St. Thomas' College, Kotte
{{short description|Sri Lankan Catholic school}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox school
| name = St. Thomas College
| native_name = {{nobold|{{Lang|si|ශාන්ත තෝමස් විද්යාලය}}}}
| image =
| motto = {{lang|la|In Fide Et Justitia}}
| motto_translation = In Faith and Justice
| established = {{start date and age|1928|05|8|df=y}}
| schooltype = National School
| affiliation =
| grades = 1–13
| age_range = 2 to 19
| gender = Mixed
| enrollment = 1,400
| founder = Zacharias Dabrera
| city = Kotte
| country = Sri Lanka
| colors = Scarlet, white, and gold
| website =
| location = Sri Jayawardenepura (Kotte Road)
| coordinates = {{Coord|6.88208658958|N|79.9019765854|E|type:edu_region:LK|display=inline,title}}
}}
St. Thomas College ({{langx|si|ශාන්ත තෝමස් විද්යාලය}}) is a Catholic school in Kotte, Sri Lanka.{{cite book|title=The Catholic Directory of Sri Lanka, [1975-1976]|editor= Anandappa, J. B. Clinton|publisher=Catholic Church. Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka|date=1976|page=503}} A national school, it serves a mix of boys and girls, from grades 1 to 13.
History
St. Thomas' College was established by Rev. Father Zacharias Dabrera, OMI, and formally opened by Rev. Father J. B. Meary, OMI, on 8 May 1928, the feast-day of St. Michael the Archangel, with 53 students.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/St-Thomas-College-Kotte-celebrates-th-anniversary-today-132314.html|title=St. Thomas' College Kotte celebrates 89th anniversary today|newspaper=Daily Mirror|date=2 July 2017|access-date=2 February 2021}} The new school was set up in the small verandah of the mission house, Debrera's residence. As the number of students increased the two wings of the church were used as classrooms.{{cite news|title=Diamond Jubilee celebration of St. Thomas' College, Kotte|author=Cabral, L.V.|newspaper=The Daily News|date=27 July 2005}} The school was provisionally registered on 9 June 1928. In 2017 the school had 1,400 students and 70 staff.
Traditions
The school colours are scarlet, representing the love of work and sacrifice in the hearts of the pupils, white for the purity in their lives, and gold for perfection and success.
The school motto is {{langx|la|In Fidia Et Justita}}.{{Better source needed|date=January 2023|reason=This source appears to be a poorly translated article from a non-English language (presumably Sinhala). The article actually says the motto (in English, not Latin) is "Trough Justice towards Perfection", despite the misspelling of "Through" does not match the stated Latin. I think the Latin should be "In Fide et Justicia" meaning "In Faith and Justice", but we need a better source to verify.}}
Sports and music
The school has produced many musicians and numerous outstanding cricketers.{{cite book|title=The Janashakthi Book of Sri Lanka Cricket, 1832-1996|author=Perera, S. S.|editor=Muthiah. S.|publisher=Janashakthi Insurance|date=1999|page=274}}
=Cricket=
St Thomas' plays its annual Big Match, the Battle of Kotte, against Sri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2018/03/09/sports/145023/%E2%80%98battle-kotte%E2%80%99-commences-today-colts-grounds|title='Battle of Kotte' commences today at Colts grounds|newspaper=The Daily News|date=9 March 2018|access-date=2 February 2021}} The first Battle of Kotte was held in 1975 and has occurred on a regular basis for over forty years.{{cite web|url=https://www.hirunews.lk/sports/157126/%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%8F%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%8D%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%A7%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%A7%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA-%E0%B6%8B%E0%B6%AB%E0%B7%94%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%B6%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%9C%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%A0%E0%B7%8A|title=පාසල් ක්රිකට් පිටිය උණුසුම් කරන විශාල තරගය|language=si|publisher=Hiru News|date=18 March 2017|access-date=5 February 2021}} Since 2007 both teams have also competed against each other in a one day match, for the Dr. G. N. Perera Memorial Trophy.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2019/03/16/sports/180490/sri-jayawardenepura-takes-kotte-thomians-12th-one-day-encounter|title=Sri Jayawardenepura takes on Kotte Thomians in 12th one-day encounter|newspaper=The Daily News|first=Herbert|last=Perera|date=16 March 2019|access-date=5 February 2021}}
Notable alumni
- Angeline Gunathilake, singer{{cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2019/03/30/local/181764/veteran-singer-angeline-gunathilaka-passes-away|title=Veteran Singer Angeline Gunathilaka passes away|date=30 March 2019|newspaper=The Daily News|first=Chaminda|last=Perera|access-date=2 February 2021}}
- Nalin Perera, 46th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka{{cite news|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2018/10/12/sc-judge-nalin-perera-sworn-in-as-new-chief-justice-of-sri-lanka/|title=SC judge Nalin Perera sworn in as new Chief Justice of Sri Lanka|first=Devuni|last=Goonewardene|publisher=News 1st (MBC Networks)|date=12 October 2018|access-date=2 February 2021}}
- Roger Seneviratne, actor, politician{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/990228/mirror5.html#label6|title=Soldier Roger grows in stature|first=Kumaradasa|last=Wagista|newspaper=The sunday Times|date=28 February 1999|access-date=5 February 2021}}
- Andy Solomons, first-class cricketer{{Citation needed|date=January 2023|reason=Need to cite reliable source(s) to verify attendance at this school.}}
- Chandimal Jayasinghe, beautician, director of Miss World (Sri Lanka){{Citation needed|date=January 2023|reason=Need to cite reliable source(s) to verify attendance at this school.}}
Notable staff
- Maxwell Silva, former principal, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo{{Cite web|url=http://www.fides.org/en/news/30443-ASIA_SRI_LANKA_Appointment_of_Auxiliaries_of_the_Archdiocese_of_Colombo|title=Appointment of Auxiliaries of the Archdiocese of Colombo|publisher=Agenzia Fides|date=28 November 2011|access-date=5 February 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Schools in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte