St. Sylvester's College

St. Sylvester's College
ශාන්ත සිල්වෙස්තර විද්‍යාලය, මහනුවර
புனித சில்வெஸ்டர் கல்லூரி, கண்டி
St. Sylvester's College; ශාන්ත සිල්වෙස්තර විද්‍යාලය, මහනුවර; புனித சில்வெஸ்டர் கல்லூரி, கண்டி
	200px St' Sylvester's College Crest Fortiter in re; (Success through dedication)
Location
	Kandy; Sri Lanka
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Information
Type	Public
Established	November 1, 1940 (83 years ago)
Founder	Rev. Fr. Robert M. Perera
Status	Active
School district	Kandy
Principal	T. Ranil S. Meetiyagoda
Staff	150
Grades	Class 1 – 13
Gender	Boys
Age	6 to 18
Enrollment	3000+
Pupils	Sylvestrians
Medium of language	Sinhala, Tamil and English
Hours in school day	6 hours
Colour(s)	Maroon, Ivory, Dark Blue
Alumni	Old Sylvestrians
Website	www.sylvesterscollegekandy.com

St Sylvester's College, Kandy (Sinhalese: ශාන්ත සිල්වෙස්තර විද්‍යාලය, මහනුවර; Tamil: புனித சில்வெஸ்டர் கல்லூரி, கண்டி) (founded in 1940) is a public Boys' School located in the middle of Kandy city which offers primary and secondary education for boys in Sri Lanka. College is controlled by the Central Provincial council.

It is a school with 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 St. Anthony’s had been completely shifted to its home on the banks of the Mahaweli at Katugastota. Rev father Robert was given the tremendous task of rearing the new that had just been born. St. Sylvester’s had made name for itself in the field of education, not only in Kandy but also throughout the length and breadth of the island. Starting with a mere 250 pupils and 12 teachers in 1940.

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	Late Rev. Fr. D. Robert M. Perera O.S.B.	Founder of College
1949-68	Late Mr. D. J. N. Senevirathne (M.A.Hons. (Columbia), B.A.Hons. (London), Cert. Cey. History, Trd.)
1968-70	Late Mr. K. S. Gunarathne (B.A. (London) – Trained)
1970-76	Late Mr. W. B. Gopallawa (B.A.Hons. (London) – Trained)
1979	Late Mr. A. Karunarathne	Interim
1976-95	Late Mr. Bertie Niilegoda (B.Sc. (Cey.))
1995-98	Mr. Ashoka B. Herath)
1998-2001	Late Mr. G. W. Abeysinghe
2001	Late Mr. Bandula Gunawardana	Interim
2001–present	Mr. T. Ranil. S. Meetiyagoda	Currunt Principal of the College

School anthem

St. Sylvester’s College has used various school anthems since 1940. First his sons were singing ‘Pasal Mavuni Jaya Wewa’ anthem and in the 1970s it was changed to ‘Dana Mana Ranjitha’ anthem.

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 our founder Rev. Fr. Robert M. Perera. The scout troop had been started by Mr. B.M. Guyes.

In the year 1949 just four years afterwards, Mr. B.M. Guyes had left us leaving our scout troop in charge of Rev. Fr.Dom George who was a very keen scouter. Next came Mr. K.S. Gunarathne. He was joined by another able scouters Mr. N.H. Shalwyn and Mr. W.L.D.V. Jayawardene.

Both of these scout masters had contributed in great measure to the success of our scouts troop. In the year 1950 our scouts had been able to win 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 our group won the "Gulam Hussain" flag for the group with 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 & Vidyartha College is one of the main events organized by MSU.