Isipathana College
Isipathana College[1] (formerly known as Greenlands College[2]) is a National school for boys located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded in January 1952, the school was initially named as Isipathana Maha Vidalaya,[3] but is now referred to simply as "Isipathana".
| Isipathana College | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 6°53′15″N 79°52′06″E |
| Information | |
| Type | National |
| Motto | Pali : "දළහං පගණත විරියං" Sinhala : "අදිටනින් වෙර වඩමු" English : Strive With Determination |
| Established | 2 February 1952 |
| Founder | B. A. Kuruppu |
| Principal | A. M. A. A. C. Perera |
| Staff | 250 |
| Grades | Class 1 - 13 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age | 5 to 19 |
| Enrollment | 5,000 |
| Colour(s) | Dark Green, Light Green & Dark Green |
| Website | www.isipathanacollege.lk |
History
In January 1952 with an intake of 400 boys, who constituted the overflow from the Royal Preparatory School, Greenlands College was established in a coconut grove amidst the lush greenery of Havelock Town on Greenlands Road (after which it was named), about 7 acres (28,000 m2) in extent.
The first principal was B. A. Kuruppu (1952 -1959) who was then the vice principal of Blue Street Central College, Kotahena.
The initial admissions were made by a Board composed of Principals of Royal College Colombo and Thurstan Colleges and the Head Master of Royal Preparatory School; classes were organized in all three streams - Sinhala, Tamil and English, with a tutorial staff of seven teachers.
The college crest was designed by the first principal with the assistance of J. D. A. Perera and Stanley Abeysinghe of Heywood School of Art, with the lighted lamp and open book and motto "Strive with determination". The college colours dark and light green were selected from the name of the college (Greenland College).
The first sports meet was held in March 1953 and the first prize giving in 1954.
The first issue of the college magazine came out in 1954. In 1956 "Vihara Mandiraya and Chaitya" was built to commemorate "Buddha Jayanthi year" at school premises. The college had adapted itself to the socio-cultural changes which were taking place since Buddha Jayanthi in 1956 which led to the renaming of the college in 1961. Greenlands Road had been renamed as "Isipathana Mawatha"[4] after Isipathanaramaya Temple and the school was renamed as "Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya". Within a decade "Greenlands" became "Isipathana".
In 1962 the college was divided into two schools as Kanishta (junior) and Jeshta (upper) Vidyalayas (colleges) as with two Principals. In 1975 the Education Department amalgamated Kanishta Vidyalaya (junior college) with the Maha Vidyalaya (senior college). In 1999 the school was once again morphed into Isipathana College under the leadership of one principal
The current principal is Premasiri Epa. The school currently has more than 5,000 students enrolled, from grades 1 to 13.
The School Anthem Isipathana College is "Sarade Matha Isipathanaya apa..."
Principals
| Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| B. A. Kuruppu | 1 January 1952 | 11 October 1959 |
| S. J. Rodrigo | 12 October 1959 | 07 January 1965 |
| A. H. Wijetunge | 8 January 1965 | 28 May 1965 |
| H. R. Perera | 1 June 1965 | 31 July 1966 |
| H. D. De Silva (Acting Principal) | 1 August 1966 | 31 July 1967 |
| Brevel. Col. G.W. Rajapakse | 1 August 1967 | 30 June 1969 |
| W. T. P. T. Thilakaratne | 1 July 1969 | 9 February 1971 |
| T. E. de S. Leelananda | 10 February 1971 | 22 October 1979 |
| S. de Muthukumarana | 23 October 1979 | 30 December 1980 |
| V. S. Kudaligama | 1 January 1981 | 5 January 1981 |
| Gamini Chandrasekara | 6 January 1982 | 30 January 1987 |
| D. G. W. Jayasinghe | 1 February 1987 | 7 January 1997 |
| H. A. Upali Gunasekara | 10 January 1997 | 31 February 2002 |
| Punyadasa Kuruppu | 1 January 2003 | 19 July 2010 |
| I. M. Kamal Palitha Illanasinghe | 20 July 2010 | 30 May 2011 |
| A. M. A. A. C. Perera | 1 June 2011 | Up to Now (After 15 May 2015, He attached temporally to Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte Zonal Education Office) |
| Epa K. Premesiri (Acting Principal) | 1 June 2015 | 28 February 2020 |
| Pabasara Bandara (Acting Principal) | 1 March 2020 | Up to Now |
Houses
The students are divided into four Houses. The names are derived from four poets - Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera, Rabindranath Tagore, John Milton and Muhammad Iqbal. The houses compete to win the inter-house games.
