S.De.S Jayasinghe Central College
The origin of Dehiwala S.de.S Jayasinghe Central college goes as far as to 1945 A.D . The school was started with 11 Students and 7 teachers on staff in a thatched –roofed hut in Aratheusa lane, wellawatte, to cater the educational needs of the children in and around Dehiwala.
With the dawn of new Educational Reforms, introduced by DR. C.W.W.Kannnangara, the concept of ‘Central Colleges’ came into effect. As a result of this, the small school in Aratheusha Lane, was ear-marked, to be the Central College of Dehiwala.
In the meantime, the philanthropic Rupasinghe family in Dehiwala donated their ancestral home, ‘Rupasinghe Walawwa’ with the surrounding land nearly 18 acres in extent , for the well-being of the newly introduced Dehiwala Central College. As a result, Dehiwala Central College was formulated in the present premises in 1946 A.D. and Mr. Jayaweera Bandara who was then on the staff of Royal College Colombo was appointed as the founder principal.
It is significant to mention, Miss Selina Rupasinghe of Rupasinghe Family was given in marriage to Hon. J.R. Jayawardhane, the First Executive President of Sri Lanka , and this newly wedded couple had lived in this ancestral home for sometime , before they settled down in Colombo.
In 1953 , with the uprising of the Political aggression known as “ Hartal” some arsonists, set. fire to the buildings of Dehiwala Central College as well. But due to the kind initiative taken by Mr. S.De.S. Jayasinghe, then member of parliament of the area, this college was blessed with some new permanent, and solid buildings including a well-equipped Science laboratory.
Actually, Since then Dehiwala Central College thrived by leaps and bounds , both in education and in the field of sports.
