St.Sebastian’s College commenced sessions
in 1854 on the verandah of St.Sebastian’s
Church, Moratuwa with 11 pupils, administrated
by the Parish Priest with the help of a Headmaster
and his assistant. The medium of instruction
was English.
At the request of the Catholics of Moratuwa
and the church authorities the administration
of the school was handed over to the De La Salle
Brothers on 3rd January 1926. The last headmaster
of the school was Mr.Lawrence Perera and the
first Brother Director was an Irishman, Rev.Bro.Bonaventure
Idus. The other two pioneers were a Frenchman,
Rev.Bro. Athanasius Charles and a Sri Lankan,
Rev.Bro.Glaster Oliver. With the arrival of
the Rev.Brothers they were provided accommodation
of Chevalier Waluuwa, the present Moratuwa police
station, within a few months secondary classes
were started on the ground floor of the Brother
residence. The main school was situated at Uswatte
Circular Road, opposite the engine shed of the
Moratuwa Railway Station.
Cambridge Senior and Junior school certificate
classes were organized and the school was registered
as a secondary school in 1927
Realizing the necessity of the rapid development
of the school, a ten acre block of land at Uyana,
Moratuwa was purchased for Rs.30 000/= by obtaining
a loan of Rs.15000/= form the Archbishop and
a donation of Rs.15000/= form Mr.Bastian Fernando.
The college commenced operations on the near
site on 23rd December 1930.
With the take over of Denominational assisted
school by the government in 1960 St.Sebastian’s
College decided to have the option of continue
as a non-fee levying private school. This was
one of the most difficult periods in the history
of the college and Rt.Rev.Bishop Edmund Fernando
who was the parish priest of Moratuwa at that
time organized the collection of funds for the
maintenance of St.Sebastian’s College
and Our Lady of Victories convent, Moratuwa.
Rev.Bro Modustus an old boy of the college was
the director of the college at that turbulent
period.
Rev.Bro.Raymond Benildus was the Principal of
the College from 1964 to 1973 and almost single-handed
managed a number of fund raising projects and
also set up a welfare office to collect funds
directly from parents.
In 1974 college faced another financial crises
and the welfare society formed with President’s
counsel Mr.Eardley Perera, as president was
responsible for maintaining St.Sebastian’s
College as a Private School. The financial situation
improved, when in 1979 the government decided
to give a grant to the non-fee levying private
schools.
In 1989 the principal, Rev.Bro.Granville Perera
started an overall building project for the
school and in two years 16 primary classrooms
were built.
In March 1991 Rev.Bro.Emmanual Nicholas the
Provincial Visitor introduced a Board of Governors
as an advisory body to assist the administration
of the college. President’s counsel, Mr.Eardley
Perera was appointed as the Chairmen of the
Board of Governors. In June 1991 the Board of
Governors established the School Development
Society, to be in-charge of the financial management
of the college. With the cooperation of the
Rev.Brothers and the Board of Governors the
teachers, parents and the old boys gathered
round the college to build a three-storyed classroom
building and a main hall.
St.Sebastian’s College entered a new era
in 2003 when Rev.Bro. Henry Dissanayake, the
Provincial Visitor of the De La Salle Brothers
handed over the college to his Grace the Archbishop
of Colombo from April 2003. The college is administrated
by the Rev.Fathers led by Rev.Fr.Bonnie Fernandupulle,
Principal, Rev.Fr.Sylvester Ranasinghe Deputy
Principal and Rev.Fr.Pradeep Fonseka, Principal
Primary department.
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