St' Aloysius National College,Ratnapura,Sri Lanka
St.Aloysius College,Church Road,Rathnapura,Srilanka.,
Colombo
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History..
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St.Aloysius' College has a long history which is about more than hundred and ten yerars.It is in the Rathnapura Town that the seed of St.Aloysius' College was sown June 1888 by Rev.Father Pierre Boulic who was the incharge father of missionary duties in Rathnapura church.He came to Rathnapura St.Padrew & Paul's Church on third of December 1886.He found for the whole Sabaragamuwa province there was not a Sinhala or Tamil school for the Catholic children.So he decided to start a school in Rathnapura Town.He determined to open a school but the main problem was a place.Ther was only fifteen or twenty feet of space in the church premises and the church was surrounded by large rocks.At last a cooly came from Balangoda blasted all the rocks and used them to built the walls of the school.A gentlemen called Don Martinus Abeyratne supplied materials for the roof.Other expenses were supplied by the catholics and Father Boulic.
This Anglo-vernacular school was opened in the month of June 1888.It was named as St.Peter's school which was a mixed one.English and Sinhala were taught in it.On the opening day forty students were presented.Ther were four teachers.Master John Perera and Father S.J.Perera taught to the boys and two other ladies (none certificated teachers) to girls.Mr.John Perera was a reporter to the "Times of Ceylon" and at that time he was residing in Rathnapura.He kindly offered his service behalf of the school.He taught in St.Peter's School since 1888 till 1890.St.Peter's School commenced 1888 and in 1893 it ceased to function.
In 1898 Father S.S.Peter Wallyn arrived to Rathnapura and he had heard about a 'defunct' Anglo-vernacular school which had been opened by father Boulic.Father Wallyn decided to re-open school.He did it.He established an English Middle School and name it as Peter & Paul's mixed school.There were twenty four students at the opening day.(When the school house system starts one house was named as "Wallyn House" to respect Father Wallyn.)
In 1899 Father Wallyn was moved to Balangoda for his pioneer work.Behalf of him in October 1899 Father A.Closset came to Rathnapura.He was the second manager of St.Peter & Paul's School.He registered the school as an Assisted English School for boys and girls.The land on which present college stands was donated to Father Closset by Mr.Graro.Presumably it was at the time of the registration of the schools in 1900 that the name of Peter & Paul's School was changed to St.Aloysius' English School for girls and boys.
There after in 1901-1904 period Rev.Father A.Stache was appointed as the third manager of St.Aloysius' School.During this period the hostel of the college was built on the property of a gentlemen called Dr.Oliveux.Dr.Oliveux had sold this property to Father Van Reeth.During Father A.Stache's period the First Prize Distribution was took place.It was held on the twenty first December 1902 and the Government Agent Mr.G.S.Saxton had presided the occasion.A drama which was named as "The Invisible Hand" staged for this occasion.Father A.Stache act as the manager of the school untill 1904.
In 1904,Father A.Stache left Rathnapura and Rev.Father Francis De Hert took his place as fourth manager of college .Many changes effected this period.The chief of which was the appointment of Mr.P.S.M.Perera as the head master of the college in April 1907.Mr.P.S.M.Perera did a valuable service to the college as the head master for the thirty four years.During the same period Messrs.W.K.Stephen Jayasekara and P.D.Vincent Mrs.Rodrigoo,Mr.Joyachim,Mr.Gnanapragasam,Mr.Rodrigoo served as teachers.Father Francis De Hert worked as the manager of college until 1909.
Resuming the chronological order of events Rev.Father Peter Wallyn the founder of the school returned to Rathnapura from Balangoda on nineteenth of January 1910 and assumed duties as fifth manager of the school and parish priest for the second time.In this period the annual celebration of Old Boys Association was held in grand level.On this occasion there were some priests to help Father Wallyn.Two of them were Rev.Father E.Gaspard and Rev.Father C.Louwers who started the Boarding House of the school.Father Wallyn while on a holiday at Nuwara-Eliya expired suddenly on twenty second of November 1922.
After the death of Father Wallyn Rev.Father L.Spillbout became the sixth manager of the Aloysius' School.Under his management many improvements were took place.He demolished the remained of old school and in its stead built a part of the present college building(Ground Floor) and named Wallyn Memorial Hall for respect to the founder of the school Father Wallyn.He also responsible for the erection of two storied college hostel which can accommodate about one hundred boarders.During this period the first inter-school champion trophy which organized by government agent on the occasion of on his majesty's birthday won by Aloysius and this win continued for eleven years.Another event took place during Father Spillbout's period was the opening of Convent of Child Jesus and transferring the girls to new institute.In the same period Father Spillbout changed the school colours from green and gold to blue and silver and the school motto which was "Union is the Strength" to "Age Quod Agis".The governor of Sri Lanka Sir.H.Stanley visited the school and spoke very highly about the school and the staff,the discipline and the smart of the students of the school.
Father Spillbout left Rathnapura in December 1929 for Kegalle.To take his place Rev.Father N.M.Lodadio arrived Rathnapura.He was the seventh manager of our school.After he placed as the manager of the college understood the accommodation problem is increasing due to the increasing the number of students.As a solution for this,he converted school in to two storied building and included a library for use of the teachers.Rev.Father Lodadio raised as the bishop of Galle on twenty eight of May 1934 and left for Galle on fifteenth of July 1934.
In twenty ninth June 1934 as the eighth Manager of St.Aloysius' College Rev.Father L.Melpingnano arrived Rathnapura filling the vacancy created by new appointment of Father Lodadio.During Father Melpignano's period got many steps to raise up the college.He provided the Physics and Chemistry Laboratories for the students and also broadened the playground and extended the college buildings.In 1946 the magnificent Gem-Lit Night Carnival was held.It was the first night carnival in Rathnapura and again second night carnival held in August 1948 which was named as Jubilee Pageant.
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College anthem
Come,rally,lads`neath the white and the Blue,
The colours that thrill you and call to be true.
They wave over your heads in the school you so love,
And shine on your way like a light from above.
Chorus
Hail the white
Hail the Blue
We always are ready,stesdy boys,steady,
We`ll strive and we`ll conquer and always be true
Chorus
Yes,seed the pure white how it glint in the light
of heaven`s fair beams unspotted and bright,
Let thus be your lives boys,unstainted by wrong
To follow your duty be brave,bold and strong.
Chorous
Then raise up your banner,desplay its blue flod,
of heaven`s own colour reflected in holds.
Then upwards our hearts,like a dove,to the sky,
To seek midst the azure a goal set on high.
