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, motto_translation = Light From Heaven , patron =
Saint Anthony of Padua Anthony of Padua ( it, Antonio di Padova) or Anthony of Lisbon ( pt, António/Antônio de Lisboa; born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. He was bo ...
, religion = Roman Catholic , founder = Felice Alexander Zoppi , established = 1854 , type = Roman Catholic (Government Assisted
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School) , principal = K. G. Henry B. Wijerathne , city =
Kandy Kandy ( si, මහනුවර ''Mahanuwara'', ; ta, கண்டி Kandy, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills ...
, country = Sri Lanka , coordinates = , gender = Boys , lower_age = 6 , upper_age = 19 , enrollment = 3,500 , affiliation =
Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, colors = Maroon, light blue and dark blue
, alumni = Old Antonians , website = St. Anthony's College, Kandy is a Roman Catholic School in
Kandy Kandy ( si, මහනුවර ''Mahanuwara'', ; ta, கண்டி Kandy, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills ...
,
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
. The college was established in 1854 by the
Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...
missionary, Felice Zoppi. The college is under the management of the Sylvestro Benedictine congregation and falls under the Diocese of Kandy. A number of notable individuals, including presidents, ministers, and parliamentarians have graduated from the college.


History


The beginning

In 1820, the superior of all the Oratorians in
Ceylon Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
, Vincent de Rozairo, was the first missionary to Kandy. He erected a church, which occupied the same grounds where the present Scots Kirk stands. In 1828, the Scots Kirk site was found to be too small and hilly. A petition was submitted to the
Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
, Sir Edward Barnes, who presented the petitioners with a new site. It was roughly a square upon which the second Roman Catholic Church was built. This is the site on which St. Anthony's Cathedral stands today. The order realised that churches alone would not contribute to the success of the missionary efforts. In September 1843, an
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional It ...
Oratorian, Orazio Bettacchini was sent to the Kandyan mission. During his missionary year, 1843/44, he opened a school in Kandy on the same premises. In August 1844, his successor, Andrew J. Reinaud, who continued as a missionary until 1848, began his missionary career by pulling down the school, which Bettacchini had erected. In November 1853, Felice Zoppi, a
Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...
from the Chinese Missionary, was sent to Kandy by Joseph Maria Bravi to look into an issue with regard to a school erected before 1853. Then, as a result, Zoppi set about his task by opening two schools one for boys and another for girls in January 1854. Van Twest was appointed as the head teacher of the boys school by Zoppi. On 12 March 1854 Bravi sent a letter to Zoppi officially acknowledging the opening of both the schools, on the present premises of St. Anthony's Cathedral. It is said that Zoppi being a Franciscan, willed to name the school after the illustrious Franciscan Saint, Anthony of Padua. There is also evidence that the Church had been dedicated to St. Anthony at a much earlier date. At the inception 62 students were enrolled to the boys' school and 28 for the girls' school. Paul Poorey took over the administration of the boys' school from Van Twest in 1855 contributing immensely to the growth of the school during its formative years. The absence of efficient missionaries to take over the school because it was a parish school, paved the way for a succession of laymen at the administration of the school until 1870. During this time the school arrived at its greater heights. Also in 1867, St. Anthony's Boys' School was identified as the second-best school in English among all the schools established by the missionaries. In 1870, the Irish Christian Brothers took over the administration of the school for a short period and in 1871 the administration fell into the hands of laymen until 1875. It was in 1857 when Hilderbrand Vanderstraaten became the principal the Sylvestro Benedictine legacy began to grow around the history of St. Anthony's school. This event marked the entrusting of the administration and management of the school to Sylvestro Benedictine monks. Paul Perera succeeded Vanderstraaten in 1876. It is this year that boarding life was first introduced. The Girls School was shifted to Katukelle in 1887, where a convent was opened for Good Shepherd Nuns.


The first fifty years

In 1867, St. Anthony's Boys' School was referred as the "second best school in English" among all the schools established by the Missionaries. In 1870, the
Irish Christian Brothers The Congregation of Christian Brothers ( la, Congregatio Fratrum Christianorum; abbreviated CFC) is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. Their first school was opened in Waterford, Ireland ...
took over the administration of the school, temporarily. In 1876, boarding life was first introduced. In 1879 secular teachers managed the school with R.P. Jansz as Head Master from 1880 to 1892, working with the Benedictine Fathers over a period of twelve years. The student population by 1887 had grown to 92, 5 of whom were boarders. Leitan was the first, of an unbroken line of
Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , found ...
priest-principals of the college, to date. During his six years in office, he had the services of a few other Benedictine monks: Hildebrand Georgesz, Patrick McKelvie, Dominic Direckze and Father Ryan. In 1894, the premises known as "Philips Coffee Store", now a part of St. Sylvester's College was purchased by Abbot Pancrazi for the school.


