St. Patrick's College, Jaffna
| St. Patrick's College | |
|---|---|
| புனித பத்திரிசியார் கல்லூரி | |
| Location | |
| Mathews Road, Gurunagar Jaffna , Northern Province Sri Lanka 9°39′19.80″N 80°01′19.30″E / 9.6555000°N 80.0220278°E | |
| Information | |
| School type | Private 1AB |
| Motto | Latin: Fide et labore[1] (By faith and labour) |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Founded | 1850 |
| Founder | Msgr Orazio Bettacchini |
| School district | Jaffna Education Zone |
| Authority | Bishop of Jaffna Roman Catholic Church |
| School number | 1001030 |
| Rector | Rev. A. P. Thirumahan[2] |
| Grades | 1–13 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age range | 5–19 |
| Language | Tamil English (Grades 6–13) |
| Schedule | 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM |
| Hours in school day | 6 |
| Houses | 4 (Mathews, Bonjean, Dunne, Long) |
| Colours | Green Gold |
| School fees | Rs. 7000 per annum |
| Website | spcjaffna.org |
St. Patrick's College (SPC) (Tamil: புனித பத்திரிசியார் கல்லூரி Punitha Pattiriciyār Kallūri) is a private boys' school in Gurunagar, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.[3] It was founded in 1850 by Roman Catholic missionaries.[4]
History
The Jaffna Catholic English School was established in 1850 by Monsignor Orazio Bettacchini, an Italian Roman Catholic missionary. It was later renamed The Jaffna Boys' Seminary, before being registered as a high school and renamed as St. Patrick's College on 10 January 1881. Rev. John Smythe, formerly of the Ceylon Civil Services, became the school's first rector.[4][5]
Rev. Charles Matthews, a graduate of the University of Ottawa, served as rector from 1906 to 1936 (with brief interruptions). He implemented formal rules for academics and sports in the school.[6]
While many private schools in Ceylon were nationalised in 1960, St. Patrick's College remained a private, non-fee levying institution.[7][8]
In 2025, St. Patrick's College commemorated its 175th anniversary.[9]
Sports
St. Patrick’s College regularly plays against Jaffna College in an annual cricket match known as the Battle of the Golds.[10] The first match took place in 1917.[11]
List of rectors
- 1850–1858 Patrick Foy
- 1859–1861 Rev. Bro. John Joseph Brown
- 1862–1870 Rev. Bro. Patrick Joseph Conway
- 1870 Rev. Bro. Michael A. Murphy
- 1870–1874 Rev. Bro. (Fr.) Patrick O Flanagan
- 1874–1875 T. W. McMahan
- 1875–1880 Rev. Bro. (Fr.) Patrick O Flanagan
- 1880–1883 Rev. Bro. (Fr.) J. A. R. Smythe
- 1883–1885 Rev. Fr. Charles H. Lytton
- 1885–1888 Rev. Fr. Jules Collin
- 1888–1889 Rev. Fr. M. Dubreuil
- 1889-1901 Rev. Fr. Patrick Dunne
- 1901–1902 Rev. Fr. Jules Collin
- 1902–1905 Rev. Fr. Charles A. Beaud
- 1905–1921 Rev. Fr. Charles S. Matthews
- 1921–1924 Rev. Fr. John A. Guyomar
- 1924–1936 Rev. Fr. Charles S. Matthews
- 1936–1954 Rev. Fr. Timothy M. F. Long
- 1954–1960 Rev. Fr. S. N. Arulnesan
- 1960–1966 Rev. Fr. P. J. Jeevaratnam
- 1966–1976 Rev. Fr. T. A. J. Mathuranayagam
- 1976–1979 Rev. Fr. John A. Francis
- 1979–1992 Rev. Fr. G. A. Michael (Francis) Joseph
- 1992–2002 Rev. Fr. A. I. Bernard
- 2002–2007 Rev. Fr. Dr. Justin Gnanapragasam
- 2008–2017 Rev. Fr. Jero Selvanayagam
- 2017–present Rev. Fr. A. P. Thirumahan
Notable alumni
- S. C. C. Anthony Pillai – Trade unionist and Member of Parliament.[14]
- Leo Rajendram Antony – Roman Catholic Bishop of Trincomalee–Batticaloa.[15][16]
- Anton Arulanandam – Secretary of the Amateur Athletic Association of Ceylon.[17]
- Tissa Balasuriya – Roman Catholic priest and theologian.[18]
- Bertram Bastiampillai – Professor of political science and history, Ombudsman/Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.[19]
- S. F. Chellapah – Director of Medical and Sanitary Services.[20]
- H. S. David – Priest, scholar and linguist.[21]
- Bastiampillai Deogupillai – Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.[22][23]
- H. Luxman David – Major General.[24]
- V. Dharmalingam – Member of Parliament for Uduvil.[25]
- Jerome Emilianuspillai – Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.[26]
- Justin Gnanapragasam – Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.[27]
- E. L. B. Hurulle – Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, Governor of the North Central Province.[28][29]
- W. L. Jeyasingham – Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna.[30]
