St. Sylvester's College
St Sylvester's College, Kandy (Sinhala: ශාන්ත සිල්වෙස්තර විද්‍යාලය, මහනුවර; Tamil: புனித சில்வெஸ்டர் கல்லூரி, கண்டி) (founded in 1940) is a National boys' School located in the middle of Kandy city which offers primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka. The college is controlled by the Ministry of Education.
| St. Sylvester's College - Kandy ශාන්ත සිල්වෙස්තර විද්‍යාලය, මහනුවර புனித சில்வெஸ்டர் கல்லூரி, கண்டி | |
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 St' Sylvester's College Crest | |
| Address | |
Yatinuwara Veediya, Kandy Central Province | |
| Coordinates | 7°17′56.6″N 80°38′09.2″E |
| Information | |
| Type | National |
| Motto | Fortiter in re (to persevere with dedication) |
| Established | November 1, 1940 |
| Founder | Rev. Fr. Robert M. Perera |
| Status | Active |
| School district | Kandy |
| Principal | P. G. S. Bandara |
| Staff | 182 |
| Grades | Class 1 – 13 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age | 6 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 3000+ |
| Medium of language | Sinhala, Tamil and English |
| Hours in school day | 6 hours |
| Colour(s) | Maroon, Ivory, Dark Blue |
| Alumni | Old Sylvestrians |
| Website | stsylvesterscollege |
It has around 150 teaching staff and around 3,000 students.
History
St. Sylvester's began as a separate institution on 1 November 1940 with very Rev. Fr. D. Robert Perera O.S.B. as the principal. The college owed its inception to the foresight of his Lordship Bishop Bernardo Regno O.S.B. and Abbot Weerasinghe, the heads of the Sylvestro-Benedictine congregation. They felt that a good Catholic school in Kandy town was a prime need, once the most prestigious St. Anthony's had been completely shifted to its home on the banks of the Mahaweli at Katugastota. The school started with a mere 250 pupils and 12 teachers.
St. Sylvester's has made a name for itself in the field of education, not only in Kandy but also throughout the length and breadth of the island.
Father Robert was not expected to do big things at St. Sylvester's. The buildings were not teeming with scholars, the laboratories were empty, and libraries were without books. Even the wherewithal to run the school was not available. It is said that he had to start with an over draft, but the picture of the institution now is a very different one. It is full to capacity, and its financial stability is assured. The authoritarian of the Sylvestro-Benedictines intended originally to develop St. Sylvester's only as a junior school and affiliated to St. Anthony's but such restrictions were not dampen the ardour of Father Robert. He early had visions of his institution as a collegiate school, second to none in the Island.
Principals
| In office | Principal | Notes |
| 1940-49 | D. Robert M. Perera O.S.B. | Founder of college |
| 1949-68 | D. J. N. Senevirathne (M.A.Hons. (Columbia), B.A.Hons. (London), Cert. Cey. History, Trd.) | |
| 1968-70 | K. S. Gunarathne (B.A. (London) – Trained) | |
| 1970-76 | W. B. Gopallawa (B.A.Hons. (London) – Trained) | |
| 1979 | A. Karunarathne | Interim |
| 1976-95 | Bertie Niilegoda (B.Sc. (Cey.)) | |
| 1995-98 | Ashoka B. Herath) | |
| 1998-2001 | G. W. Abeysinghe | |
| 2001 | Bandula Gunawardana | Interim |
| 2001–2017 | T. Ranil. S. Meetiyagoda | Retired |
| 2017- present | P. G. S. Bandara | Current |
School anthem
St. Sylvester's College has used various school anthems since 1940. First was the ‘Pasal Mavuni Jaya Wewa’ anthem and in the 1970s it was changed to ‘Dana Mana Ranjitha’ anthem.