The second fifty years

His successor, D. Philip Caspersz, was already a member of the teaching staff. After Caspersz assumed duties as principal, his brother, James came in as boarding prefect. These two brothers, in a comparatively short time changed the status of the school, making it a college. The roll of students increased to 300 in 1908. The first College publication was released as ''St. Anthony's Manual'' in 1908. The newly equipped physical laboratory was dedicated in 1909. In 1910, Basil Hyde, an alumnus of the college and a staff member, summoned a meeting for Boxing Day 1910, at the college hall. This was the "First Annual General Meeting" of the St. Anthony's Old Boys' Association (OBA or alumni) was held. Bede Beekmeyer was elected the first president of the Association, proposed by Hyde himself. In 1912, when Beekmeyer was consecrated as Bishop, Hyde succeeded him as President of the OBA. A total of 152 members had joined the association in its first two years. The first branch of the OBA was formed on 24 February 1912 as the "Uva Branch", with Craner as President. In November 1915, at the close of Basil Hyde's tenure, James, the brother of Philip Caspersz, was appointed principal.
William Gopallawa William Gopallawa (, ; 17 September 1896 – 31 January 1981) was the last Governor-General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and became the first and only non-executive and ceremonial President of Sri Lanka when Ceylon declared itself a republic in ...
, the last
Governor General of Ceylon The Governor-General of Ceylon was the representative of the Ceylonese monarch in the Dominion of Ceylon from the country's independence in 1948 until it became the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972. History There were four governors-general. S ...
and first President of Sri Lanka, is among the school's alumni. By this time the premises next to the Cathedral had been fully developed with the student population topping one thousand. Several representations were made for the transfer of St. Anthony's from the cramped precincts to more spacious grounds. In 1927 Bishop Bede Beeckmeyer, an old boy, purchased the old Dunuwille Walauwa, the present premises of the college. The plague hit Kandy by the end of 1927 and Lawrence Hyde shifted the junior boarders out of Kandy to Katugastota. The renovating and reconditioning of the new premises began in 1927. With drains all around, outer walls had to be bound to the grounds, the inner walls removed and replaced by pillars and the roof supported by trusses. Water service was installed and Titus lamps provided the lighting. The classes were housed in a shed made of coconut pillars, mango rafters, corrugated iron roof and wattle-and-daub dwarf walls. On 16 January 1928, the junior boarders were installed at Katugastota with a solemn planting of trees to commemorate the event. The verandah of the old walauwa served as a chapel. In 1935, the main building block of the school was completed and its counterpart running parallel to it. These still stand. The hostellers, who had by then increased to about 150, had their dormitories upstairs in the main block. The Office, Hall, Library, and Chapel were on the ground floor. The smaller section behind consisted of a single storey, contained dining rooms and some classrooms. The playing field was gradually expanded to its present size. Fr. Robert Perera built the first Pavilion in 1935. In 1941, the Kandy branch was officially separated from St. Anthony's College, established at Katugastota. A new school, St. Sylvester's College, was established with Perera as the first principal. World War II brought a British military occupation of the college. The total student population shrank to about 300 of which about 50 were boarders. Sports had been sidelined for four years during military occupation of the college. When the military released the buildings and the playing field around 1946, one of the first innovations conceived by Theophane Wickramaratne, who led the return of the boys to the premises, was the adoption of a cottage system for hostel accommodation. Wickramaratne was involved in the construction of other College buildings such as "The Rainbow Cottages", "The Tuck Shop", "The Chapel", "Mansion", "Villa", "Infirmary" and "The Refectory". Living in small groups, in separate cottages had not only provided a homey atmosphere, but also promoted greater fellowship and understanding. Rosati reconditioned several military huts into living quarters for the boarders and appointed school matrons to be in charge of the physical cleanliness of the boys and the sanitary features of each hostel block. This change had been so effectual in the achievement of greater performance both in work and play and led to a reduction of illness among the boarders. The student population grew to nearly 1,600 with a teaching staff of 70. Classes were conducted in English,
Sinhalese language Sinhala ( ; , ''siṁhala'', ), sometimes called Sinhalese (), is an Indo-Aryan language primarily spoken by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka, who make up the largest ethnic group on the island, numbering about 16 million. Sinhala is also s ...
and
Tamil language Tamil (; ' , ) is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia. Tamil is an official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the sovereign nations of Sri Lanka and Singapore, and the Indian territory of Pudu ...
for all subjects from Grade 1 to University Entrance.


