J.C.A. Corea

James Clifford Aelian Corea
The first Sri Lankan Principal of Royal College Colombo
Born	1904 Chilaw, Sri Lanka
Died	1988 North London, United Kingdom
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Royal College, Colombo, Ceylon Medical College, Colombo
Occupation	Principal at Royal College Colombo and Education Officer at the High Commission of Sri Lanka (UK)
Title	Educator and Diplomat
Parent(s)	Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea and Frances Eleanor Terentia Ameresekera

James Clifford Aelian Corea was a Sri Lankan educationist. He was the former Principal of Royal College Colombo.

Born in the coastal town of Chilaw in Ceylon in 1904, he was educated at Royal College Colombo, then gained an MA in Psychology from the University of London and a Diploma in Education from the University of Cambridge. He was raised by his parents, Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea and Frances Eleanor Terentia Ameresekera, in Chilaw. His father sent him to Colombo to be educated at Royal College Colombo, where he excelled as a student.

He became a master at Kingswood College, Kandy, and at Wesley College, Colombo. Corea was the President of All Ceylon Teachers' Union and in 1943 was appointed as Vice principal of his alma mater Royal College Colombo. In 1946 he succeeded Principal Bradby as the first Ceylonese Principal of Royal College Colombo in 1946 had held the post till 1953.

In 1946 he returned the school to its buildings at Reid Avenue after it had been taken over by the British Army during Second World War. During his tenure he had several infrastructure developments made and implemented the Free Education Scheme in 1947. He was also the first old Royalist (Royal Group of 1922) to become Principal of Royal College Colombo.

After retirement he became the Warden of the Ceylon Students Centre in London and served as a senior diplomat when he was appointed Education Officer of the Ceylon High Commission in London. In 1983 the Old Royalists' Association in the United Kingdom was formed under his and Principal Bradby's patronage. His nephews were the Radio Ceylon broadcaster Vernon Corea and his brother Ernest Corea, who was Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States of America. Both were Old Royalists.