History St. Anthony's College, Kandy

1 history

1.1 beginning
1.2 first fifty years
1.3 second fifty years
1.4 third fifty years

history
the beginning

in 1820, superior of oratorians in ceylon, vincent de rozairo, first missionary kandy. erected church, occupied same grounds present scots kirk stands. in 1828, scots kirk site found small , hilly 4. petition submitted governor-general, sir edward barnes, presented petitioners new site. square 152 150 feet (46 m × 46 m) upon second roman catholic church built. site on st. anthony s cathedral stands today.

the order realized churches alone not contribute success of missionary efforts. in september 1843, italian oratorian, fr. orazio bettacchini sent kandyan mission. during missionary year, 1843/44, opened school in kandy on same premises. in august 1844, successor, fr. andrew j. reinaud, continued missionary until 1848, began missionary career pulling down school, bettacchini had erected.

in november 1853, rev. fr. felice zoppi franciscan chinese missionary sent kandy monsignor joseph maria bravi d.d. osb issue regard school erected before 1853. result, rev. fr. zoppi promptly set task opening 2 school 1 boys , girls in january 1854. mr. van twest appointed head teacher of boys school rev. fr. zoppi. on 12th march 1854 monsignor bravi sent letter rev. fr. zoppi officially acknowledging opening of both schools, on present premises of st. anthony s cathedral. said rev. fr. zoppi being franciscan, willed name school after illustrious franciscan saint, anthony of padua. there evidence church had been dedicated st. anthony @ earlier date. @ inception 62 students enrolled boys school , 28 girls school.

mr. paul poorey took on administration of boys school mr. van twest in 1855 contributing immensely growth of school during formative years. absence of efficient missionaries take on school because parish school, paved way succession of laymen @ administration of school until 1870. during time school arrived @ greater heights. in 1867, st. anthony s boys school identified second-best school in english among schools established missionaries.

in 1870 irish christian brothers took on administration of school short period , in 1871 administration fell hands of laymen until 1875. in 1857 when rev. fr. dom hilderbrand vanderstraaten osb became principle sylvestro benedictine legacy began grow around history of st. anthony s school. marked entrusting of administration , management of school sylvestro benedictine monks. rev. fr. dom paul perera osb succeeded rev. fr. dom hilderbrand vanderstraaten osb in 1876. year boarding life first introduced. girls school shifted katukelle in 1887, convent opened shepherd nuns.

the first fifty years

in 1867, st. anthony s boys school referred second best school in english among schools established missionaries. in 1870, irish christian brothers took on administration of school, temporarily. in 1876 boarding life first introduced. in 1879 secular teachers managed school r.p. jansz head master 1880 1892, working benedictine fathers on period of twelve years. student population 1887 had grown 92, 5 of whom boarders. leitan first, of unbroken line of benedictine priest-principals of college, date. during 6 years in office, had services of few other benedictine monks: hildebrand georgesz, patrick mckelvie, dominic direckze , father ryan, brothers in charge of tea plantations.

in 1894 premises known philips coffee store , part of st. sylvester s college purchased abbot pancrazi school.

the second fifty years

his successor, fr. d. philip caspersz, osb, member of teaching staff. after caspersz assumed duties principal, brother, fr. james came in boarding prefect. these 2 brothers, in comparatively short time changed status of school, making college.

the roll of students increased 300 in 1908.the first college publication released st. anthony s manual in 1908. newly equipped physical laboratory dedicated in 1909. in 1910, fr. basil hyde, osb, alumnus of college , staff member, summoned meeting boxing day, 1910, @ college hall. first annual general meeting of st. anthony s old boys association (oba or alumni) held. rev. fr. bede beekmeyer elected first president of association proposed hyde himself. in 1912, when beekmeyer consecrated bishop, hyde succeeded him president of oba. total of 152 members had joined association in first 2 years. first branch of oba formed on 24 february 1912 uva branch , fr. craner president. in november 1915, @ close of basil hyde s tenure, james caspersz, brother of philip caspersz, appointed principal.

william gopallawa, last governor general of ceylon , first president of sri lanka, among school s alumni.)

by time premises next cathedral had been developed student population topping 1 thousand. several representations made transfer of st. anthony s cramped precincts more spacious grounds. in 1927 bishop bede beeckmeyer, old boy himself, purchased old dunuwille walauwa, present premises of college.

the plague hit kandy end of 1927 , lawrence hyde shifted junior boarders out of kandy katugastota. renovating , reconditioning of new premises began in 1927. drains around, outer walls had bound grounds, inner walls removed , replaced pillars , roof supported trusses. water service installed , titus lamps provided lighting. classes housed in shed made of coconut pillars, mango rafters, corrugated iron roof , wattle-and-daub dwarf walls. on 16 january 1928, junior boarders installed @ katugastota solemn planting of trees commemorate event. verandah of old walauwa served chapel.

in 1935, main building block of school completed , counterpart running parallel it. these still stand. hostellers, had increased 150, had dormitories upstairs in main block. office, hall, library, , chapel on ground floor. smaller section behind consisted of single storey, contained dining rooms , classrooms. playing field gradually expanded present size. fr. robert perera built first pavilion in 1935.

in 1941, kandy branch officially separated st. anthony s college, established @ katugastota. new school, st. sylvester s college, established perera first principal. world war ii brought british military occupation of college. total student population shrank 300 of 50 boarders.

