R. S. de Saram
| Reginald Stewart de Saram | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1898 Ceylon |
| Died | 1998 (aged 99–100) Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | British Ceylonese |
| Education | S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia Keble College, Cuddlestone |
| Occupation | Clergyman, Warden S Thomas College |
| Employer | Keble College, College, S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia |
| Known for | Services to education |
| Title | Reverend Canon |
| Board member of | National Education Commission |
Reverend Canon Reginald Stewart de Saram MA (Oxon) OBE, Warden of S. Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia, was an educationist and clergyman known for services to education, as the co-founder of S Thomas College Gurutalawa and for services to Ceylon in the Languages Commission
de Saram was born in 1898. He was educated at S. Thomas’ College, Mutwal between 1904 and 1917. He excelled not only academically but played in the Royal-Thomian cricket matches from 1915-1917 as an accurate off spinner, captained the football team and won his colours in boxing. T. D. S. A. Dissanayake states that he had a natural flair for leadership and was a devout Christian showing an inclination towards priesthood while at school. He was known by schoolboys by the nickname Kunji.
de Saram married Edith née Clarke of Oxford at the Cathedral in Mutwal.
de Saram attended Keble College, Oxford University, where he read classics. He earned a Blue in boxing. He studied theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon Theological College in Oxford in 1924 and was ordained a priest in 1925.,
de Saram was appointed sub-warden of S. Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia in 1926, acting warden in 1930 and warden in 1932, serving till 1958. He was the first Ceylonese and first old boy of the school to become Warden of the college.
de Saram took over from Warden KC McPherson. He is also credited for having introduced both classical Sinhala and Hela Basa to S. Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia through recruitment of teachers such as Arisen Ahubudu, Sandadas Coperehewa, GL Jinadasa and D.S. Jayasekera. He introduced the use of the college crest in 1947, which is still in use.
During the second world war when the school was evacuated to Gurutalawa he also served as the first Ceylonese vicar of the Holy Trinity Church, Nuwara Eliya, in addition to his responsibilities as Warden.
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