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St. Mary's College, Negombo

Coordinates: 7°12′37.5″N 79°50′11.8″E / 7.210417°N 79.836611°E / 7.210417; 79.836611
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St. Mary's College, Negombo
සාන්ත මරියා විද්‍යාලය, මීගමුව
Location
Map
,
11500

Coordinates7°12′37.5″N 79°50′11.8″E / 7.210417°N 79.836611°E / 7.210417; 79.836611
Information
Type1AB Provincial School
MottoLatin: Viam Sapientiae Monstrabo Tibi
(I will show you the path of wisdom)
Religious affiliation(s)Catholic
Established6 October 1871; 153 years ago (1871-10-06)
FounderJohn Vistarini
School codeSMCN
PrincipalSudath Hemantha Fernando
Grades1 - 13
GenderBoys
Age range6 - 19
Enrollment2,140
LanguageSinhala and English
Houses  Alles
  Briton
  Cazugal
  Sebastian
Color(s)Navy, white and gold
   
Team nameMaryites
AlumniSMC OBA

St. Mary's College, Negombo is a provincial Catholic school in Negombo, Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.

History

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The school was founded in 1871 by Father Monsignor John Vistarini, priest of the High Street parish and a Catholic missionary in Sri Lanka,[1] 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.[2][3] 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.[citation needed] 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".[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

In 1984 St. Mary's College was named the centre of ten schools in West Negombo.[clarification needed]

In 1995 the school was returned to the Marist Brothers.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "St. Mary's College Negombo celebrates its 150th jubilee". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  2. ^ Mello, Nimal (December 2021). "St. Mary's College Negombo 150 years".
  3. ^ Fernando, Rear Admiral Dr Shemal; PhD. "Felicitation of 'The Greatest Old Maryite'". Daily News. Retrieved 6 April 2024.