The School History

Overview

S. Thomas' Preparatory School, Kollupitiya was founded on 17th May, 1938 by the late William Thomas Keble M. A. (Oxon) eminent educationist, scholar, author and lover of Sri Lanka. He arrived in the island in 1928 to join the staff of S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia during the tenure of Warden Kenneth McPherson. The late W. T. Keble received his tertiary education at Keble College, Oxford which bears the name of his great grand uncle the noted hymn writer and poet John Keble. His two books 'Ceylon Beaten Track' and the novel on Sigiriya reveal W. T. Keble's appreciation and love of Sri Lanka and its history.
The School is an Anglican (Church of Ceylon) educational institution and was founded during the episcopate of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Mark Carpenter-Gamier M A. (Oxon) D. D. who was the 6th Bishop of the Diocese of Colombo. The School owes much to him for his vision, wisdom and generosity in having rendered every assistance possible to Mr. W. T. Keble's venture to found it.

This institution which commenced in 1938 with a mere 95 boys on roll and a staff of 7 teachers, including the Headmaster the late Mr. Keble, has the enviable honour of being the first Preparatory School modeled on English Public School lines in Sri Lanka. This marked a truly pioneering venture in the history of education in the island, as Mr. Keble sought to remedy a conceptual void in the educational system by placing a new emphasis on the requirements and aspirations of the child of tender years between the ages of 5-11. The conceptual rationale underpinning Mr. Keble's vision for the establishment of such a school was the provision made for boys in their formative years to fully express their creative talents and faculties unfettered, unhampered and uncircumscribed by older and more mature students in their midst.

The School has over the years shed its preparatory school character due to demands of the present system of education & its demands. In its present form, the institution provides education exclusively in the Sinhala and Tamil and English media up to the G.C.E. (Ordinary Level) in conformity with the educational policy of the State.

However, it is a private fee levying institution which is financially independent of all State control and is managed by a board of governors established by law as contained in the S. Thomas' College Board of Governors Ordinance No.7 of 1930. Presently, the student population numbers over 1900 pupils on roll with a staff of over 100. As the institution approaches its eightieth year of providing a sound education to boys of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, it is certainly a far cry from the little school which began with less than a 100 students and 10 teachers. The school continues to nurture, train and equip students to face the multitude of challenges which confront them in a society which has altered radically from its relatively halcyon past. It thus plays a vibrant and meaningful part in the nation's progress, as it has always done during its brief but illustrious history.

List of Headmasters

W. T. Keble
Founder
May 1938 ~ 1942

We thank you for William Thomas Keble, the founder of the two prep schools here and at Bandarawela, for the importance he gave to primary education and the nurturing of the child at a very young age. Give us the energy that we need to engage in the learning experience of children of all ages. We thank you for his interest in history and the lives of people. Give us a thirst to read and to ponder in our hearts the stories of our people.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

N. G. Abeynaike
First Headmaster
May 1943 ~ 1950

We thank you for Norman. G Abeynaike who took on the mantle of this school amidst war. Give us the sense of commitment that he had to steer our lives in the midst of great adversity being prepared at all times so that we never give up.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

J. T. R. Perinpanayagam
Second Headmaster
June 1951 ~ August 1966

We thank you for J. T. R.  Perinpanayagam who built upon the labours of those who had given of their best and for the buildings that he built in order to expand the school. Give us a vision and the enthusiasm to move beyond what we see so that our labours will enrich the lives of those entrusted to our care and that true learning may abound.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

John Shelton Leslie Fernando
Third Headmaster
September 1966 ~ 1994

We thank you for John.Shelton.Leslie Fernando who dedicated his entire life teaching in this school. Give us a sense of dedication so that we may provide continuity along with meaningful change.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

N. Y. Casie Chetty
Fourth Headmaster
January 1995 ~ 31st December 2014

We thank you for the labours of N. Yohesan. Casie Chetty who knew every child and teacher by name. Give us the ability to recognize in one another the diversity that we bring to the communities which we live in. help us to see that our lives are meant to bring joy and happiness to others.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo
Fifth Headmaster
2015 – 2021

We thank you for the Bishop Dushantha Rodrigo who committee himself wholeheartedly to provide the entire Prep School community, from it’s students to staff members, and Old Boys to parents, with so many opportunities through the numerous activities that he both initiated and completely supported. His love for the field of arts will always be remembered as the many concerts and fairs that were carried out during his tenure set high standards for the years to come. We earnestly pray for our outgoing Headmaster as he now takes on the mantle of providing leadership to our Diocese as the Bishop of Colombo.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Rev. Nihal Fernando
Sixth Headmaster
2021 – Present

We pray for our current Headmaster, Rev. Nihal Fernando, who has been entrusted with the task of taking forward the vision of our Founder in the midst of a global pandemic and severe economic difficulties.

 

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

List of teachers who have served for more than 25 years

Miss Christobel Dwight
1952
Miss CS Dwight
1952 - 1998
Mr BAJ Perera
1981 - 2008
Mr MG Samarasekera
1953 - 1983
Mr ON Peiris
1978 - 2003
Mr WBD Gunasinghe
1977 -2014
Mr. BRN Mendis
1953 - 1978
Mrs Blodwen Weerathunga
1970 - 2014
Mrs CA Muttiah
1973 - 2002
Mrs Constance Perera
1961
Mrs Dhana Perera

Mrs ER Jebaratnam
1987 - 2016
Mrs Freda Jayatilaka
1964
Mrs G Perera
1973 - 1997
Mrs Indrani Perera
1977 - 2002
Mrs JSM Jacob
1986 - 2011
Mrs Kamala Wagiswara

Mrs N Soysa
1953 - 1981
Mrs premila Mendis
1981 - 2006
Mrs S Ranasinghe
1970 - 2002
Mrs S Sinnethamby
1983 - 2008
Mrs S Sureshchandra
1987 - 2012
Mrs SJS Peramune
1958
Mrs SV Paramsothy
1957 - 1985
Mrs W. M Sherrard
1952 - 1980
Mrs Y Sathasivam
1982 - 2014
T D Arasaratnam

S. Thomas' Preparatory School
Old Boys' Union
The S. Thomas’ Preparatory School Old Boys’ Union (OBU), an association comprising of past prepites, was formed on May 12th 1978, coinciding with the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the school. Its aim and purpose are to assist and aid the school when called upon to do so, with the collective assistance of its old boys, and to instill a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie amongst the students who have had the privilege of studying there, and since left.
© 2023 S. Thomas' Preparatory School Old Boys’ Union.
All Rights Reserved.
Contact Details
The Administrative Office,
S. Thomas' Preparatory School Old Boys' Union,

Address : No. 98, Steuart Place, Galle Road, Colombo 03.

Tel : 071 77 37 628
Email : prepobuadmin@prepobu.lk

Follow Us
Designed & Developed by Cyber Octane
arrow-right