Name
  • St. Benedict's College, Colombo
  • Religio - Mores - Cultura
  • Rating
Moto (Tagline)

Religio - Mores - Cultura

Gender

Boys' School

Established Date

1865

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Vision

To Help students develop spiritually, academically and in multiple skills to ever gain higher levels of excellence, continuously.

Mission

To inculcate spiritual values, while imparting knowledge and skills in young people from their early age to the stage of pre-adult-hood to make them competent human beings capable of contributing their mite to change the face of the earth.

Details

History
St. Benedict's College the oldest Roman Catholic school in Sri Lanka, was inaugurated in 1865 by the Benedictine Monks. The school consisted of few classrooms and small staff at first. In 1868, the De La Salle Brothers took over the administration of the College. Since then the school has been headed by many Brothers who belonged to the La Sallian Community.

The past Directors of the College include Bro. Austin Anthony, Bro. Glastian Oliver, Bro. Alban Patrick, Bro. Athanase Charles, Bro. Osmund Gregory, Bro.Alexander Cyrilus, Bro.Granville Perera and Bro. Anselm Calixtus.

 

Present College
Presently the College is headed by Rev.Bro. Ernest Thasisius FSC. The College provides education to around 2600 students with a staff of around 200+ teachers. Students are enrolled from Grade 1 to Grade 13 with the local syllabus in English Sinhala and Tamil mediums. London A/L syllabus is also available for the Advanced Level students in various streams. The College has performed exceptionally well in the recent Grade 5 Scholarship examinations, G.C.E. Ordinary Level examinations as well as the G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations. The College maintains high conduct of Academic activities that encourage students to fulfil their academic careers in an apt way.

The College section consists of a Main Hall, Rev.Bro.James, Rev.Bro.Alexander and Rev.Bro.Luke Buildings, a Library, 2 Computer Laboratories, Lecture Hall, Physics, Biology and Chemistry Laboratories, 3 Music & Arts rooms and a Language Center.

 

The College
The premises which accommodate grades six to thirteen (locally referred to as "the college") is situated adjacent to St. Lucia's Cathedral which serves as a landmark for the area. The Clock Tower building, Main Building, Rev. Bro. Luke Memorial Building, Rev. Bro. Alexander Memorial Building, Rev. Bro James Memorial Building, Rev. Bro Granville Perera Aquatic Centre and the Main Hall Building are the buildings that complete the College section. Academic facilities are provided throughout the College for various groups of students in combination with co-curricular and extra-curricular facilities to enhance the studentship lives.

The College staff consists of 200 individuals. Around 2800 students currently study at the College.

The College Prefects' Board consists of 50 students who are selected on their all-round performances and contributions towards the College. The Prefects make themselves available for many College activities such as special events, college occasions, general assemblies and day-to-day discipline.

 

The Primary
The Primary is situated apart from the College section headed by Rev.Bro.Niran Perera FSC. The 60 members strong staff provide education to around 1000 students in fields of the academy, sports arts and music.

The Primary section consists of two main buildings, with classroom facilities of up to 40 classes, a library and a language unit. The Primary also has a Western band, Eastern band, Choir and Scout Troop on its own. The Primary Prefects board consists of 20 Prefects who attend all school occasions and keep the discipline of the young ones intact.

The St. Benedict's College Primary is the first such Primary section of a school in the country to have its own basketball court. It also has facilities for Table Tennis in addition to the main sports of cricket, tennis and swimming.

 

Education
Around 2600 students gain education in 13 Grades under a qualified, talented and experienced Staff unit.

The Primary section, which is located apart from the College, educates those that enter the school during the initial years. Around 1000 pupils are handled by a staff of 60 teachers. The Primary section consists of classrooms, Library, Computer Laboratory, Music Hall and an Arts room. In addition, the Primary students are given opportunities in taking part in Cub-Scouting, catting, Sports such as Cricket, Basketball and Swimming and Western and Eastern bands.

The College Section consists of Grades 6-13. There are also 2 Computer Laboratories, a Library, Music, Dancing and Arts rooms, Physics, Biology and Chemistry Laboratories and a Lecture Hall.

 

College Crest

The crest consists of a shield depicting two prostrate elephants elevating a Cross in the clasp of their trunks. The elephants are a native symbol of Sri Lanka, also a symbol of strength. It also signifies nature’s veneration of the Creator.

The Cross is a synergy of all the virtues sought after by humanity. And Religion, Christianity – the primary thrust of the motto.

Over the Cross hangs a Star – showing the ‘onward view’, the upward path to look up to, the aim, the reachable goal.

To the left, between the star and the Cross is a mountain peak – again pointing towards the pinnacle of achievement, the high ideals to strive for.

To the right is a tree – for culture, respect for nature, the environment, the world we live in, the ethos of loving our neighbour in the natural order of things.

All of this is set in the embrace of two curling ribbons. The ribbon above the shield bears the College motto Religio, Mores, Cultura and the ribbon below carries the College name and the letters F.S.C. which is the Latin abbreviation for Brothers of the Christian Schools – Frater Scholasticism Christianorum.

A perfect unity, drawing Benedictines to the pinnacle of spiritual and human endeavour.

