St. Xavier’s College Chalks 165 Years of Excellence.

The 165th Anniversary of St. Xavier’s College and the 77th Anniversary of the Old Boys’ Association were celebrated last Saturday at the Queensbury Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. The event was well attended by the Chief Guest Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, the Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, an old boy of the College; Principal, Mathew Paulraj,  Guests of Honour, Rev.Fr.Sivantha Rodrigo-Rector of Our Lady’s School, Vice Rector-Rev. Fr.Shermal Rasika Almeida, Addarage Lal- the Assistant Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Schools’ Basketball Association, Nimal Kumarasiri-Principal of Gamini National College, Vanitha Malar Balendran- Principal of Good Shepherd Convent, SXC Vice Principal- Laxmi Gunasekara as well as representatives from Past Pupils’ Associations of  Gamini CC, Good Shepherd Convent and Holy Trinity, St Xavier’s College staff members, old boys, and parents.  After the opening prayer, a moment of silence was observed in honour of the Founders, late Managers, Rectors, Directors, Principals, Headmasters, teachers, and Old Boys who have nurtured Xaverianism over the years.

The celebrations began following the Vespers service at St. Xavier’s Church, led by Chief Celebrant Rev. Fr. Henry Wijeratne OSB, Rector of St. Anthony’s College, Kandy and the Parish Priest Rev.Fr.Camillus Janz.

In his address, the Chief Guest Dr. Madhura Seneviratne, highlighted the present Government’s commitment to fostering equality and equity in education, ensuring that all students have access to the same high standard of learning.

Dr. Seneviratne reflected fondly on his childhood memories at St. Xavier’s College and expressed his happiness at witnessing the scale of the event organized by the Old Boys Association. He assured that he would intervene in addressing the issues the College has encountered over the past two decades and pledged to contribute to restoring its former glory and prestige.

Dr. Seneviratne further explained that the Government follows a “Bottom to Top” approach, fostering dynamic dialogues to find solutions to critical issues, with all stakeholders bearing responsibility. He also stressed the need for improvements in other key sectors, such as tourism and agriculture, and reassured that the Government is actively working to elevate the nation to the next level.

Acknowledging the challenges that St. Xavier’s College has faced in recent years, he expressed his satisfaction at seeing the institution’s revival under the current administration.

Looking ahead, Dr. Seneviratne emphasized the importance of unity, with a shared vision and common goals. He underscored that education and healthcare are two critical sectors requiring attention, with the Government’s policies set to drive meaningful change. “Education is the foundation of all other fields,” he stated, highlighting its role in shaping individuals from early childhood through adulthood. He noted that education must be inclusive and sustainable, preparing young people with the skills needed to thrive in today’s job market.

Dr. Seneviratne concluded by urging the support of all stakeholders in achieving the country’s educational goals, emphasizing that the collective effort is essential for the advancement of education in Sri Lanka.

Principal Mathew Paulraj expressed his gratitude to the staff and members of the Old Boys’ Association for the trust they had placed in him. He assured them of his commitment in preserving the Xaverian spirit and expressed his anticipation for continued support and cooperation from all parties.

He acknowledged that the presence of Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Seneviratne added significant value to the event and noted that the celebrations would be remembered in history.

Reflecting on his year in office, the Principal emphasized the importance of unity, urging everyone to work together with shared objectives, thoughts, and aspirations. He remarked that although the College had been in a neglected state, it was now making progress, though the staff would need more time to complete this revitalization. He commended the current teachers for their dedication to both academics and sports, highlighting a 12% improvement in the GCE O/L examination results compared to 2022, and achievements in All Island level Drama, football and athletes. He announced that after registering with the Sri Lanka Schools’ Cricket Association, hardball cricket had been reintroduced to the school after two decades. He expressed gratitude to the OBA members for their generous sponsorship for educational and sports events. The Principal also mentioned that a recent donation of two new computers and a brand-new printer by the OBA had addressed a long-standing need at the College. He thanked the Old Boys for their efforts in renovating the two-story building in January 2024 and expressed his expectation that the renovation of the staff resource centre, office, and vice-principal’s room would follow.

However, he pointed out that the College had yet to receive support from the authorities to improve its building facilities. He noted that the Primary School building had been closed due to its dilapidated condition and emphasized that both the three-story building and the middle school building were in need of repair.

