designer and builder of St. Sylvester's.[3] Perera was a builder in more than one sense. He believed essentially in molding Sylvestrians in a Christ-like character under the Benedictine spirituality to lead a life of harmony as citizens of this alluring isle of Ceylon.[4]
He had great faith in harmonizing the classroom with the playing field and was instrumental in providing the sports facilities that the school needed, a tennis court and a boxing ring. During his tenure, the school won the Stubbs Shield in boxing for three successive years, produced outstanding sportspeople, who won the national championship while in college, and represented the country at international events such as the British Empire Games.[5]
D. Joseph Noel Seneviratne took over the reins as the principal in 1949, envisaged by Perera, who remained as the director. After the death of Fr. Robert in 1956, Rev Paulinus Vadekapattany OSB succeeded as the rector. Principal Seneviratne served the college for 24 years.
In 1961, the Primary department was established on Lady Manning's Drive, close to the school's main administrative building. In 1968, Seneviratne resigned to take over the duties as the director of a junior university, and the Vice-Principal, K.S. Gunaratne, succeeded him.
The school celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2020, with a nine-a-side hockey tournament, a football competition and other events.[6]
List of Principals
In office
Principal
Notes
1940 – 1949
Rev. Fr. D. Robert M. Perera O.S.B.
Founder of St. Sylvester's College
1949 – 1968
D. J. N. Senevirathne (M.A.Hons. (Columbia), B.A.Hons. (London), Cert. Cey. History, Trd.)
1968 – 1970
K. S. Gunarathne (B.A. (London) – Trained)
1970 – 1976
W. B. Gopallawa (B.A.Hons. (London) – Trained)
1979
A. Karunarathne
Interim
1976 – 1995
Bertie Niilegoda (BSc (Cey.))
1995 – 1998
Ashoka B. Herath)
1998 – 2001
G. W. Abeysinghe
2001
Bandula Gunawardana
Interim
2001 – 2017
T. Ranil. S. Meetiyagoda
Retired
2017 – 2022
P. G. S. Bandara
Transferred after alleged involvement in bribery and corruption.[7]
2023 –
R. A. A. R. Ranasinghe
Present Principal
Awards
Cingolani Gold Medal
The Cingolani Gold Medal is awarded each year to the "best all-round boy" at St. Sylvester's College. The Cingolani Gold Medal is the highest honor that the school can bestow. It is awarded annually to the best all-round student with the best performance in academics and sports in honorable memory of Abbot Leo Cingolani, the third Sylvestrine monk to arrive in British Ceylon. It is awarded using on a secret ballot conducted among the senior boys and the staff whose votes, together with that of the Rector (now Principal).[8] This is awarded at the prize-giving under the patronage of the chief guest.
The Original College crest designed by the then head prefect, Master Kiriella.
The original college crest was designed by the then head prefect of the college, Master Kiriella. Which was later modified a little in colours. The Legend of crest as follows:
The Crown
- Represents Royalty. The highest authority of the country during the time of the school's inception.
The Red (now Maroon) Cross
- Represents the Roman Catholic faith on which the school was built.
The Book
- Represents the Holy Bible and education. Includes the motto "Fiat Justitia".
The Cloud and the Rays
- Depicts the concept of heaven and that the heavenly blessings will shower upon the school through the Holy Spirit.
St. Sylvester's College has used various school anthems since 1940. During the early years God Save the King was sung as a school anthem, followed by the Pasal Mavuni Jaya Wewa anthem and in the 1970s it was changed to Dana Mana Ranjitha anthem.[citation needed][10]
In 1945 St. Sylvester's College, Kandy started their first scout troop with the patronage of founder Fr. Robert M. Perera. The scout troop had been started by B. M. Guyes.[citation needed] In 1949 Guyes left the scout troop in charge of Fr. Dom. George. Next came Mr. K.S. Gunarathne. He was joined by able Scouters N. H. Shalwyn and W. L. D. V. Jayawardene.[citation needed]
Both of these scoutmasters had contributed in great measure to the success of the scout troop.[citation needed] In 1950 the scouts won the "Island Merit Flag", awarded to the best troop on the island.[citation needed] The presentation was made by 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.[citation needed]
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 was founded by the school's 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).[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] Sponsored by the parent club, Rotary Club of Kandy,[11] 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.[citation needed]
The English Literary Association of St. Sylvester's College
ICT Society of St. Sylvester's College (VITS)
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.[citation needed]Even though the MSU was formed by the batch of 2000, it has been a practice that everyone takes part in all the events organised by the MSU Sylvestrians Motor Rally which is organised annually during the Big Match (Battle of the Babes) between St. Sylvester's College and Vidyartha College is one of the main events organised by MSU.[citation needed]
Battle of the Babes is played annually between St. Sylvester's College and Vidyartha College since 1958 except for 3 years.[12] As of 2023, 63 Big Matches have been played and, St. Sylvester's College has won 15 matches while, 45 matches were drawn.[13]
