St. Patrick's College, Jaffna Explained

St Patrick's College
Native Name:	Tamil: புனித பத்திரிசியார் கல்லூரி
Motto:	Latin: Fide et labore
Motto Translation:	By faith and labour
Country:	Sri Lanka
Coordinates:	9.6555°N 80.022°W
Pushpin Map:	Sri Lanka Jaffna Central
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location in central Jaffna
Pushpin Label Position:	right
Schooltype:	1AB
Founder:	Msgr Orazio Bettacchini
District:	Jaffna Education Zone
Schoolnumber:	1001030
Rector:	Rev. A. P. Thirumahan B.Ph, B.Th (Rome), Dip.in Ed., M.A (Ed)(Lond)
Grades:	1-13
Gender:	Boys
Age Range:	5-19
Classes Offered:	Gr.1-Gr.13
Medium:	Tamil(1-5), Bilingual[English and Tamil](6-13)
Schedtyp:	Day School
Schedule:	7:30 to 1:30
Hours In Day:	6
Houses:	4 (Mathews, Bonjean, Dunne, Long)
Colours:	Green and gold
Sports:	Soccer, cricket, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, badminton, mini tennis, tennis
Roll:	1,942
Fees:	Rs. 7000per annum

St Patrick's College (SPC) (Tamil: புனித பத்திரிசியார் கல்லூரி Punitha Pattiriciyār Kallūri) is a private school in Gurunagar, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.^{[1] [2] [3]} It was founded in 1850 by Roman Catholic missionaries.

History

The Jaffna Catholic English School was established in 1850 by Monsignor Orazio Bettacchini, an Italian Roman Catholic missionary.^{[4] [5]} The school was later renamed Jaffna Boys' Seminary.^{[4] [5]} The school was registered as a High School in 1881 and renamed St. Patrick's College on 10 January 1881.^{[4] [5]} Rev John Smythe, formerly a member of Ceylon Civil Services, was appointed as its first Rector.^[6]

With a appointment of Brother Conway in 1862 as a Principal of the School, a new era of progress began in this institution. A numbers on roll expanded. A high sense of responsibility and discipline prevailed in the school. The students took up the challenge and did well in their exams. Teachers too were dedicated and fully committed. Under his direction College made great strides and was successful from 1862 onwards. The first local examination ever to be held in Sri Lanka showed remarkable achievement.^[7]

Rev Charles Matthews, a Canadian University graduate had taught at St Patrick’s for the three years before succeeding Fr. Beaus as Rector, in 1906. He remained in office till 1936, except for a break of a short period and was indeed a chief architect of St Patrick's, having served the longest period. The achievement of the school during his time are too numerous to mention. He organized the College and introduce rules and regulations and strict discipline. Studies and game were systematised and became popular. At this time, the London Matriculation examination results, secured for three years by St Patrick’s were the best in British Empire. In sports the College won championship in Soccer, Cricket and Athletics for many years in succession.^[8]

Rev Timothy Long (O.M.I) succeeded Fr. Matthews as rector in 1936, and was at the helm till 1954. Under his guidance the college rose to the height of glory academically as well as in sports and in almost every sphere of educational and social development.^[9]

Most private schools in Ceylon were taken over by the government in 1960 but SPC chose to remain as a private and non-fee levying school.^[4]

The school motto is ” Fide et Labore”. Latin words which mean “Faith and Work”^[10]

Rev A.P. Thirumahan is the present rector of the college.^[11]

Big Match

SPC play Jaffna College in an annual cricket match known as the Battle of the Golds.^[12] The first match took place in 1917.^[13]

