St. Thomas' College, Matara

St. Thomas' College was founded on 9 March 1844 by the Christian Missionary Society of England. A main focus of the missionary bodies in Sri Lanka during the early period of British rule in Ceylon was providing English education. As a result, St. Thomas' School later became a secondary school in 1914, as St. Thomas' College was established in a bungalow in the village of Wellamadama, the current location of the University of Ruhuna. The school was founded by one of the early Anglican missionaries, Rev. Fr. N. J. Ondatjee, in 1844 with several students and three teachers. Odantjee was later succeeded by others, including Kumaratunga Munidasa, who taught the Sinhala language and literature. In 1960, St. Thomas' College came under the control of the Government after a long period of missionary control. K. B. Jayasuriya became the first principal under the government administration. J. E. M. Fernando, K. B. Jayasuriya and E. A. de L. W. Samarasinghe reactivated the college's old boys (i.e., alumni) association, which was defunct after its inauguration by S. J. Gunasekeram in 1934. B. D. Jayasekera designed the college flag and the crest in the early 20th century. A Buddhist shrine room was constructed at the college premises by the Old Boys Association in 1999. It was inaugurated by Madihe Pannaseeha Thero, a Buddhist priest and former student of the college. ==Past principals==

• N. J. Ondatjee (1844–1848) • Abraham Dias Abeysinghe (1848–1852) • John Stevensen Lyle (1852 –1854) • F. H. De Winton (1854–1856) • Fedrick Dias Edirisinghe (1856–1858) • Quancy Adams (1858–1860) • Clement La–brooy (1860–1865) • A. W. Wijesinghe (1865–1866) • W. E. Ferdinando (1866–1872) • R. O. Macalam (1872–1878) • F. K. Dency (1878–1884) • J. W. Bultjens (1884–1890) • R. C. Reginold (1890–1896) • L. A. Arndt (1896–1902) • S. J. Gunasekeram (1902–1903) • C.P. Fernando (1903–1910) • J. C. Handy (1910–1915) • M. S. Solomon (1915–1925) • P. S. Adams (1925–1934) • C. C. P. Arulpragasam (1934–1944) • R. V. L. Pereira (1944–1952) • J. E. M. Fernando (1952–1959) Government Principals • K. B. Jayasuriya (1960–1975) • E. A. De L. W. Samarasinghe (1975–1985) • B. G. Sisira (1985–1999) • Ratnasiri Suraweera (1999–2011) • W. B. Piyathissa (2011–2021) • T. L. Dayashantha (2021–2022 ) • P. A. Weerakkodi (2022–2024) • Nayanapriya Perera (2024–2026) • Gayantha Wannige (2026-present) == College anthem ==

Our school is old in story Her record fair as long So, young and old and hoary, Come join in rousing song! Hurrah, again hurra-ah, Hurrah, while still we say Saint Thomas' for ever, Saint Thomas' for aye! We boast not of our merit All credit we disclaim, Our pride is we inherit A fair untarnished name. We'll endeavour to maintain it, While deed and word proclaim Saint Thomas' for ever Saint Thomas' for aye! In playing field and class room Our heads we'll carry high, We'll yield no shred of honour In loss or victory, Then "Vinces" be our motto "Perseverando" cry Saint Thomas' forever Saint Thomas' for aye! • Refrain:** Saint Thomas' we uphold her honour everywhere Let east or west or north attest That we are Thomians true! Whatever our estate We unite to celebrate The chocolate and light blue! Saint Thomas' she is our proudest fondest boast Our hearts o 'erflow, our spirits glow With pride and loyalty! Her faithful children we, Strong in unity Until one day we prove the pride of Lanka! The school anthem was composed by Leonard Archibald Arndt (1889–1955), the school's principal between 1931 and 1933. == College houses ==

There are four student houses in the college, named after four past principals. They are: • Bultjens: red • Dias: blue • Ondatjee: yellow • Edirisinhe: green == Sports ==

The St. Thomas'-St. Servatius' cricket encounter, also known as "Battle of the Blues" or "Battle of the Blues Ruhuna" (රුහුණු මහා නිල් සටන), is an annual school cricket match played between St. Thomas' College, Matara, and St. Servatius' College since 1900. It is the second longest-running uninterrupted cricket encounter in Sri Lanka. In addition to cricket, St. Thomas’ College competes annually against Rahula College, Matara in football in a match known as the "Battle of the Golden Ensigns" (රන් දද සටන), and also faces St. Servatius’ College in volleyball for the "Battle of the Saints’ Mathota"(සාන්තූවරුන්ගේ සටන) Trophy annually since 2025. == Notable alumni ==

List of alumni of St. Thomas' College, Matara; == See also ==