Milestone:

St. Benedict's College Kotahena turns 150

To Catholics in and around Colombo who had no access to good education, St Benedict's College Kotahena, a pioneering initiative of the De La Salle Brothers, was a beacon of hope. At this time Kotahena was home to the three main educational houses in Colombo, the Colombo Academy (later Royal College) in Wolvendaal, S. Thomas College in Aluthmawatte Road (Gal Palliya) and St Benedict's College, although in later years Royal College moved to Reid Avenue and S. Thomas to Mount Lavinia.

St Benedict's College, which was moved from Wolvendaal to its present location in 1865, was the only educational institution for Catholics in the South run by the La Sallians Brothers following the footsteps of their founder John Baptist De La Salle who renounced the world to educate the poor in France.

The college attracted the cream of the Catholic community and it has an outstanding and unparalleled record of producing some of the finest gentlemen of this country.

The pastoral letter of the Archbishop of Colombo, Christopher Ernest Bonjean on January 6, 1892 amply denotes the noble values the school imparts to it students in the following, "At the head of our vast system of schools stands St Benedict's Institute, the leading Catholic College of the archdiocese. Founded in 1865. St Benedict's has always maintained its reputation for the sound education it imparts to its pupils."

Religious amity

With the clamour for unity and religious amity today, St Benedict's College has led the way by example through its distinguished alumni, Anagarika Dharmapala the foremost National Hero of Sri Lanka, the Most Venerable Narada Nayaka Thera, considered one of the greatest Buddhist scholars, the Most Ven Soma Maha Thera, author of over 30 books on Buddhism and recognized as one responsible for the spread of Buddhism in Europe and the famous Hindu Kurukkal, Siva Shri Deiva Sigamany, of the Munnesweram Temple.

They are the pride of all Sri Lankan Buddhists and Hindus, and to be products of a Catholic school is ample testimony to the equality and religious harmony that exists in this great institution.

The history of Catholic education in Colombo could be traced back to the beginning of St Benedict's, a trailblazer in atholic education in the country.

The growth of St Benedict's was significant and in the words of Archbishop Bonjean "We have been amply rewarded by the growing prosperity of this Institution, its efficiency has daily increased, and it counts now 475 pupils, a number never reached before and not equaled by any other Institution in Ceylon."

Second school

As the demand for education among the Catholic community grew the need for teaching of classical languages too became a necessity. Discussions were held between the Archdiocese and St Benedict's College continued for the inclusion of these subjects in the curriculum. While the Christian Brothers were firm only teaching English, the Archdiocese was desirous of teaching the classical languages.

After this initial development of this branch spanning four years, the Archbishop with the assistance of the Administration of St Benedict's established the second Catholic school in Colombo in 1896 namely St Joseph's Colombo 10, on December 12, 1894.

To strengthen this new school many teachers and students transferred from St Benedict's, This sacrifice paid rich dividends as it signalled the beginning of the long road to success of Catholic Education in Sri Lanka. Beginning with the Catholic Church, St Benedict's produced the first Sri Lankan Catholic Bishop in Dr Bede Beekmeyer, the first Indian Catholic Bishop in Dr Tibutius Roche and the first Tamil Bishop in Dr Emilanius Pillai. Fr Peter Pillai was considered the most learned man in the British empire at one time and his record of academic achievement has never been equaled.

He was also one of the most distinguished rectors of St Joseph's College, Maradana and the founder of Aquinas University, Archbishop Dr Oswald Gomis and Prof Rev Fr Tyrell Alles, are just two of the eminent Benedictines who served the Catholic Church.

Just to impress upon the outstanding contribution to Sri Lankan society, mention should be made of some of the eminent Benedictines in their chosen professions namely Dr Cyril Fernando, the leading physician of his day, Prof Kandiah, the first Ceylonese to obtain the D Sc, C. M. Fernando the country's first Crown Counsel, Dr A. W. Joachim the greatest soil chemist who rose to be the first Ceylonese Director of Agriculture, Prof P. B. Fernando the first Professor of Medicine of the University of Ceylon, P. Navaratnerajah, Queens Counsel, Professors Mylvaganam, Chapman, Kingsley De Silva, Orthopedic surgeon Dr Rienzie Peiris, A. N. S. Kulasinghe the country's leading Engineer , respected Public administrators who served with distinction as Secretaries of various Ministries were Annesley Jayewardene, Ronnie Gunatilleke, Dr Joe Fernando, Dr Reggie Perera, Dr Athula Kahandaliyanage, Justin Dias and Dr Michael Joachim.

Of the many Benedictines who have added luster to the Country's Diplomatic service is Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, a distinguished diplomat who held the highest position ever by a Sri Lankan in the United Nations as under Secretary General.

Many Benedictines have served in the armed forces and Police among them are the 12th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Cecil Waidyaratne, the 6th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Vice Chief Marshal Dick Perera and the 14th Inspector General of Police, Herbert Weerasinghe.

Of Journalists there were Editors like Quintus Delikan, Felix Gunawardena, Clarence Fernando and of course the popular E.C. B. Wijesinghe, and in recent times sports journalist, Elmo Rodrigopulle and the late Lasantha Wickremetunga.

Film and music

In the film and music industry, St Benedict's has a record unparalleled by any school. personalities such as Vijay Kumaranatunga, Ravindra Randeniya and Robin Fernando are household names and are considered as kings of this industry, in the music industry Sunil Shantha is considered a legend, some of the greatest names in music such as Jerry Crake, Denzil & Bosco, Dharmaratne Brothers, Spit Fires, Savages, Jet Liners, Grace and in recent times Voice Print, Rebels and the Tissera Brothers Shavindra and Viroshan.

What is most special is that St Benedict's College has during its long history been a quiet and humble Institution that has silently produced some of the finest gentlemen of this Country; many have adorned positions of high office both here and overseas with humility, equality and fairplay.

These outstanding human qualities of humility and brotherhood have been instilled in them through this institution, surely keeping in mind the message conveyed in one verse of the College anthem:

"True to our God and true to all man,

Follow we ever life's holy plan

Doing the duty that is to do,

Bearing the cross with the crown in view"

- Shirley Tissera

Past General Secretary OBU, St. Benedict's College