Rectors/principals

^{[14] [15]}

• 1850–58 Patrick Foy
• 1859–61 Rev. Bro. John Joseph Brown
• 1862–70 Rev. Bro. Patrick Joseph Conway
• 1870 Rev. Bro. Michael A. Murphy
• 1870–74 Rev. Bro. (Fr.) Patrick O Flanagan
• 1874–75 T. W. McMahan
• 1875–80 Rev. Bro. (Fr.) Patrick O Flanagan
• 1880–83 Rev. Bro. (Fr.) J. A. R. Smythe
• 1883–85 Rev. Fr. Charles H. Lytton
• 1885–88 Rev. Fr. Jules Collin
• 1888–89 Rev. Fr. M. Dubreuil
• 1889-01 Rev. Fr. Patrick Dunne
• 1901–02 Rev. Fr. Jules Collin
• 1902–05 Rev. Fr. Charles A. Beaud
• 1905–21 Rev. Fr. Charles S. Matthews
• 1921–24 Rev. Fr. John A. Guyomar
• 1924–36 Rev. Fr. Charles S. Matthews
• 1936–54 Rev. Fr. Timothy M. F. Long
• 1954–60 Rev. Fr. S. N. Arulnesan
• 1960–66 Rev. Fr. P. J. Jeevaratnam
• 1966–76 Rev. Fr. T. A. J. Mathuranayagam
• 1976–79 Rev. Fr. John A. Francis
• 1979–92 Rev. Fr. G. A. Michael (Francis) Joseph
• 1992-02 Rev. Fr. A. I. Bernard
• 2002–07 Rev. Fr. Dr. Justin Gnanapragasam
• 2008–17 Rev. Fr. Jero Selvanayagam
• 2017– Rev. Fr. A. P. Thirumahan

Notable alumni

• S. C. C. Anthony Pillai – Trade unionist and Member of Parliament.^[16]
• Leo Rajendram Antony – Roman Catholic Bishop of Trincomalee–Batticaloa.^{[17] [18]}
• Anton Arulanandam – Secretary of the Amateur Athletic Association of Ceylon.^[19]
• Tissa Balasuriya – Roman Catholic priest and theologian.^[20]
• Bertram Bastiampillai – Professor of political science and history, Ombudsman/Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.^[21]
• S.F. Chellapah – Director of Medical and Sanitary Services.
• H. S. David - Priest, scholar and linguist who died of shock the next day after seeing flames engulfing Jaffna Library from his room at St. Patrick's College the night before.^[22]
• Bastiampillai Deogupillai – Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.^{[23] [24]}
• Major General H. Luxman David.^[25]
• V. Dharmalingam – Member of Parliament for Uduvil.^[26]
• Jerome Emilianuspillai – Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.^[27]
• Justin Gnanapragasam – Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.^{[28] [29] [30]}
• E. L. B. Hurulle – Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, Governor of the North Central Province.^{[31] [32]}
• W. L. Jeyasingham – Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna.
• Rayappu Joseph – Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar.^{[27] [33]}
• Valentine Joseph - Professor of mathematics.^[34]
• A. Kanagasabapathy – Mudaliyar of Mullaitivu District.
• W. M. T. B. Menikdiwela – Secretary to the President, Divisional Revenue Officer.^[35]
• N. Nadarajah – Judge, Supreme Court of Ceylon.
• V. Navaratnam – Member of Parliament for Kayts.
• Paul Perera – Roman Catholic Bishop of Kandy.^[27]
• Jaya Pathirana – Member of Parliament for Kurunegala, Judge, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.^{[36] [37]}
• G. G. Ponnambalam – Leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Member of Parliament.^{[38] [39]}
• Kumar Ponnambalam – Leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.^[40]
• T.J. Rajaratnam – High court judge.
• A. B. Rajendra – Member of the Senate.
• T. M. Sabaratnam – Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.
• R. Sampanthan – Leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi/Tamil United Liberation Front, Member of Parliament.^[41]
• Harry Sandrasagra – Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.^[42]
• Thomas Savundaranayagam – Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.^{[27] [33]}
• Antony Selvanayagam – Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang.^[27]
• S. Sivapalan – Member of Parliament for Trincomalee.
• Kingsley Swampillai – Roman Catholic Bishop of Trincomalee.^{[27] [33] [43]}
• Alfred Thambiayah – Member of Parliament for Kayts.^[44]
• T.T. Thambyahpillai – Astrophysicist.
• Xavier Thaninayagam – Tamil scholar.
• Kanthiah Vaithianathan – Cabinet Minister, Member of the Senate, Permanent Secretary.
• Susaipillai P. Vanderkoon – Mudaliyar of Kalpitiya District.
• Dominic Vendargon – Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lampur.^{[27] [33]}
• V. Yogeswaran – Member of Parliament for Jaffna.
• Yogaswami – Spiritual master.^{[45] [46]}