The third fifty years

The Centenary Hall was funded by Alhaj Harideen of
Madawala Madawala is a village in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Madawala is popular for its Madina National School or also known as Madina Central College, is one of the leading Tamil/English medium schools in Sri Lanka, which is situated in th ...
Bazaar. It was blessed by Bernard Regno, O.S.B., Bishop of Kandy and declared open by Governor General Sir
Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke ( si, ශ්‍රිමත් ඔලිවර් ගුණතිලක) (20 October 1892 – 17 December 1978) was a Sri Lankan statesman. Having served as an important figure in the gradual independence of Ceyl ...
, C.M.E., on 5 September 1957. In 1961 the government took over the school. The government later permitted the college to continue, but wouldn't allow charging tuition. This period of financial hardship was overcome with the help of the OBA. Robinson, accompanied by Victor Perera, president of the OBA, and later a Judge of the Supreme Court, solicited alumni, parents and well wishers for donations to keep the College functioning. The College Choir, led by Cyril Brown, won a number of trophies. The boarding school had over 500 students from all parts of the island, including a plurality from Colombo. In 1977, St. Anthony's changed its identity when the school was handed over to the government by the then Bishop of Kandy. The hostel was run independently of the school, by the Benedictine Fathers, who also had the income generating sections – the hall, the swimming pool and the tuck shop – under their jurisdiction. Prime Minister
Ranasinghe Premadasa Sri Lankabhimanya Ranasinghe Premadasa ( si, රණසිංහ ප්‍රේමදාස ''Raṇasiṃha Premadāsa'', ta, ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாசா ''Raṇaciṅka Pirēmatācā''; 23 June 1924 – 1 May 1993) was t ...
donated a two-story block of classrooms, which forms one wing of the school and is called the "Premadasa Block". In 1982, the Colombo branch of the OBA undertook to develop an Indoor Sports and Pavilion Complex at the Katugastota grounds. However, with the communal troubles the country faced since 1983, raising funds became a difficult task up to about 1989. The project, the Bishop Leo Nanayakkara Sports and Pavilion Complex, was planned in three stages. The first stage consisting of a gymnasium, badminton and table tennis courts was finally completed in 1991 with the help of funds collected by the OBA and Fr. Stephen Abraham. In March 1992 this Sports Complex was opened by K.D.M.C. Bandara and handed over for use by the college. The ''College Diary'' was re-introduced in 1987 after a lapse of several years, and has continued to be published annually. The second stage of the project, which consisted of accommodation for visiting teams, a sports pavilion and public stands was named Jack Anderson Pavilion, after the St. Anthony's cricketer. Fund raising for this stage was spearheaded by Fr. Abraham and Minister K.D.M.C. Bandara. A total sum of around 4 million rupees was raised through donations from parents, OBAs, well wishers, and from fund-raisers in Colombo and a carnival in Kandy. This effort enabled the building to take a shell-shape within a period of four months and was opened by Abraham in March 1993 to commemorate the 75th year of Jack Anderson's unbroken record of 291 runs in a school match against S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia. The construction was completed in 1993, and has since, been used by the college as its main Pavilion. Work on the third and final stage of the complex commenced in 1994. In 1989, Abraham celebrated his Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee (25 years of Priesthood) by building 25 houses for the minor staff naming the complex "Anthony Gammana", which is a model-housing scheme. The Department of Education in recognition of the success St. Anthony's had achieved under Fr. Stephen Abraham, approved the construction of a new three-storey block of buildings at a cost of 8 million rupees, in 1994. The College Council, inaugurated in 1972, functioned continuously as the supreme body of decision making on matters pertaining to College within the frame of rules and regulations of the
Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
. The Council consists of twelve members at present, headed by Fr. Principal and including Prefect of Discipline, Prefect of Games, Sectional Heads and Staff Guild President. The Sports Council, which was formed subsequently, continues to govern on all matters relating to sports. Headed by Rev. Fr. Principal, the Council consists of Masters in Charge and Coaches each sport. The third and final stage of the "Bishop Leo Nanayakkara Sports and Pavilion Complex", was completed in 2000, with the Badminton Courts within the complex being upgraded with air-cushioned flooring in 1999, to accommodate National Tournaments. The three storeyed block in the upper school was completed in 2001. The "Sesquicentennial Block" of classrooms in the quadrangular was completed with the assistance of parents of the upper school, in 2003. The Primary section too received a new block of four classrooms and a computer laboratory in 2002 with financial assistance from the Central Provincial Ministry. Computers and related equipment for the laboratory were obtained through funds collected by parents of the Primary section. A new 'Jubilee Building' was constructed for the Primary in 2003, through the collective efforts of the parents. The student population in the last ten years has averaged 2,700, with 2100 in the Sinhala Medium and 600 in the Tamil Medium. The Academic Staff has progressively increased with development of curriculum, to number 126 as at 2003. The Non-academic Staff counts 36 employees. National Examinations sow an increase in passes at the G.C.E. (O/L), from 66% in 1990 to 90% in 2002, in the Sinhala medium, and from 33% to 95% in the Tamil medium. Both mediums have also recorded rapid increases at the G.C.E. (A/L) examinations. Antonian Undergraduates at the Peradeniya Campus alone, counted over 150 in all Faculties, in 2003. There is a variety of co-curricular activities, especially in sports. All denominations are given equal right to practice their faith without discrimination. The Catholic Students Federation, Buddhist Students Union, Hindu Society and Islamic Majilis play a role, inculcating spiritual values through the conduct of religious programmes. The Old Boys Association (SACKOBA), with Branches in Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Australia, Canada and England, have provided financial support to the college. There is a "SACKOBA BALL", a dinner-dance organized by the Colombo Branch, to raise funds for its supportive activities each year.


