The OBA of St. Anthony’s College Kandy, a great source of strength
St. Anthony’s College, Kandy is a prestigious public school in the island. It is the oldest in Kandy and perhaps one of the earliest Catholic Educational institutions in the country.
The most remarkable event that took place in the month of March, 1854 in Kandy was the founding of this institution by Rev. Fr. Felice Zoppi, a Fransiscan Missionary from the Chinese Missionary Field with 62 boys and 28 girls at the present premises of St. Anthony’s Cathedral. The Girls School was shifted to another location subsequently. The school was then known as “St. Anthony’s Boys’ School. “Lux de Coelo” (Light from Heaven) is the motto of the school. After Fr. Zoppi, the school had a succession of laymen as administrators in the absence of missionaries until 1875, when Rev. Fr. D.H.Vandestraatan OSB assumed duties as Principal. Boarding life was introduced in the same year. Government examinations were held in the school for the first time in 1870 and 120 students were on the register by then. The school had another layman principal in Mr. R.P.Jansz from 1880 to 1892.
The school was back in the hands of the Benedictine monks, when Rev.Fr. Hillarion Leitan became the principal in 1892. This marked the beginning of the unbroken chain of OSB priests as Principals of St. Anthony’s for the past 121 years. Rev Fr.Maurus Craner, an old boy, succeeded Fr. Leitan as principal in 1898 and all aspects of higher education were included in the curriculum during his tenure.
Cricket was introduced by Rev.Fr. Andrew Van Langenberg in 1903.Fr. Craner was followed by Rev.Fr. Phillip Caspersz as principal in 1906.He was ably assisted by his brother Rev. Fr. James. These two brothers brought the status of “College” to school.
The first Prize Giving was held on December 20, 1907 with Rt. Rev. Dr.C. Pagnani OSB, Bishop of Kandy as the Chief Guest. St. Anthony’s introduced hockey to Ceylon schools in 1907.” The St. Anthony’s Annual - the school journal was first published in 1908 which was renamed as “The Antonian “in 1912. The school colours were Orange, Light Blue, and Dark Blue, while the colour Orange was replaced by Maroon later on. The Old Boys’ Association was formed by Rev. Fr. Basil Hyde OSB in 1911 and Rt. Rev. Bishop Bede Beekmeyer was the first president of the association. Football was first played in the school in 1911 and Boxing was introduced three years later. St. Anthony’s was amongst the schools that participated in the “Stubbs Shield” competition. Rev Fr.Basil Hyde served as Principal during 1915 and was succeeded by Rev.Fr. James Caspersz. The Cadet Platoon was reorganised and enrolled into a battalion in 1913.Fr.James attended to the long felt need aquring spacious accommodation for the school. A new wing was added in October, 1916. Scouting was introduced in the same year. The school Prize Day in 1917 was presided over by Sir. Alex Wood Renton, Chief Justice of Ceylon.
The College reached new heights in sports with legendary Jack Anderson’s 291 against S.Thomas’ Mt.Lavinia in 1918, being the pinnacle. This remains to date as the highest individual score in inter- school cricket. In boxing, St. Anthony’s won the coveted “Stubbs Shied’ in the years 1919, 1920 and 1924. Antonian L.V.Jayaweera was the most outstanding boxer during this era.
Rev Fr.Lawrence Hyde OSB was appointed as the principal in 1921.The Teachers Guild was also formed during the same year.
In the year 1927, Rt. Rev Bishop Bede Beekmeyer, an illustrious Old Antonian and the first Ceylonese Bishop of Kandy, purchased the Old Dunuwila Walauwa, to house the school. The beautiful site with the majestic Mahaweli River one side and the view of Hantana and Hunnasgiriya Mountains became the new home of the school.
In the year 1934, St. Anthony’s obtained best results in the London Matriculation Examination with 100 % passes - a British Empire record. The school was completely shifted to Katugastota by the end of 1941.
Rev Fr. Lawrence Hyde was the longest serving principal of the school with a dedicated service of 23 years. Undoubtedly Fr. Lawrence Hyde was the architect of modern St. Anthony’s.
