Maris Stella College
Maris Stella College in Negombo is one of the best and oldest Catholic Colleges in Sri Lanka, founded by the Marist Brothers in 1922.HistoryFour religious Brothers of the religious order of the Marist Brothers came to Negombo, Sri Lanka, in 1918 and took over the management of St. Mary's College. In 1922, the school moved to its present site and assumed the new name of Maris Stella College.The history of the Primary School goes back to 1921 when Bro. Lewis was in charge of the elementary School, Standard Two E.S.L.C (Elementary School Leaving Certificate) Class. There were three long cadjan sheds which housed eight primary classes.Bro. Mafia took charge of the Primary Department in 1929. Bro. Paschal was a musician and with Mr. Edward Ferdinands, the music teacher, trained the choir to sing in parts. When the boys came out first in the school singing competition in Colombo, the newspapers referred to them as the "Magic Singers" from Negombo.The School's broadcasting services were inaugurated in 1930. Maris Stella installed a wireless set in the library, and the boys followed lessons, such as nature talks to children. Electricity came to the whole of Negombo in 1931. The same year the first Corpus Christi procession took place. It went around the quadrangle. The cadets presented a Royal Guard of Honour.In 1935 Mr. M. Joseph was appointed Headmaster of the Primary School. Later he took to politics and eventually became the Mayor of Negombo. Some veteran teachers of the era were Mr. K. Joseph, M. Fernando, Mr. W. Don Thomas, (father of Eddie Jayamanne) Mr. W. Don John, Mr. B. C. Edmund, Mr. J. M. de Levera, Lieutenant Vincent Fernando, and Captain D. F. Jayamanne.In August 1939, World War II broke out. The following year Maris Stella was requisitioned in part by the Royal Artillery for the headquarters. The Primary School shifted to Tammita Church grounds into temporary cadjan sheds. Then Royal Artillery moved out in November, but the Royal Air Force occupied the buildings in March the following year.