Color : red
Color : yellow
Color : blue
Color : Green
Innovations
Isipathana College was:
1. the first school to publish a periodical children’s news paper with an editorial board consisting of students only.[5]
2. the first school to provide the learning of Japanese language and culture from grade 2 onwards.[5]
3. the first school to be triple champions in Sri Lanka schools rugby.[5]
4. the first school to produce a cadet platoon band.[5]
5. the first school to produce a Sri Lanka test cricket player who became a test cricket umpire.[5]
6. the first school to develop a web site for an UN Organization by its students.[5]
7. the first school to produce a photographic laboratory.[5]
8. the first school to produce a Sri Lankan test cricket player to take the first hat-trick for Sri Lanka.[5]
9. the school that produced the first ever Sri Lankan to be appointed by the International Rugby Board (IRB) as the Referee Trainer for the Asian Region.[5]
10. the first school to produce a documentary of the school on a CD.[5]
11. the first Sri Lankan school to win the ‘Most Disciplined Team Award’ at the 10th International Convention on Students' Quality Control Circle at Lucknow, India in 2007.[5]
Sports
Cricket
Annual big match
Isipathana play Thurstan in their annual Big Match, called The Battle of the Brothers, which has been played annually since 1963.[6][7] Out of the 52 matches played between Thurstan College and Isipathana College 6 matches has been won by Thurstan college while Isipathana college has only won 5 while the other matches ended in a draw.
Rugby
The annual Royal-Isipathana Rugby encounter, contests for the Maj. Milroy Fernando Trophy and the annual Isipathana - Thurstan Rugby Encounter, competes for the Abdul Jabbar Trophy.Rugby
Notable alumni
| Name | Notability | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gangodawila Soma Thero | buddhist monk | |
| Asanka Gurusinha | international cricket player (1985–1996) | [8] |
| Ashantha de Mel | international cricket player (1982–1986) | |
| Asoka de Silva (cricketer) | international cricket player (1985–1991) | |
| Aravinda de Silva | international cricket player (1984–2002) | |
| Rohan de Silva | pianist | |
| Jayantha Paranathala | international cricket player (1977–1990) | [9] |
| Suresh Perera | international cricket player (1998–2001) | |
| Chitral Somapala | musician | |
| Hashan Tillakaratne | international cricket player (1989–2004) | [8] |
| Sanjeewa Weerasinghe | international cricket player (1985) | |
| Nuwan Zoysa | international cricket player (1997–2004) | |
| Sampath Tennakoon | actor | [10] |
References
- "Isipathana College Online Information Centre". Isipathanaonline.info. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- "About Isipathana College". Isipathanaonline.info. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- Shamseer Jaleel (29 June 2003). "A few hiccups but Isipathana are strong and agile as ever". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- http://www.ceylonlanka.info/2013/02/street-names-in-colombo.html
- "Isipathana was the first to..." Isipathanaonline.info. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Thushan Jayasuriya (22 March 2013). "Isipathana - Thurstan clash for 50th time". Daily News. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/599793.html
- http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=sports/jayantha-paranathala-national-cricketer-and-fine-administrator%5B%5D
- "Sampath - Rathna 30 Not Out". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 April 2019.