DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF BATTICALOA
Rising above the landscape of the city of Batticaloa and majestically overlooking the lagoon of the famed Singing Fish surrounding the island of Puliyanthivu, is St. Michael’s College, the pride of Batticaloa, built by man and not machines, by sheer hard work and toil. We salute the French Jesuits, the pioneers who made this a reality.
It may become necessary for me to record here some historical facts pertaining to the College for the benefit of the present generation of students. It was in the year 1873 that St. Michael’s College English School was started along with St. Cecilia’s English Girls’ School and St. Mary’s Tamil school, by father Francis Zavier the first secular priest to Batticaloa and Christopher Bonjean OMI. In 1989, Bishop Monsignor Charles Laving SJ, arrived in Batticaloa with some French Jesuit Priests and commenced the development of the Catholic Church in the Eastern Province. One of their priorities among the master plan, was one formulated in these words, “Batticaloa shall have a Boys College second to none.” The British Governors McCallum and Clifford along with the Government Agent and Mr. D.B. Denham, a friend of St. Michael’s, gave their encouragement and help.
On the 16th of July 1912 the corner stone of the new and greater St. Michael’s was laid by Sir Henry McCallum, the Governor, on the invitation of Rev Fr. Ferinand Bonnel SJ., the architect and builder of the Edifice. In the same year the college presented its first candidates for the Junior Cambridge Examination held in Colombo.
Due to the Second World War, no French Jesuits came to Sri Lanka. On a request made to the Superior General in Rome, the Province was taken over by the American Jesuits from the Province of New Orleans USA. The first American Jesuit priest to arrive in Ceylon was Rev. Fr. Linehan in 1933. The Principal at that time was Father Marian a native Jesuit priest. This was followed by the arrival of the American Jesuit priests.
In the year 1937, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Crowther SJ was appointed the Rector and Principal and was succee
ded by Father Sommers in 1948, while Fr. Crowther continued as the Principal till 1955 and was succeeded by Fr, Raywood. By this time I had left College.
In the year 1959 the Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers decided to take over all assisted schools in the country. The Jesuits decided to manage St. Michael’s as a private non-fee-levying school. Fr. Miller had replaced Fr. Raywood as the Rector. The Jesuits managed St. Michael’s College till the year 1970, when Fr. Moran the Superior took the fatal decision to hand over the school to the state, thus ending the reign of the Jesuit missionaries in the sphere of education. The rest of the story is modern.
In 1947 my father late A.G. Canagaretnam, student, teacher and old boy admitted me to the College. It was my good fortune to have received my primary and secondary education here. Whilst at college my father passed away when I was only 11 years of age. My mother although unhappy, decided to board me at St. Michael’s. This move was welcomed by the Principal Rev. Fr. Crowther and the Jesuit community. Even though I missed the company of my mother and my siblings, their absence was compensated by the love and kindness shown to me by the Jesuits and lay teachers. One such individual, memory of whom I shall cherish till my existence is Rev. Brother E.J. Booth SJ., though not a teacher, administered the boarding house and the maintenance of the building. In the absence of my father, I looked upon him as my foster
father. He is no more but his memory lingers on.
Having successfully completed my Senior School Certificate Examination in 1953, I opted for the HSC (High School Certificate) class and continued my academic studies.
Prior to completing my HSC Examination, I opted for a career in the then Ceylon Police Service and was enlisted as a Sub-Inspector of Police. Sound educational qualifications, sports and good character were prerequisite to enlist in the Police Service. Although character formation begins at home, it is developed only at School as the primary aim of education.
This was available in abundance at St. Michael’s and every student benefited through the untiring efforts of the Jesuits.
During my formative years at St. Michael’s, I was under the care and guidance of Rev. Father E. Crowther, Sommers, Cutcliff, Moran, Booth, Weber, Miller, Theophilus, Herbert and associated with Fathers Heany Fenglar, Lorio, Cooley, Brothers Richard, Quintus to name a few.
St. Michael’s College produced outstanding students and individuals. It made every student honest, loyal and upright. I am one of those who benefited immensely. My career in the Police Department raised me to the rank of Deputy Inspector General. I was selected President of the Basketball Federation which position I held for a long period. I have also served in numerous organisations connected to crime prevention. I attribute my success to the education and guidance given to me by the Jesuits and lay teachers at St. Michael’s College, Batticoloa. May God bless them. ‘Quis Ut Deus.’