See also

• List of schools in Northern Province, Sri Lanka

Sources

• Book: Arumugam, S.. Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. 1997.

Notes and References

1. Book: Schools Basic Data (2010). 2010. Northern Provincial Council. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001953/http://notice.np.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85%3Anpc-schools-basic-data-as-on-01102010. 3 December 2013.
2. Book: The Catholic directory of Sri Lanka, 1989/90. 1990. J.B.C. Anandappa. en.
3. Web site: Province – Northern. Schools Having Bilingual Education Programme. Ministry of Education. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001342/http://www.moe.gov.lk/web/images/stories/branchnews/bilungual/np.pdf. 3 December 2013.
4. Web site: About Us. St. Patrick's College Alumni Association (UK).
5. Web site: Origins of St Patrick's College, Jaffna. St. Patrick's College Old Boys Association (Melbourne, Australia).
6. Book: 150th Anniversary Jubilee Souvenir . 17 March 2001. St Patrick's College, Jaffna . Jaffna . 121.
7. Book: St Patrick's College, Jaffna, 150th Jubilee Souvenir . St Patrick’s College, Jaffna . 2002 . Jaffna . 96 . English.
8. Book: St Patrick's College, Jaffna 150th Jubilee Souvenir . St Patrick’s College, Jaffna . 2000 . Jaffna . 27 . English.
9. Book: 150th Anniversary Jubilee Souvenir . 17 March 2001 . St Patrick's College, Jaffna . Jaffna.
10. Book: St Patrick's College, Jaffna -150th Anniversary Jubilee Souvenir=St.Patrick’s College, Jaffna. 2000. 76.
11. Web site: Biographies – Rectors – 1992 to date | St. Patrick's College Jaffna Melbourne OBA .
12. News: Fernando. Reemus. Formidable St. Patrick's meet unpredictable Jaffna College. The Island (Sri Lanka). 23 February 2012.
13. News: Cricket: St. Patrick's bat first against Jaffna College. The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 24 February 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20130413142523/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/sport-news/16215-cricket-st-patricks-bat-first-against-jaffna-college.html. 13 April 2013.
14. Web site: Origins of St Patrick's College, Jaffna. St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Melbourne, Australia.
15. Web site: Past Rectors. St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch.
16. Web site: Encyclopedia: An. Marxists Internet Archive.
17. News: Bishop Emeritus Antony felicitated. TamilNet. 17 December 2004.
18. Web site: His Lordship Bishop L. R. Anthony Called to Eternal Rest in the Lord. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo.
19. News: Dr. Anton Arulanandam awarded PHD posthumously. The Island (Sri Lanka). 15 May 2009.
20. News: Samaranayake. Ajith. Fr. Tissa Balasuriya at 80: At intersection of society and religion. Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 29 August 2004.
21. News: Former Ombudsman passes away. The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 20 February 2011.
22. Web site: A Brilliant Scholar. May 23, 2024. Academia.edu.
23. News: Bishop Deogupillai passes away. TamilNet. 26 April 2003.
24. News: Emmanuel. S. J.. Bishop Deogupillai – a man of sturdy faith and courageous leadership. Daily News (Sri Lanka). 2 May 2003. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050320214221/http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/05/02/fea03.html. 20 March 2005.
25. News: St. Patrick's College Jaffna Felicitates Alumni Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Luxman David. news.lk. 14 March 2014.
