St. Servatius Matara solid as a pillar
St. Servatius’ College is a boys’ school located in Matara , the southern- most District of Sri Lanka. It was founded by Jesuit fathers in 1897. The school was nationalised in the and it is now managed as a government school.
The start of St. Servatius’ College goes back to nearly 114 years. The Bishop of Galle, Joseph Van Reeth who was keen to develop education in his newly set up diocese called on the Belgian Jesuits to come to his aid.
Father Augustus Standaert and a few others arrived in Galle in 1896, and on November 2, 1897, declared open an English medium school on a small block of land on the banks of the River Nilwala in Pallimulla, Matara. The school opened with 5 students. By the year 1898 it had increased to 54.
In August 1898 a new structure was erected for the school. As the construction funds came from the St. Servatius Jesuit School of Liege ( Belgium) the Matara new school adopted the same patron saint and was named after St. Servatius.
Saint Servatius was a 4th century missionary in Belgium and one of the first bishops of the area Tongeren-Maastricht-Liège. A popular figure, whose devotion and veneration to his name developed after his death.
After some years the school was changed to the present position where the school stands which is in Kotuwegoda, Matara. In 1961 with the taking over of private schools to the Government this college was taken over by the Education Department and until 1965 it was administered by Catholic Fathers
The original St. Servatius College was built by Servatius on the banks of the Nilwala River. It was the Jesuit missionaries who cleared the way for English education in Sri Lanka.
Today St. Servatius College is home to over 2500 students. The establishment is guided by over one hundred staff members and is spearheaded by the Principal Mr. Nimalsiri Wanigabaduge.
St. Servatius C o l l e ge has been in the forefront of Sri Lankan National schools. It has produced many leading personalities to the nation such as famous politicians Laxshman Yapa Abeywardana, Dallas Alahapperuma, Prof. Karunasena Ko d i t h u w a k k u , Justine Galappathi, well known cricketer and the parliamentarian Sanath Jayasoorya, D. S . P. Anura Senanayake -Police Crime Branch Colombo, the first Sri Lanka Central Bank Governor N. U. Jayawardena to name but a few.
The school gained reputation in academic achievements veryrapidly. In 2010 the G.C.E. (O/L) qualified percentage increased to 80.%. In 2011 G. C. E. ( A/ L) showed tremendous improvement in streams of Science, Commerce and Art.
Every year more than 25 students qualify to enter leading universities.
For many years St. Servatius College has maintained an excellent academic record in the Grade Five scholarship examinations. This has been the trend since 2009.
Excellent supportive facilities have helped students to excel in almost all the sports activities. A wide range of sporting events are held throughout the year.
As a result, AkilaImantha Nilaweera excelled in the All Island Athletic Meet, 2010 and was selected as the under 17 Best athlete in 2010 and 2011. More over the college under 10 Badminton team emerged first runners- up and the college rugger team obtained the second place at several All Island tournaments.
The famous cricketer Sanath Jayasoorya is one of their past pupil who studied in the college from 1979 to 1987.
The school has achieved success in almost every sphere of activity especially in Aesthetics. They have won many National levels, Provincial level and Zonal level medals in Drama, Dancing, Music and Language Day competitions.
Under the guidance of the present principal, Mr. Nimalsiri Wanigabaduge, St. Servatius College has begun a new era of progress. During the last 114 years, this school has met the varying faces of history and has stood through it all, firm as a pillar and as a solid citadel to carry forward its vision and mission.