St Joseph's College, Colombo
| St. Joseph's College | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | |
|
T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo Sri Lanka |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Government-aided private |
| Motto |
In Scientia et Virtute (In Knowledge and Virtue) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1896 |
| Rector | Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel |
| Staff | 450 |
| Grades |
1 to 13 Local Syllabus London A/L's |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age | 5 to 19 |
| Color(s) |
Blue & White |
| Website | http://www.stjosephscollege.lk// |
1 to 13 Local Syllabus
Blue & White
St. Joseph's College is a Catholic educational institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1896 by French missionaries, with Rev Christophe-Etienne Bonjean playing a leading role. The college has over 4,500 students with a staff of over 400. Distinguished former students include Cardinal Thomas Cooray the first Cardinal from Sri Lanka, and President Ranasinghe Premadasa. The motto of the college is "In Scientia et Virtute", meaning "In Knowledge and Virtue" in Latin.
In 1892, the idea of a Catholic College emerges with the proposal of the Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Fr. Christophe-Étienne Bonjean.
On 6 January 1892, a pastoral letter was sent to all the priests espousing the desirability of building a Catholic Private College to cater to the Elite in Colombo. In April 1892, St. Joseph's College was provided the support of other catholic institutions, notably the administration of St. Benedict's College. From April 1892, it took four years until the great Catholic Institution started its functions. St Joseph's and the wider Catholic community is eternally grateful to all who assisted in making this a reality, including the administration of St Benedict's College for having provided their assistance in this act, in seeing the creation of what soon became the premier Catholic school in Sri Lanka and continues to be to-date.
Thereafter 27 acres of Land called the ‘uplands’ was bought by the Archbishop for this project, from the government. Later however, this land was bought back by the government with compensation, and the Catholic Church bought a land at Maradana in Darley Road from a wealthy Egyptian called Arabi Pasha who owned horses.
On 12 December 1894 the foundation stone was laid by the Papal Delegate for South-Asia Rev. Msgr, Ladislaus Zaleski. On 2 March 1896, St. Joseph’s College Colombo was declared open with 211 students in the upper school and 96 students in the preparatory school with Very Rev. Fr. Charles Collin as the First Rector. In November 1896, the College building was formally declared open by Governor of Ceylon West Redgeway and was blessed by Most Rev. Msgr, Zaleski, in the presence of the Archbishop Rt. Rev. Fr. Melizan OMI.
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