Old Xaverian President Sanjeewa Weerasinghe(Senior Assistant Superintendent of Pussellawa Plantations) emphasized on the importance of collective support for the College’s revitalization. He called on all stakeholders to rally around the College flag to reinvigorate the institution.

Suren Swaminathan, Senior Advisor OBA and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Business Council in UAE, shared a message celebrating the 165th anniversary of St. Xavier’s College, Nuwara Eliya. He reflected on the school’s humble beginnings in 1859 with just 33 students and a single teacher, growing into one of Sri Lanka’s most esteemed bilingual boys’ schools. Swaminathan highlighted the appointment of a distinguished old boy as Deputy Minister of Education and higher education and praised the school’s legacy of excellence. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the school, including periods of neglect, but credited the alumni’s dedication for its revival. The appointment of an old boy as Principal and ongoing projects aimed at improving the school’s facilities and educational standards were also celebrated. He concluded by reaffirming the commitment to St. Xavier’s mission, emphasizing the importance of nurturing young minds, instilling values, and shaping future leaders.

Benjamin Jeganathan, Joint Secretary of the OBA, underscored the inclusive nature of the College, which has served students of all backgrounds for the last 165 years. He introduced St Xavier’s College as the mainspring of social mobility in the district. He highlighted the important role of the OBA in supporting the development of the College, referencing key projects such as the construction of the College’s upper building in 1958, which was spearheaded by Rev. Fr. D.M. Xavier with the OBA. Promoting education, sports activities, extracurricular activities, and safeguarding the College since 1960.He added that the arrival of the new Principal in October 2023 has renewed focus on the College’s revival, especially after challenges the institution has faced since its takeover in 1960. Jeganathan noted that the OBA has contributed over Rs. 4.5  million to various projects, including the renovation of the two-story building, donation of cutting-edge 12th-generation computers and a new printer, and the promotion of athletics, football, and cricket across various age groups, Twenty Scholarships, and the donation towards the renovation of the Church. He stated that the Mayor’s Cup and Baker’s Cup hardball cricket matches, introduced by the OBA 15 years ago, have successfully achieved their goal of popularizing hardball cricket in the city. As a result, many clubs and schools now actively play hardball cricket.

He also commended the Principal and staff for their dedication to both education and sports. Special mention was made of the Under-19 football team, athletes and the drama crew for their participation in National Level competitions this year, all of whom received sponsorship from the OBA. Further, Jeganathan invited the attendees to read his paper, titled ‘Improving English Language Teaching in Sri Lankan Schools: Past Pupils’ Contribution” published in an international journal, which explores the contributions of past pupils in Sri Lanka towards their alma mater.

In recognition of the contributions to Sri Lanka’s music industry, Paul Perera, Cecil Palpola, and Anton Mathew of the Rubicons Band formed in 1963 were awarded with a token of appreciation by the Chief guest.

The Chief Guest was presented with a copy of the Xaverian book published in commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of the College, and a dossier of documents with school development proposals that would be supported by the OBA.

Joint Secretary Nilan de Zoysa urged the educational authorities to conduct a thorough and fair investigation into various unresolved issues, including the mysterious fire that engulfed the College’s main hall in 2017, staff appointments, closing down of the Advanced Level sections and the destruction caused to the science laboratories and alleged irregularities during the previous administration.

The event also saw Addarage Lal, the Assistant Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association, who attended as the Guest of Honour, pledge support for the revival of basketball at St. Xavier’s College, a sport that had flourished in the 1950s at SXC.

As a final highlight, a cheque for Rs. 350,000 was presented to G. B.Manikdiwela of IBDC E (Pvt) Ltd. to launch an Artificial Intelligence teaching program worth over Rs 2 million for a group of 100 students at St. Xavier’s College.  The OBA also launched the fourth cohort of its English Language Teaching programme, which is led by a team of university lecturers and experienced teachers from schools in Colombo. The five-month programme is delivered online and is available free of charge. Any senior student or adult in the country can enrol by registering  via https://forms.gle/87uPLd8JjFK8VTgZ9

Past President RM Nawaz proposed the vote of thanks and Senior Advisor Paul Perera proposed a toast during the fellowship. The event was enlivened by the performance of the Beat Band Xaverians, featuring Kamal Gunaratne, Tiran Thobius, and Timothy Wanigasekara.