“128 years of Excellence in Education, Sports and Spiritual Upliftment”.

By : Maruthai Ravindhiran

St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, was founded in 1896, on the 2nd March 1896.

College day was celebrated on the 19th March 2024.

“Fruits of Virtue and of Knowledge,
Here we gather , Peace and Power………………….

An inexplicable joy fills my heart in penning down my thoughts on the “Hall of Fame, Educational Institute in our Motherland.St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, the Hallowed Educational Institution, has excelled far beyond expectations in Producing multi-talented Josephians who are proficient in Education, Sports, Spiritual life ,Community Service besides Serving the Motherland and universe at large since its inception.Having proven itself throughout the years, the college stands tall as the leading Educational Institution in Sri Lanka.The motto of the College has always been to uphold excellence in body, mind and spirit, giving priority to value-based education, thus fostering spiritual and human values.

St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 was founded in 1896, on 2nd March 1896. The architect of this Sacred Institution was the Most Reverend Dr.Christophe- Etienne Bonjean, the first Archbishop of Colombo. No event at. St.Joseph’s’ College, Colombo 10 is complete without a reference to Archbishop Christophe-Etienne Bonjean because he was instrumental in launching the ideal of the need for a Catholic College. He did not live to see his dream realized. However he had appointed for the project, men who knew his mind and his plan and were capable of implementing them. They were Reverend Fathers Charles Collin and Charles Lytton. Subsequently they became the First and the second Rectors of St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 respectively. Since then St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 has become a “ Glorious Educational Institution”.

The purpose for which St.Joseph’s was founded was to give Catholic students the best and the highest possible education as per the Motto, “In Scientia et Virtute”.( In Knowledge and Virtue). The aims of the founder were not only to impart knowledge but also to help the young Josephians to grow in virtue and to bring out and develop their God – Given talents. The College also encourages Multi-Cultural, Multi-Religious, Multi-Ethnic and Multi-linguistic environment which is the need of the hour to our Country at large.

“Innovation, Leadership, Quality, Standards, Values, Creativity and Discipline ” are synonyms for our College.

Josephians have created ideas that changed the way people live, learn, work, pray and play.

With justifiable pride it is recorded that during its glorious existence of 128 years, the College has imparted education in its broad sense thus producing a galaxy of Josephians who are a pride to our beloved Sri Lanka.

We are at a pivotal point in the Josephians rich history. We are greatly indebted to all our distinguished Past Reverend Father Rectors and the Eminent Present Rector, Reverend Father Ranjith Andradi, the distinguished Past Reverend Father Vice Rectors and the Present Eminent Vice Rector, Reverend Father Ruwan Deshapriya, Reverend Fathers, Reverend Sisters and respected Teachers past and the present who have dedicated their lives in moulding us as good citizens, by inspiring and guiding us for what we are today, besides Formation of Character.

We can best pay our own debt to our Alma Mater by building a better future for the new generations, on the framework our forebears established.

Let us get together and strive to build a better nation with “Vision and Action”.

May St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, which has maintained the highest Standards in Education, Sports, Discipline and Character building for 128 years, go forward from strength to strength for many more centuries.

May St.Joseph’s College, Colombo10,one of the leading Educational Institutions for Wisdom and Mastery, continue to be the tower of strength and guiding star and light to the Josephians and render its relentless service to many more generations to come, till the mountains disappear.

“St.Joeph dear, who never fails to aid us in every needy hour, we praise and thank thee”.

(Maruthai Ravindhiran has been a writer since 1990 and an Editor since 1999 to date and he was the former Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the Blue and White Newsletter Committee, An Editorial Board Member of the Blue and White Centenary &Millennium Magazine Committee and a former committee member of the Old Boys’s Union of St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, a Former Member, Association of “Josephian Blues” and the Founder President of Josephian Group of ’88).