Isipathana College

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Isipathana College
File:Isipathana-Logo.png
Location
Map
Colombo

Sri Lanka
Coordinates6°53′15″N 79°52′06″E / 6.88750°N 79.86833°E / 6.88750; 79.86833Coordinates: 6°53′15″N 79°52′06″E / 6.88750°N 79.86833°E / 6.88750; 79.86833
Information
TypeNational
MottoPali : "දළහං පගණත විරියං"
Sinhala : "අදිටනින් වෙර වඩමු"
(Strive With Determination)
Established2 February 1952; 72 years ago (1952-02-02)
FounderB. A. Kuruppu
PrincipalOshara Panditharathna
Staff350
GradesClass 1 - 13
GenderBoys
Age5 to 19
Enrollment5,000
Colour(s)Dark green, light green and dark green
   
Former pupilsOld Isipathanian
Websitewww.isipathanacollege.lk

Isipathana College[1] (formerly known as Greenlands College[2]) is a national school for boys located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded in January 1952, the school was initially named Isipathana Maha Vidalaya,[3] but is now referred to simply as "Isipathana".

History

In January 1952, with an intake of 400 boys, who constituted the overflow from the Royal Preparatory School, Greenlands College was established in a coconut grove amidst Havelock Town on Greenlands Road (after which it was named), about 7 acres (28,000 m2) in extent.[citation needed]

The first principal was B. A. Kuruppu (1952 -1959) who was then the vice-principal of Blue Street Central College, Kotahena.

The initial admissions were made by a Board composed of principals of Royal College Colombo and Thurstan Colleges and the headmaster of Royal Preparatory School; classes were organised in all three streams - Sinhala, Tamil and English, with a tutorial staff of seven teachers.

The college crest was designed by the first principal with the assistance of J. D. A. Perera and Stanley Abeysinghe of Heywood School of Art, it consists of a lighted lamp and an opened book with the motto "Strive with determination" below. The college colours are dark and light green which was selected from the name of the college (Greenland College).[citation needed]

The first sports meet was held in March 1953 and the first prize-giving in 1954.[citation needed]

The first issue of the college magazine came out in 1954. In 1956 Vihara Mandiraya and Chaitya were built to commemorate "Buddha Jayanthi year" at school premises. The college had adapted itself to the socio-cultural changes which were taking place since Buddha Jayanthi in 1956 which led to the renaming of the college in 1961. Greenlands Road had been renamed as Isipathana Mawatha[4] after Isipathanaramaya Temple and the school was renamed as Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya. Within a decade Greenlands became Isipathana.

In 1962, the college was divided into two schools as Kanishta (junior) and Jeshta (upper) Vidyalayas (colleges) with two separate principals. In 1975 the Education Department amalgamated Kanishta Vidyalaya (junior college) with the Maha Vidyalaya (senior college).[citation needed]

In 1999 the schools were amalgamated into a single college under one principal.

The school currently has more than 5,000 students enrolled, from grades 1 to 13.[citation needed]

The school anthem is "Sarade Matha Isipathanaya apa..."

Houses

The students are divided into four Houses. The names are derived from four poets - Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera, Rabindranath Tagore, John Milton and Muhammad Iqbal. The houses compete to win the inter-house games.

Colour :   yellow

Colour :   red

Colour :   blue

Colour :   Green

Sports

Cricket

An annual cricket contest match, Battle of Brothers, also called The Big Match, played against the school's traditional rival Thurstan College. The first Battle of Brothers was in 1963, there have been 57 matches played, with 41 endings in a draw. Thurstan College won seven times and Isipathana College five times.[5]

Rugby

In addition to the 'Abdul Jabar Trophy' which is played with the traditional rivals Thurstan College, with most trophies won by Isipathana College.[6]

The word "Isipathana" is a synonym for Rugby in Sri Lanka for their proud history and heritage in the school's rugby arena. The school is responsible for producing many top-notch rugby players for the nation.

The college commenced playing rugby as a competitive sport in 1963. Prior to this, it played a series of friendly games at under 17 levels. The first official match was against St Anthony's College, Katugastota, at which Isipathana won 8-3. In 1965 the school was officially affiliated as a SLRFU's school.[citation needed]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Alumni of Isipathana College
Name Notability References
Asanka Gurusinha International cricket player (1985–1996)
Ashantha de Mel International cricket player (1982–1986)
Asoka de Silva (cricketer) International cricket player (1985–1991)
Aravinda de Silva International cricket player (1984-2003)
Jayantha Paranathala International cricket player (1977–1990)
Rohan de Silva pianist [citation needed]
Suresh Perera International cricket player (1998–2001)
Basil Rajapaksa Minister of Economic Development (2010–2015)
Gangodawila Soma Thero Scholar monk [7]
Chitral Somapala vocalist, songwriter and composer. [8]
Sampath Tennakoon Cinema, theatre and television actor [9]
Hashan Tillakaratne International cricket player (1989–2004)
Sanjeewa Weerasinghe International cricket player (1985)
Nuwan Zoysa International cricket player (1997–2004)
Sarath Namalgama Cinema, theater and television actor [10]
Ramesh Rushantha Musician (1999–present)
Sando Harris Actor (1988–2021)

Principals

Name From To
B. A. Kuruppu 1 January 1952 11 October 1959
S. J. Rodrigo 12 October 1959 7 January 1965
A. H. Wijetunge 8 January 1965 28 May 1965
H. R. Perera 1 June 1965 31 July 1966
H. D. De Silva (Acting Principal) 1 August 1966 31 July 1967
Brevel. Col. G.W. Rajapakse 1 August 1967 30 June 1969
W. T. P. T. Thilakaratne 1 July 1969 9 February 1971
T. E. de S. Leelananda 10 February 1971 22 October 1979
S. de Muthukumarana 23 October 1979 30 December 1980
V. S. Kudaligama 1 January 1981 5 January 1981
Gamini Chandrasekara 6 January 1982 30 January 1987
D. G. W. Jayasinghe 1 February 1987 7 January 1997
H. A. Upali Gunasekara 10 January 1997 31 February 2002
Punyadasa Kuruppu 1 January 2003 19 July 2010
I. M. Kamal Palitha Illanasinghe 20 July 2010 30 May 2011
A. M. A. A. C. Perera 1 June 2011 1 June 2015
Epa K. Premesiri (Acting Principal) 1 June 2015 28 February 2020
Pabasara Bandara (Acting Principal) 1 March 2020 8 June 2021
Oshara Panditharathna 9 June 2021 Up to Now

References

  1. ^ "Isipathana College Online Information Centre". Isipathanaonline.info. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  2. ^ "About Isipathana College". Isipathanaonline.info. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  3. ^ Shamseer Jaleel (29 June 2003). "A few hiccups but Isipathana are strong and agile as ever". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Street Names In Colombo". CeylonLanka.info. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Isipathana and Thurstan in tame draw". Sunday Observer. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Annual Abdul Jabbar Shield Rugby clash :Isiathana thrashes Thurstan 48-nil". Daily News. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Soma Thero". Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Chitral 'Chity' Somapala". www.somapala.com. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  9. ^ "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Film actor Sarath Namalgama bids farewell". truenews. Retrieved 19 February 2021.

External links

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