College anthem
දන මන රංජිත දස දෙස පූජිත විකුමන් පෑ ලොව අභීත වූ
නාම විරාජිත ලොව අපරාජිත දේශ භක්‍තියට නිධාන වූ
දස දෙස රැකුවන් මහ හෙළ විරුවන් දිනු සෙංකඩගල පුර රමණි
සැදු සිළුමිණ වන් රැකි නිති අභිමන් සිල්වෙස්තර විදුහල් මෑණි
ගුණ නැණ කුසුමන් පොබයන හිරුවන් සිසු දරුනගෙ දෑ හිතකාමී
ගුණ කඳ අගයමු නමදිමු සුරකිමු දිවි හිමි කොට විදුහල් මෑණි
අප හැම එක්වී එක හවුලක් වී එක හැඟුමෙන් වී රසකාමී
රට දැය සමය ද නංවාලන්නට පිළිසරණය ඔබ වෙයි මෑණි
ඔබ අපගේ ශක්තිය වේවා අප ගේ ශක්තිය ඔබ වේවා
අපගේ ආලෝකය වේවා සැරදේවා නිති වැජඹේවා
Affirmation of Oath of School
I am legitimate of my Alma mater St. Sylvesters college, with a long prestigious history. In order to achieve the maximum benefits of my school days, I do hereby affirm to carry out my tasks under the supervision and guidance of the principal and the staff, and guide my colleagues along the correct path, to follow the rules and regulations of the school to the world, to maintain cordial relationship with the whole student population of the school, to actively participate in the matters pertaining to subject of study, to respect and honour my school, with all my might and to follow the path of distinguished old Sylvestrians.
St. Sylvester's Old Scout Union
In 1945 St. Sylvester's College, Kandy started their first scout troop with the patronage of founder Rev. Fr. Robert M. Perera. The scout troop had been started by B.M. Guyes.
In 1949 B.M. Guyes left the scout troop in charge of Rev. Fr. Dom. George. Next came Mr. K.S. Gunarathne. He was joined by able scouters N.H. Shalwyn and W.L.D.V. Jayawardene.
Both of these scout masters had contributed in great measure to the success of our scouts troop. In 1950 the scouts won the "Island Merit Flag", awarded to the best troop in the Island. The presentation was made by His Excellency Governor General Lord Soulbury. In 1986 and 1988 the group won the "Gulam Hussain" flag for the group with the highest number of president's scouts.
Millennium Sylvestrians Union (MSU)
Millennium Sylvestrian Union is for the Sylvestrians who sat for their A/Ls in 2000 and above in St Sylvester's College, Kandy, Sri Lanka and it was established in 2010.
Even though the MSU was formed by the batch of 2000, it has been a practice that everyone takes part in all the events organized by the MSU Sylvestrians Motor Rally which is organized annually during the Big Match (Battle of the Babes) between St. Sylvester's College and Vidyartha College is one of the main events organized by MSU.
St. Sylvester's College Gymnastics Club
In 2002 St. Sylvester's College introduced gymnastics as a primary sport to the college students. St. Sylvester's Gymnastics Club founded by Principal T.R.S. Meetiyagoda, Assistant Principal A.K.B. Dodanwala, former Prefect of Games D.C. Mahawaththage and Amal Rasanga Liyanagamage (coach and old boy).
Recent victories:
- Kandy District Gymnastics Champions 2014
- Kandy District Gymnastics Champions 2013
- Kandy District Gymnastics Champions 2012
- Central Province Gymnastics Champions for 2013
- Central Province Gymnastics Champions for 2012
- Central Province Gymnastics Champion for 2011
- Kandy District Gymnastics Champions 2011
- Ravindu Shehan won the Sri Lanka Gold Medal & Bronze Medal at the Sri Lanka Junior National Gymnastics Championship 2010.