- Rayappu Joseph – Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar.[26][31]
- Valentine Joseph – Professor of mathematics.[32]
- A. Kanagasabapathy – Mudaliyar of Mullaitivu District.[33]
- W. M. T. B. Menikdiwela – Secretary to the President, Divisional Revenue Officer.[34]
- N. Nadarajah – Judge, Supreme Court of Ceylon.[35]
- V. Navaratnam – Member of Parliament for Kayts.[36]
- Paul Perera – Roman Catholic Bishop of Kandy.[26]
- Jaya Pathirana – Member of Parliament for Kurunegala, Judge, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.[37][38]
- G. G. Ponnambalam – Leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Member of Parliament.[39][40]
- Kumar Ponnambalam – Leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.[41]
- T. J. Rajaratnam – High court judge.[42]
- A. B. Rajendra – Member of the Senate.[43]
- T. M. Sabaratnam – Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.[44]
- R. Sampanthan – Leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi/Tamil National Alliance, Member of Parliament.[45][46]
- Harry Sandrasagra – Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.[47][48]
- Thomas Savundaranayagam – Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.[26][31]
- Antony Selvanayagam – Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang.[26]
- S. Sivapalan – Member of Parliament for Trincomalee.[49]
- Kingsley Swampillai – Roman Catholic Bishop of Trincomalee.[50]
- Alfred Thambiayah – Member of Parliament for Kayts.[51]
- T. T. Thambyahpillai – Astrophysicist.[52]
- Xavier Thaninayagam – Tamil scholar.[53]
- Kanthiah Vaithianathan – Cabinet Minister, Member of the Senate, Permanent Secretary.[54]
- Susaipillai P. Vanderkoon – Mudaliyar of Kalpitiya District.[55]
- Dominic Vendargon – Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur.[26][31]
- V. Yogeswaran – Member of Parliament for Jaffna.[56]
- Yogaswami – Spiritual master.[57][58]
See also
References
- Back to citation St Patrick's College, Jaffna -150th Anniversary Jubilee Souvenir. St. Patrick's College, Jaffna. 2000. p. 76.
- Back to citation "Biographies – Rectors – 1992 to date | St. Patrick's College Jaffna Melbourne OBA".
- Back to citation Schools Basic Data (2010). Northern Provincial Council. 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013; The Catholic directory of Sri Lanka, 1989/90. J.B.C. Anandappa. 1990; "Province – Northern" (PDF). Schools Having Bilingual Education Programme. Ministry of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013.
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 "HISTORY | SPCAA". Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- Back to citation "Alma Mater / History of the College". spcjaffna.org. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- Back to citation "Bio – Rector – Matthews | St. Patrick's College Jaffna Melbourne OBA". www.spcaustralia.com. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- Back to citation "About Us". St. Patrick's College Alumni Association (UK).
- Back to citation "St. Patrick's College - Jaffna (Fees & Reviews) Sri Lanka, St. Patrick's Road". edarabia.com. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
- Back to citation Today, Ceylon (2025-03-16). "175 Years of Academic Brilliance: Rich Legacy of St. Patrick's College, Jaffna". Ceylon Today. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
- Back to citation Fernando, Reemus (23 February 2012). "Formidable St. Patrick's meet unpredictable Jaffna College". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- Back to citation "Cricket: St. Patrick's bat first against Jaffna College". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 24 February 2012.
- Back to citation "Origins of St Patrick's College, Jaffna". St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Melbourne, Australia.
- Back to citation "Past Rectors". St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch.
- Back to citation "Encyclopedia: An". Marxists Internet Archive.
- Back to citation "Bishop Emeritus Antony felicitated". TamilNet. 17 December 2004.
- Back to citation "His Lordship Bishop L. R. Anthony Called to Eternal Rest in the Lord". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo.
- Back to citation "Dr. Anton Arulanandam awarded PHD posthumously". The Island (Sri Lanka). 15 May 2009.