Rev Fr. Angelo Rosati, an Italian priest succeeded Fr Hyde as principal in 1944. As the school premises were occupied by the imperial army to run a hospital, it functioned in temporary buildings from 1942 to 1946. The college was upgraded as a Grade 1 school on July 1, 1947 and became an “Assisted School’ in 1951. Through Fr. Rosati’s efforts, the college obtained well equipped laboratories for Biology, Physics and Chemistry. He also started a very successful Montessori School and a large workshop for Practical and Vocational Education.
The centenary year in 1954 marked the golden era of the school. St. Anthony’s excelled in studies and sports beyond expectations. Students from all over the country considered St. Anthony’s as an ideal place of learning and the demand grew for admission. Construction work of the Centenary Hall began in 1952, a project sponsored by the old boys of the school. A grand exhibition was held to mark the College Centenary.
The Prize Giving in 1954 was graced by Viscount Soulbury, the Governor General of Ceylon. The most memorable event being the great victory in the Big Match against Trinity, where a record first wicket stand of 266 runs was established between A.C.M. Lafir and Ronnie Stevens in the same match.
Rugby was introduced to St.Anthony’s in 1956 and the Antonian cricket captain Wije Premaratne was adjudged, the very first “Schoolboy Cricketer of the year”. Since then Antonians have won the “Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year” award on seven occasions during the period 1956 to 1992.
The school suffered a great blow in the untimely demise of Fr. Rosati at the height of his career at St.Anthony’s and his place was filled by Rev. Fr.Hillarion Rudolph, an Oxonian. The school underwent a turbulent period during the ‘schools take over’ in the early sixties and St. Anthony’s opted to go fully private.
In 1961, Rev Fr.D.I.Robinson took over the reins of the school and was followed by another Old Boy, Rev Fr. Aidan de Silva in 1967. Fr.Aidan was instrumental in initiating new concepts in line with the great traditions of the school. He constructed the swimming pool, the first of its kind in a Kandy school.
The school was handed over to the State in 1977.Rev.Fr Aidan retired and Rev Fr.D.L. Amerasinghe was the Principal till the end of 1978. Rev Fr Stephen Abraham was appointed as Principal in 1979, and preparations were made to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the College. The Prize Giving was presided over by the President of Sri Lanka J.R. Jayewardene. A grand exhibition was also organised in the school premises. Prime Minister R. Premadasa graced the Prize Day in the following year and donated a two storied block of classrooms to the school.
A modern sports complex was constructed and donated by the Colombo Branch of the OBA in 1992. Fr. Stephen’s support to sports contributed to a great extent in the success gained in Cricket, Rugby ,Badminton, Table Tennis, Basket Ball, Athletics and Chess. The College cricket team was selected as the best “All Island“team in 1991.Two great sportsmen to emerge during this period were Priyantha Ekenayake, the Sri Lankan Rugby Captain( for ten years) and World renowned cricketer Muttiah Muralitheran.
Two Old Antonians Mahesh Goonethilake and Bernard Perera were chosen to represent the country in the first ever Test match in 1982. Rev Fr. Hillarion Fernando succeeded Fr. Stephen as principal in 1994 and served till 2005. The Rugby team of 2001 became the League Champions.
The College Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) was celebrated in a grand scale in 2004 under the guidance of Fr. Hillarion. The Prize Giving was graced by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. A postage stamp was also issued to mark the 150th anniversary of the school. Rev Fr.Titus Rodrigo served as the principal from 2005 to 2012.The educational standard of the school saw a marked improvement and students took great interest in extracurricular activities as well. The school at present has a student population of 3000 in all three mediums and over 150 members in the academic staff. The results at public examinations have been very encouraging. Rev Fr. Henry Wijeratne was appointed as the Principal in early 2013 and his past experience at College, will no doubt enable him to lead this hallowed institution with a clear vision.
Today Antonians have done remarkable educational feats. 168 Antonians qualified in their GCE ( O/ L) Examination while 12 students obtained 9A’s. 65 Antonians have qualified in the GCE ( A/ L) Examination.
St. Anthony’s, a Catholic institution has catered to the needs of generations of Antonians irrespective of Cast, Race, or Religion. The Antonian fraternity is ever grateful to those Great Priests of the Sylvestro –Benedictine Congregation and dedicated teachers, who had nurtured their school.
Today, Antonians are a Global Community and are a part of the Old Boys Association which has been a great source of strength to the Alma Mater for the past 102 years.