St. Peter's College, Negombo Explained

St. Peter’s College, Negombo
Motto Translation:Discipline and Knowledge Clears Darkness
Address:Fernando Avenue
Location:Negombo
Country:Sri Lanka
Coordinates:7.2121°N 79.8404°W
Schooltype:Provincial
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic
Principal:K. D. R. W. D. Fernando
Teaching Staff:~200
Grades:1-13
Gender:Co-educational
Age Range:5-19
Students:~4,000
Classes:~80
Average Class Size:40
Medium Of Language:English and Sinhala
Houses:Keerthi, Shakthi and Pragathi
Colors:Red, yellow & green
Song:"Helayē Sōbhā"
Publication:Kawluwa
Picture Caption:School flag

St. Peter’s College (;) (also known as St. Peter's Central College) is a Roman Catholic school in Negombo, Sri Lanka with a history of over a century.

History

In the early 20th century, French Catholic Priest, Fr. Esric wanted to start a school in the coastal area close to Negombo to provide education to children of fisherfolk in the region. The Mission of the school was aimed to provide formal education to Sinhalese speaking community in the region.

St. Peter's College, Negombo was founded on 2 July 1903. Initially, the school was called "Banana Stall School" as the banana market of the town was close by.

H. M. Faris served as the first principal of the school, where the initial student enrollment was 33. Three teachers Messrs Simon, Wilbert, and Anthony who served for the benefit of the children.[1] In 1967 Fr. Stanley Mellwa and the Minister of Education, I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla declared the school as a Maha Vidyalaya. Soon after, school started to develop gradually under P. A. D. Aquinas, P. A. P. Nonis, Jayanath Mendis, D. C. E. Madurasinghe and M. C. O. Fernando. When John Fernando became the principal of the school, as the school was promoted to a Central School. B. J. P. Perera became the principal after Fernando.

Under principal, H.M.S. Bandara, the school acquired a large number of infrastructure facilities. After the retirement of H.M.S. Bandara, K. D. S. T. Silva became the principal. In 2013, K. D. W. D. R. Fernando assumed duties as the principal.

Currently, the school has about 4,000 students in classes from grades 1 to 13 in both English and Sinhala mediums.[2] [3]

Houses

NameMottoColour
KeerthiFameYellow
PragathiProgressRed
ShakthiStrengthGreen

Sports

Cricket

The Battle of the Seagulls is the annual Big Match played between St. Peter's College and St. Sebastian's College, Katuneriya; the inaugural encounter was held in 2012.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Negombo Peterites' walk: "Walk together and Work together" | the Sundaytimes Sri Lanka.
  2. http://petersnegombo.blogspot.com/{{unreliable source?|date=May 2019}}
  3. http://www.rainbowinformation.com/School/School.aspx?SID=4
  4. News: 6th Battle of the Sea Gulls: St. Sebastian's Katuneriya meet St. Peter's Negombo today. 23 April 2018. Daily News. dailynews.lk. 31 March 2017.