Past principals


Sports

Cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
was introduced in 1903, and a team known as 'St. Anthony's College Cricket Club' consisting of staff and school boys was formed under the Captaincy of Fr. Andrew. The inaugural match was played in Colombo versus Colombo Carlton Cricket Club. One of St. Anthony's notable rivals is another prestigious Catholic boys' school
St. Joseph's College, Colombo , motto_translation = In Knowledge and Virtue , location = T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 , country = Sri Lanka , coordinates = , caption = School Facade , pushpin_m ...
and they compete for the "Murali-Vaas Trophy", which was inaugurated in 2007 and named after St. Anthony's alumnus
Muttiah Muralitharan Deshabandu Muttiah Muralitharan ( si, මුත්තයියා මුරලිදරන්, ta, முத்தையா முரளிதரன், also spelt Muralidaran; born 1972) is a Sri Lankan cricket coach, former professional ...
and St. Joseph's alumnus
Chaminda Vaas Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas (born 27 January 1974) is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer, who played all forms of the game, and a former ODI captain who is often described as the greatest fast medium bowl ...
. In 2012 the two schools celebrated their historic 100th encounter. Rugby was introduced in 1957.


Anthems and hymns

"Rally Round the Banner of the College", composed by Rev. Fr. Stephen Abraham is currently used as the college anthem. "Sweet Childhood Home", composed by Cyril Brown was formally used as the college anthem. "Maroon, Light and Dark Blue Banners" (Hymn for Saint Anthony)


Flag

The flag colours of the College are Maroon, Light Blue, Dark Blue and Double Blue.


Houses


Day Houses

The students are divided into four
Houses A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condit ...
: * Maroon * Light Blue * Dark Blue * Double Blue The names are derived from the flag colours of the college. The houses compete in all major games to win the inter-house games.


Boarding Houses

* Rainbow Cottage * Lodge * Villa * Mansion


Awards

* Bede Gold Medal – The "Bede Gold Medal" is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an Antonian. The medal, was originally presented by John Barnet Esq., in 1939, to the 'Most Outstanding All-Round Student' in memory of Right Reverend Bede Beeckmeyer, D.D., OSB, who purchased the site of the present home at Katugastota. * Rosati Gold Medal * Antonian Medallion of Excellence * Antonian Eagle * Antonian Wing * Golden Eagle


Notable alumni


See also

* Trinity-Antonian Cricket Encounter *
List of schools in Central Province, Sri Lanka The following is a list of schools in Central Province, Sri Lanka.https://cpedu.lk/ Kandy District National schools Provincial schools Private Schools International schools {, class="wikitable" , - , , , AQL International Gi ...


References


External links

* * * * {{cite web, url=http://www.island.lk/2004/03/12/featur03.html, title=featur03, website=Island.lk, accessdate=27 February 2019 1854 establishments in Ceylon Catholic schools in Sri Lanka Cricket grounds in Sri Lanka Educational institutions established in 1854 Schools in Kandy