26. Web site: Sri Kantha. Sachi. Remembering Visvanather Dharmalingam. Ilankai Tamil Sangam. 24 October 2010.
27. Web site: Past Bishops. St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140323170933/http://www.patricians.org/index.php?view=past_bishops. 2014-03-23.
28. News: Pope appoints new bishop in Jaffna, S. Lanka. Vatican Radio. 13 October 2015.
29. Web site: de Silva. Sunil. REV. MONS. JUSTIN GNANAPRAGASAM NEW BISHOP OF JAFFNA. https://archive.today/20151021223438/http://www.archdioceseofcolombo.com/inner.php?news_id=459. dead. 21 October 2015. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo. 13 October 2015.
30. News: Resignation of the Bishop of Jaffna, appointment of successor. Agenzia Fides. 13 October 2015. dead. https://archive.today/20151021223427/http://www.fides.org/en/news/38656. 21 October 2015.
31. News: Late Deshamanya E. L. B. Hurulle. The Island (Sri Lanka). 17 May 2009.
32. News: Parliament pays glowing tribute to late Minister E. L. B. Hurulle. The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 July 2011.
33. News: Rasaiya. Christy. St. Patrick's 150 years old. The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 16 July 2000.
34. News: Codippily. Hilarian. Professor Valentine Joseph: Scholar and teacher par excellence. 28 August 2017. The Sunday Times. 30 April 2017. Colombo, Sri Lanka.
35. News: Personalities from the south nurtured in Jaffna. The Island (Sri Lanka). 13 January 2002.
36. News: Selvanayagam. S. S.. CJ recalls victimisation of Supreme Court judges. The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 15 March 2003. dead. https://archive.today/20130619213937/http://archives.dailymirror.lk/2003/03/15/News/3.html. 19 June 2013.
37. News: Malalasekera. Sarath. References to four Supreme Court Judges. Daily News (Sri Lanka). 17 March 2003. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20041224164716/http://www.dailynews.lk/2003/03/17/new20.html. 24 December 2004.
38. Book: Rajasingham, K. T.. Sri Lanka: The Untold Story. https://web.archive.org/web/20020208193722/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/CK17Df01.html. unfit. 2002-02-08. Chapter 15: Turbulence in any language.
39. News: Dwight. Richard. I come from the land of the Buddha. Daily News (Sri Lanka). 12 October 2010.
40. Jeyaraj. D. B. S.. Kumar Ponnambalam: Tiger in the Lion's Den. Tamil Times. January 2000. XIX. 1. 5–8. 0266-4488.
41. News: Who is Rajavarothayam Sampanthan. Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 29 June 2008. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125316/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/06/29/pol06.asp . 24 September 2015.
42. News: Maniccavasagar. Chelvatamby. H A P Sandrasagara's 72nd death anniversary: Master of repartee and retort. Daily News (Sri Lanka). 29 September 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121003050234/http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/09/29/fea05.asp. 3 October 2012.
43. News: St. Patrick's College, Jaffna 150 years old. The Island (Sri Lanka). 27 July 2000.
44. News: Chandrasekera. Duruthu Edirimuni. Alfred Leo Thambiayah: Trailblazer in entrepreneurship. The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 7 July 2013.
45. Web site: Siva Yogaswami, the Sage and mystic of Sri Lanka. https://web.archive.org/web/20040430010101/http://www.dailynews.lk/2004/04/01/fea04.html. Dr. Vimala Krishnapillai. Daily News (Sri Lanka). dead . 1 April 2004 . 2004-04-30. March 14, 2008.
46. News: Guru Puja of Yogaswami. Daily News (Sri Lanka). 26 March 2010.