St. Mary's College, Negombo
{{Short description|1AB Provincial School in Sri Lanka}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Original research|date=May 2024}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox school
| name = St. Mary's College, Negombo
{{lang|si|සාන්ත මරියා විද්යාලය, මීගමුව}}
| logo =
| logo_size = 150
| image = SMC (Negombo) Flag.png
| motto = {{langx|la|Viam Sapientiae Monstrabo Tibi}}
| motto_translation = I will show you the path of wisdom
| city = Negombo
| postcode = 11500
| country = Sri Lanka
| coordinates = {{Coord|7|12|37.5|N|79|50|11.8|E|display=inline,title}}
| type = 1AB Provincial School
| religious_affiliation = Catholic
| established = {{date and age|1871|10|06|df=y}}
| founder = John Vistarini
| school_code = SMCN
| principal = Sudath Hemantha Fernando
| grades = 1 - 13
| gender = Boys
| age_range = 6 - 19
| enrollment = 2,140
| language = Sinhala and English
| houses = {{color box|yellow}} Alles
{{color box|red}} Briton
{{color box|green}} Cazugal
{{Color box|blue}} Sebastian
| colors = Navy, white and gold
{{color box|navy}}{{color box|white}}{{color box|gold}}
| team_name = Maryites
| alumni = SMC OBA
| website =
}}
St. Mary's College, Negombo is a provincial Catholic school in Negombo, Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.
History
The school was founded in 1871 by Father Monsignor John Vistarini, priest of the High Street parish and a Catholic missionary in Sri Lanka,{{Cite web |title=St. Mary's College Negombo celebrates its 150th jubilee |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/211017/education/st-marys-college-negombo-celebrates-its-150th-jubilee-458396.html |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka}} who dedicated the school to Mary, mother of Jesus. With the help of foreign missionaries who came to Sri Lanka, he gave English education to local children.{{Cite web |last=Mello |first=Nimal |title=St. Mary's College Negombo 150 years |date=December 2021 |url=https://island.lk/st-marys-college-negombo-150-years/}}{{Cite web |last1=Fernando |first1=Rear Admiral Dr Shemal |last2=PhD |title=Felicitation of 'The Greatest Old Maryite' |url=https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2022/11/09/features/290752/felicitation-%E2%80%98-greatest-old-maryite%E2%80%99 |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=Daily News |language=en}} Father F. L. Briton (1906–1914) was the first principal of the school.
In 1917, the Marist Brothers arrived in Sri Lanka and chose St. Mary's College as their first educational institution. In 1923, Mary Christine de Cruz and Rosa Isabella de Cruz donated a piece of land at Coppara Junction to St. Mary's College.{{cn|date=May 2024}} The Marist Brothers started a school as a branch of St. Mary's College. In 1924, they asked the General Manager of Catholic Schools to change the name "St. Mary's College" to "Maris Stella College".{{cn|date=May 2024}}
In 1960, the Sri Lankan government took over the schools, but the management had decided to make this college private and fee-free.
During 1973-1981, the land belonging to St. Mary's Convent was taken over by the school, and the school's head built two-floor, three-floor and four-floor buildings for science, commerce and arts subjects.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
In 1984 St. Mary's College was named the centre of ten schools in West Negombo.{{clarify|date=April 2024}}
In 1995 the school was returned to the Marist Brothers.{{cn|date=May 2024}}