sports had been sidelined 4 years during military occupation of college. when military released buildings , playing field around 1946, 1 of first innovations conceived fr. theophane wickramaratne, led return of boys premises, adoption of cottage system hostel accommodation. theophane involved in construction of other college buildings such rainbow cottages , tuck shop , chapel , mansion , villa , infirmary , refectory . living in small groups, in separate cottages had not provided homey atmosphere, promoted greater fellowship , understanding. rosati reconditioned several military huts living quarters boarders , appointed school matrons in charge of physical cleanliness of boys , sanitary features of each hostel block. change had been effectual in achievement of greater performance both in work , play , led reduction of illness among boarders. student population grew 1,600 teaching staff of 70. classes conducted in english, sinhalese language , tamil language subjects grade 1 university entrance.

the centenary hall


the third fifty years

the centenary hall funded alhaj harideen of madawala bazaar. blessed bernard regno, o.s.b., bishop of kandy , declared open governor general sir oliver ernest goonetilleke, c.m.e., on 5 september 1957. in 1961 government took on school. government later permitted college continue, wouldn t allow charging tuition. period of financial hardship overcome of oba. robinson, accompanied victor perera, president of oba, , later judge of supreme court, solicited alumni, parents , wishers donations keep college functioning.

the college choir, led cyril brown, won number of trophies. boarding school had on 500 students parts of island, including plurality colombo.

in 1977 st. anthony s college, kandy changed identity, when school handed on government bishop of kandy. hostel run independent of school, benedictine fathers, had income generating sections – hall, swimming pool , tuck shop – under jurisdiction. prime minister ranasinghe premadasa donated two-story block of classrooms, forms 1 wing of school , called premadasa block .

in 1982 colombo branch of oba undertook develop indoor sports , pavilion complex @ katugastota grounds. however, communal troubles country faced since 1983, raising funds became difficult task 1989. project, bishop leo nanayakkara sports , pavilion complex, planned in 3 stages. first stage consisting of gymnasium, badminton , table tennis courts completed in 1991 of funds collected oba , fr. stephen abraham. in march 1992 sports complex opened k.d.m.c. bandara , handed on use college. college diary re-introduced in 1987 after lapse of several years, , has continued published annually.

jack anderson- antonian cricketer

the second stage of project, consisted of accommodation visiting teams, sports pavilion , public stands named jack anderson pavilion, after st. anthony s cricketer. fund raising stage spearheaded fr. abraham , minister k.d.m.c bandara. total sum of around 4 million rupees raised through donations parents, obas, wishers, , fund-raisers in colombo , carnival in kandy. effort enabled building take shell-shape within period of 4 months , opened abraham in march 1993 commemorate 75th year of jack anderson s unbroken record of 291 runs in school match against st. thomas college, mt. lavinia. construction completed in 1993, , has since, been used college main pavilion. work on third , final stage of complex commenced in 1994.

in 1989 abraham celebrated sacerdotal silver jubilee (25 years of priesthood) building 25 houses minor staff naming complex anthony gammana , model-housing scheme. department of education in recognition of success st. anthony s had achieved under fr. stephen abraham, approved construction of new three-storey block of buildings @ cost of 8 million rupees, in 1994.

the college council, inaugurated in 1972, functioned continuously supreme body of decision making on matters pertaining college within frame of rules , regulations of department of education. council consists of twelve members @ present, headed fr. principal , including prefect of discipline, prefect of games, sectional heads , staff guild president.

the sports council, formed subsequently, continues govern on matters relating sports. headed rev. fr. principal, council consists of masters in charge , coaches each sport. third , final stage of bishop leo nanayakkara sports , pavilion complex , completed in 2000, badminton courts within complex being upgraded air-cushioned flooring in 1999, accommodate national tournaments. 3 storeyed block in upper school completed in 2001. sesquicentennial block of classrooms in quadrangular completed assistance of parents of upper school, in 2003. primary section received new block of 4 classrooms , computer laboratory in 2002 financial assistance central provincial ministry. computers , related equipment laboratory obtained through funds collected parents of primary section. new jubilee building constructed primary in 2003, through collective efforts of parents.

the student population in last ten years has averaged 2,700, 2100 in sinhala medium , 600 in tamil medium. academic staff has progressively increased development of curriculum, number 126 @ 2003. non-academic staff counts 36 employees. national examinations sow increase in passes @ g.c.e. (o/l), 66% in 1990 90% in 2002, in sinhala medium, , 33% 95% in tamil medium. both mediums have recorded rapid increases @ g.c.e. (a/l) examinations. antonian undergraduates @ peradeniya campus alone, counted on 150 in faculties, in 2003.

there variety of co-curricular activities, in sports. denominations given equal right practice faith without discrimination. catholic students federation, buddhist students union, hindu society , islamic majilis play role, inculcating spiritual values through conduct of religious programmes.

activities include dancing, music, art, drama , oration. several have won prizes , trophies in all-island competitions, in both sinhala , tamil mediums. boarding, continues administered o.s.b. monks independent of education sector, has drop in numbers, due 2-mile-radius rule admission of new students. there 100 boarders in 2003.

the oba, colombo branch, appointed sub committee of ex-boarders in 2003, rally round many past boarders, objective of restoring facilities previous best. first ever known body of ex-boarders.

the old boys association (sackoba), branches in colombo, nuwara eliya, australia, canada , england, have provided financial support college. there sackoba ball , dinner-dance organized colombo branch, raise funds supportive activities each year.

the administration building