S. Thomas' College,Guruthalawa
Encyclopedia
St Thomas College, Gurutalawa
is one of the private Anglican schools situated in Uva province, Sri Lanka
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was started by Dr. R.L. Hayman as a branch of the S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. A farm with some land and buildings was donated to the college by Mr. & Mrs. Leslie de Saram.
Due to the Japanese war threats to Colombo, during the World War II, the State Council decided in February 1942 to close all schools in the Colombo District. There were over 700 boys at STC, Mount Lavinia and as the Warden explored possibilities of opening branches inland, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie De Seram made the generous offer of their 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) farm at Gurutalawa.
oriental dancing and music.
Gurutalawa
Gurutalawa is a rural town in Sri Lanka. It is located in Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka.The famous St. Thomas' College is located in Gurutalawa....
is one of the private Anglican schools situated in Uva province, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
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History
In 1942 the S. Thomas' College at GurutalawaGurutalawa
Gurutalawa is a rural town in Sri Lanka. It is located in Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka.The famous St. Thomas' College is located in Gurutalawa....
was started by Dr. R.L. Hayman as a branch of the S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. A farm with some land and buildings was donated to the college by Mr. & Mrs. Leslie de Saram.
Due to the Japanese war threats to Colombo, during the World War II, the State Council decided in February 1942 to close all schools in the Colombo District. There were over 700 boys at STC, Mount Lavinia and as the Warden explored possibilities of opening branches inland, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie De Seram made the generous offer of their 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) farm at Gurutalawa.
Administration
The College is administrated by the Anglican Church of Ceylon. The college administration is managed by the Head Master under the control of the Board of Governors, which is chaired by the Anglican Bishop of Colombo.Current status
The College is a fully fledged school catering to extracurricular activities with a swimming pool and has facilities for nearly all sports including athletics, cricket, basket ball, rugby, volleyball, squash, soccer, table tennis, hockey, badminton, swimming as well as activities like scouting, hiking and trekking. There is also the encouragement for a variety of societies and clubs, debating, oratory,oriental dancing and music.
Headmasters
| Dr W. R. L. Hayman D Phil (Oxon) | 1942 | 1945 |
| Mr C. H. L. Davidson, MA | 1946 | 1947 |
| Dr W. R. L. Hayman, D Phil (Oxon) | 1948 | 1962 |
| Rev. Canon A. J. Foster, MA (Oxon) | 1963 | 1964 (Acting) |
| Mr A. K. Chapman, BSc | 1965 | (Acting) |
| Mr K. Dassanayake | 1965 | (Acting) |
| Dr F. Jayasinghe, BA (London), PhD | 1965 | 1968 |
| Mr E. L. Perera, BSc (London), 1st Class Trained | 1968 | 1974 |
| Mr M. L. C. Ilangakoon, BSc (London), AICTA | 1975 | 1977 |
| Mr S. C. H. De Silva, BA (London), Dip Ed. (Lond.), Dip in School Admin (Indiana) | 1977 | 1981 |
| Mr E. St. P. Gunawardene, BA (Cey.), Dip. Ed. | 1982 | 1987 |
| Mr. J. De S. Jayasinghe | (Acting) | |
| Mr. J. B. Gunasegaram, BSc, Msc (NY), MIMech. E. (Lond.), FIE (SL), C. Eng. | 1988 | 1989 |
| Rev. Fr. H C Goodchild | 1989 | 1990 (Acting) |
| Mr C. B. Ratnayake, BSc (Cey.), Trained | 1990 | 1997 |
| Mr L. A. M. Chandrasekera, BA (Hons. Econ), Dip. Ed. | 1997 | 1999 (Acting) |
| Mr I. A. Fernando, BA | 1999 | 2001 |
| Mr G. C. Mendis, MA | 2001 | 2003 |
| Mr E. G. J. Canagasabey, BSc | 2004 | 2006 |
| Mr. J. Huyghebaert, MA | 2007 | (Acting) |
| Rev. N. M. P. Billimoria, BA (Poona), PG Dip. Theo. (Oxon.), Dip. Min. TG (Ripon-Cuddesdon) | 2007 | Present |
Notable alumni
- Bradmon WeerakoonBradman WeerakoonDeshamanya Robin Bradman Weerakoon CCS is a retired senior bureaucrat of the Sri Lankan government. Bradman Weerakoon has the unique distinction of serving nine Sri Lankan heads of state in a career spanning across half a century....
- Civil Servant and served as the Secretary to the prime minister - Ranjan WijeratneRanjan WijeratneGeneral Ranjan Wijeratne was the former Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister of foreign affairs, Minister of State for defense and Minister of plantation industries from 1989 to 1991 in President Ranasinghe Premadasa's cabinet.-Early life:Born to Walpola Mudalige George Hercules Wijeratne and Rosalind...
- Former Cabinet Minister of foreign affairs, Minister of State for defense - Revd. Dr. Lakshman WickremasingheLakshman WickremasingheThe Rt Revd Dr Lakshman Wickremasinghe was one of the youngest Bishops in the Anglican Communion and a Human Rights activist.-Early life and education:...
- Bishop in the Church of England and Human Rights activist - Buddhika KurukularatneBuddhika KurukularatneDaluwatte Hewa Buddhika Kurukularatne is a Journalist, author lawyer and Sri Lankan politician...
- Ex Member of Parliament, Attorney at Law, social worker and author - Sarath Muttetuwegama - Former Member of Parliament (Kalawana)
- Chaminda Lamahewa - Army Commander (Led Battle of Mullaitivu (2009)Battle of Mullaitivu (2009)The Battle of Mullaitivu was a land battle fought between the Sri Lankan Military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the control of the town of Mullaitivu in the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV during the Sri Lankan civil war. The town of Mullaitivu was the last stronghold of the LTTE...
)
External links
- Official website of S. Thomas' College Gurutalawa (STCG)
- Official website of S. Thomas' College Gurutalawa '62 Group
- Official website of S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia
- Great strides of wartime school in the hills
- S. Thomas' College
- stcguru.org-
- Diamond Jubilee
- Mrs Mary Hayman
- Biography of an old boy
- STC OBA Australia
- STC OBA Canada
- Old Thomians