Richmond College (Sri Lanka)

Richmond College
Crest of Richmond College
Information
Type	Government Public School
Motto	Nisi dominus frustra Latin - ( No amount of human effort will bring success, without the blessings of God)
Established	The Galle School in 1814 by the Wesleyan Methodist Mission, elevated as a superior school and renamed The Galle High School in 1876 and on a suggestion by the Rev Samuel Hill it was renamed as Richmond College in 1882
Founder	Founded by Rev. Benjamin Clough
Principal	Mr Sampath Weragoda, MSc, SLEAS Super Grade
Grades	Primary to G.C.E. (A/L)
Gender	Boys
Age	6 to 19
Enrollment	5000
Colour(s)	Maroon, Cyan, Navy Blue
Website	http://www.richmondcollege.lk

Coordinates: 6°3′10″N 80°12′17″E / 6.05278°N 80.20472°E / 6.05278; 80.20472

Maroon, Cyan, Navy Blue

Richmond College (Sinhala: රිච්මන්ඩ් විද්‍යාලය)(often referred to as "Richmond") is a primary and secondary school in Galle, Sri Lanka. It is the oldest school in the country. It was established in 1814 by Wesleyan Missionaries as "The Galle School" and in 1882 it was renamed as "Richmond College". Richmond College is considered to be a leading school in Sri Lanka. It has produced many prominent citizens, including a President and a Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Presently, Richmond is a national school funded by the central government.

The founder of Richmond was the Wesleyan Missionary Rev. Benjamin Clough in 1814. Due to efforts of the Rev George Baugh it was elevated to a superior school and renamed The Galle High school in 1876 and in 1882 it was renamed Richmond College. Rev. Samuel Langdon was the first Principal of the Galle High School, and the Rev Rowse Wilkins was the first Principal of Richmond College. The School began with a staff of 8 who were teaching in the The Galle School with 104 (by amalgamating the Richmond Hill and Magalle Schools of The Galle School) pupils on the roll. Latin, Mathematics, Science, Arts and Religion were included in the curriculum, and children were trained to sit for British public examinations. A prize giving was held in its very first year, and a library with 500 books was opened in 1878.

The first College magazine was published in 1887. It was only the second occasion that a school in Ceylon had produced a magazine. The same year, the English Literary Union was formed and cricket was started in the school. In 1894, under the principalship of Rev. Horatius Hartley, the Richmond College Old Boys' Association was formed. Another important occurrence during that year was the establishment of the College Cadet Corps. Main Hall