- Central Province Gymnastics Championship 2010 with 25 medals (organized By Central Province Gymnastics Association)
- Central Province Gymnastics Championship 2009 (organized By Central Province Gymnastics Association)
- Team Captain, K. Aravinth secured the Best Gymnast Award at Central Province Gymnastics Championship 2009
- Bronze Medal at 35th Sri Lanka National Sports Festival Gymnastics Chapmpionship 2009
- Central Province Gymnastics Champions 2008 (organized By Central Province Gymnastics Association)
- Two national places at Sri Lanka Junior National Gymnastics Championship 2009
- K. Aravinth of St. Sylvester's College was the best boys' school gymnastics player of the year 2009 (according to the CPGA)
Patron: Principal, P.G.S. Bandara
Master in charge Mr. Shivanation
Head Coach: Amal Rasanga Liyanagamage
Captain: Ravindu Shehan
Interact Club of St. Sylvester's College
The Interact Club of St. Sylvester's College Kandy has been an outstanding club over the past 30 years. Sponsored by the parent club, Rotary Club of Kandy, the club was charted in 1989. Interactors of St. Sylvester's College Kandy have been working with "Unparalleled Humanity" for the benefit of the underprivileged as well as for the betterment of the school. The Interact Club of St. Sylvester's College has been one of the leading clubs in Sri Lanka actively carrying out major projects through the five avenues: Finance, Community Service, International Understanding, Club Service and Green Life.
Patron- Principal P.G.S. Bandara
Master in charge- Thilini Wijesingha
Immediate Past President- Int. Keshawan Illangkovan
President- Int. Janudha Gunawardana
Recent Victories
- The Interact club of St. Sylvester's College was entitled to win eight citations and one outstanding award at the Annual Interact Assembly 2017.
- Citation award for Best Club
- Runner-up for Best Annual Report of the year
- Citation award for Best Interactor Int.Thanushkanth Anandaprakasham
- Citation award for Rotary-Interact relationship
- Citation award for Rotaract-Interact relationship
- Citation award for the Best Club Service project "Walk of Fame" 2015
- Merit award for the Best International Understanding project "City Drive" 2015
- Citation Award for the Best Club for the years 2015/2016
- Int. PP Muzni Mubarak was awarded the citation for Best President for 2015
- Int. Ashain Rupasinghe was awarded the citation for Best Interactor for 2015
- Citation Award for the Best Club for the years 2013/14
- Citation award for the Best Club Service project "Boven(hike)" 2013
- Int. Tuan Shehan was awarded the citation for Best Interactor for 2013
- Citation award for the Best Club for the years 2012/13
- Int. Mohamed Naflan was awarded the citation for Best Interactor for 2012
- Int. PP Chanuka Wickramasingha was awarded the citation for Best President for 2012
Sports, units, forums, associations, clubs and societies
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Victories
Athletics
- Silver Medalist, 1st Asian Youth Athletics Championship
Chess
- U-17 Champion - Sri Lanka Schools Individual Chess Championship 2015
- U-15 Equal Champion - Sri Lanka Schools Individual Chess Championship 2015
- U-18, 3rd place - Sri Lanka National Youth Finals - 2015
- Sri Lanka National Chess Championship 2015 - Champion - Dulan Edirisinghe (2001)
Gymnastics
Gymnastics was founded by former Principal Ranil Meetiyagoda, late assistant principal A.K.B. Dodamwala and International Gymnastics coach Amal Rasanga in 2002.
Summary of victory:
- Sri Lanka Schools Gymnastics Championship 2018
- Sri Lanka represent at 2018 Junior Asian Gymnastics Championship Jakarta, Indonesia
- Sri Lanka represent at 2017 Junior Asian Gymnastics Championship Bankok, Thailand
- 2018 Sri Lanka Sports Festival Silver Medalist (Ravindu Shehan)
- 2017 Sri Lanka sports festival Gold Medal (Ravindu Shehan)
- 2017 Sri Lanka Schools' All rounding Runners up (16 Medals)
- 2016 Sri Lanka Sports Festival Bronze Medal (Ravindu Shehan)
- Kandy District Gymnastics Champions 2007–2018
- Central Province Gymnastics Champions 2009–2019
See also
- List of St. Sylvester's College alumni
- Category:Alumni of St. Sylvester's College
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Sylvester's College. |