 

College Flag

The late Aloy Mallawaaratchy (father of Old Bens Ratna, Upali and Gamini) was the author of this item on the evolution of the College flag).

From the time I joined St Benedict’s College in 1919 up to 1922, the colours of the College flag were Blue, Gold and Black. But Bro. Wulton James, the new Irish Director, said a college must have two colours and not three. So he changed the College colours to Green and Sky Blue-green, the Irish colour and sky blue for hope. That’s what the Director said.

The sky blue was so faint that it looked like a white. By the time I left College in 1927, the flag had, in fact, become Green and White.

ADDENDA: The Flag evolved even further to Green, White and Green and more recently, the College crest in green is given prominence on the center of the white band of the flag.

(Published in the Sydney Bens Dance Souvenir 1998)

Anthem

Boys of St. Benedict's

 

Boys of St. Benedict's young and old,

High be your aim in life's onward view!

Leal and devoted be to the fold,

With reverence meet to your shepherds true!

 

For Christ and Church, united we stand.

E'er loyal and staunch, or win we, or fall!

The truth to sow broadcast o' er the land,

Promptly to rally at duty's call!

 

True to our God and true to all men,

Follow we ever life's holy plan!

Doing the duty that is to do

Bearing the cross with the crown in view.

 

Boys of St. Benedict's (Complete Anthem)

 

Boys of St. Benedict’s, young and old,

High be your aim in life’s onward view

Leal and devoted be to the fold,

With rev’rence meet to your shepherds true

 

For Christ and Church united we stand,

E’er loyal and staunch, or win we or fall

The truth to sow broadcast o’er the land

Promptly to rally at duty’s call

 

Chorus:

True to our God and true to all men

Follow we ever life’s holy plan

Doing the duty that is to do,

Bearing the Cross with the crown in view

 

Boys of St. Benedict’s, noble and brave,

Here ye prepare for the fray of life,

‘Neath where the Green and White proudly wave,

Yours to maintain in the coming strife.

 

Learn how to love the flag of your School,

Gaze on it oft floating free in the wind.

Work for it, play for it heart and soul,

Ne’er shame your colours before mankind.

 

Boys of St. Benedict’s manly and strong,

When ye depart the world’s ranks to swell,

Falter not, triumph o’er guile and wrong,

True to the title ye cherish well.

 

Press on! Press on! Fly not from the field,

Close round yours’andard! See nobly it flies!

Wield Truth’s bright sword, advance faith’s fair shield,

Manfully striving, again Honour’s prize.

 

Though the College itself is 140 years old, the Anthem dates back to just 90 years when Bro. Cyprian was Director. Written by Proctor Mr. C.E.M. Jayawardene, who later became a district judge, the song was set to music by S. Norbert Rodrigo, at the time a teenager in the middle forms.

 

Hailing from a brilliantly musical family (his father Mr. William Rodrigo was bandmaster of the Ceylon Volunteer Force) it was a casual announcement by Bro. Lewis, the College Choir Master, that a competition would be a help to select a suitable musical composition for the Song that prompted young Norbert to submit his entry, putting himself against such musical giants of his time as bandmaster Adams of the Ceylon Police Force, Bro. Edwin and his own father.

 

At the final judging, everybody was taken aback when Norbert’s composition was adjudged the best. Here was a lad whose knowledge of music did not go beyond the Smallwood’s Piano Tutor. Here was a mere bugler in the College Band putting top grade bandmasters in the shade.

 

The College Anthem is in two movements, the Verse in Common Time and the Chorus in Sixth-eight. With its marching lilt and the immortal words of Religion, Character, Culture and Patriotism contained in it, it easily surpasses any of its kind in the Island. This is not an idle boast, but the opinion of many a connoisseur of music who has listened to the Anthem being sung or played.

 

Young Norbert’s success in beating his teachers at their own game did not go unrecognized. It was a proud day for Norbert when Bro. Cyprian, the Director, awarded him a bronze medal. …His success at school only proved to be the precursor of brilliant events in later years. With an A.C.V.M. (London) qualification, Norbert Rodrigo emerged as an all-rounder. He was a pianist, organist, Choirmaster, Bandmaster, violinist and above all a vocalist.

 

Teenager set College Anthem to music by K.S.PERERA

(First published in BENRECORDER)

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School Houses & Colours

Cassion - Purple
Luke - Yellow
Camillus - Bue
Claude - Brown

Societies and Activities

Young Catholic Students' Movement
Interact Club
Science Union
Tamil Literary Union
De la salle club
English Debate Club
Scrabble Club
Commerce Union
English Literary Union
Media Unit
Legion of Mary
Tamil Debate club
Tamil General Knowledge club
Tamil Drama Club
Tamil Literary Union
Sinhala Literary Union
Sinhala Debate club

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Open hours today: 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM Toggle weekly schedule
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    7:30 AM - 1:30 PM

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  • Friday

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  • Saturday

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  • March 29, 2024 4:01 PM local time

Contact Details
  • St Benedict's Street, Colombo 01300 Sri Lanka
  • 94112431025
  • webmaster@stbenedictscollege.org
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