- Back to citation Samaranayake, Ajith (29 August 2004). "Fr. Tissa Balasuriya at 80: At intersection of society and religion". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
- Back to citation "Former Ombudsman passes away". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 20 February 2011.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, pp. 33–34.
- Back to citation Mukunthan, Thevarasa. "A Brilliant Scholar". Academia.edu. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- Back to citation "Bishop Deogupillai passes away". TamilNet. 26 April 2003.
- Back to citation Emmanuel, S. J. (2 May 2003). "Bishop Deogupillai – a man of sturdy faith and courageous leadership". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 20 March 2005.
- Back to citation "St. Patrick's College Jaffna Felicitates Alumni Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Luxman David". news.lk. 14 March 2014.
- Back to citation Sri Kantha, Sachi (24 October 2010). "Remembering Visvanather Dharmalingam". Ilankai Tamil Sangam.
- Back to citation occurrence 26.0 Back to citation occurrence 26.1 Back to citation occurrence 26.2 Back to citation occurrence 26.3 Back to citation occurrence 26.4 Back to citation occurrence 26.5 "Past Bishops". St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23.
- Back to citation "Pope appoints new bishop in Jaffna, S. Lanka". Vatican Radio. 13 October 2015; de Silva, Sunil (13 October 2015). "REV. MONS. JUSTIN GNANAPRAGASAM NEW BISHOP OF JAFFNA". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo; "Resignation of the Bishop of Jaffna, appointment of successor". Agenzia Fides. 13 October 2015.
- Back to citation "Late Deshamanya E. L. B. Hurulle". The Island (Sri Lanka). 17 May 2009.
- Back to citation "Parliament pays glowing tribute to late Minister E. L. B. Hurulle". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 July 2011.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, p. 63.
- Back to citation occurrence 31.0 Back to citation occurrence 31.1 Back to citation occurrence 31.2 Rasaiya, Christy (16 July 2000). "St. Patrick's 150 years old". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
- Back to citation Codippily, Hilarian (30 April 2017). "Professor Valentine Joseph: Scholar and teacher par excellence". The Sunday Times. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, pp. 71–72.
- Back to citation "Personalities from the south nurtured in Jaffna". The Island (Sri Lanka). 13 January 2002.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, p. 110.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, p. 121.
- Back to citation Selvanayagam, S. S. (15 March 2003). "CJ recalls victimisation of Supreme Court judges". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
- Back to citation Malalasekera, Sarath (17 March 2003). "References to four Supreme Court Judges". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 24 December 2004.
- Back to citation Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 15: Turbulence in any language". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story. Archived from the original on 2002-02-08.
- Back to citation Dwight, Richard (12 October 2010). "I come from the land of the Buddha". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
- Back to citation Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (January 2000). "Kumar Ponnambalam: Tiger in the Lion's Den" (PDF). Tamil Times. XIX (1): 5–8. ISSN 0266-4488.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, p. 152.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, pp. 155–156.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, pp. 171–172.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, pp. 173–174.
- Back to citation "Who is Rajavarothayam Sampanthan". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 29 June 2008. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, pp. 174–175.
- Back to citation Maniccavasagar, Chelvatamby (29 September 2012). "H A P Sandrasagara's 72nd death anniversary: Master of repartee and retort". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 3 October 2012.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, p. 201.
- Back to citation "Past Bishops". St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23; Rasaiya, Christy (16 July 2000). "St. Patrick's 150 years old". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka); "St. Patrick's College, Jaffna 150 years old". The Island (Sri Lanka). 27 July 2000.
- Back to citation Chandrasekera, Duruthu Edirimuni (7 July 2013). "Alfred Leo Thambiayah: Trailblazer in entrepreneurship". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, pp. 222–223.
- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, p. 228.
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- Back to citation Arumugam 1997, p. 253.
- Back to citation Dr. Vimala Krishnapillai (1 April 2004). "Siva Yogaswami, the Sage and mystic of Sri Lanka". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 2004-04-30. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
- Back to citation "Guru Puja of Yogaswami". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 26 March 2010.
Further reading
- M. Jude Dinesh LL.M, M.HRD(Col) Attorney-at-law General Secretary, SPC, Alumni Association, https://ceylontoday.lk/2025/03/17/175-years-of-academic-brilliance-rich-legacy-of-st-patricks-college-jaffna/ https://ceylontoday.lk/2025/03/17/175-years-of-academic-brilliance-rich-legacy-of-st-patricks-college-jaffna/%5D Colombo 175 Years of Academic Brilliance: Rich Legacy of St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna
Bibliography
- Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon.