S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia celebrates 175th Anniversary in style

The commemorative stamp was presented to the Right Reverend Dushantha Rodrigo the Bishop of Colombo by the old boys association of the S. Thomas’ College

Right Reverend Dushantha Rodrigo the Bishop of Colombo,  and College chaplain 

Samuel J. Ponniah  at the opening of the museum

By Manjula D. Phillips

S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia celebrated its 175th anniversary on Tuesday February 03 in style in the school premises. It was founded in 1851 by the First Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev’d James Chapman,  and reached this milestone this year 2026. 

The celebration was started with a service of thanksgiving in the college chapel, chapel of the Transfiguration,  and the service was conducted by the Bishop of Colombo Right Reverend Dushantha Rodrigo with the participation of college chaplain Samuel J. Ponniah. After the service,  parallel to this historic occasion,  a Museum was declared open,  and the opening was done by Right Reverend Dushantha Rodrigo. 

Afterwards,  the college old boys association issued a commemorative stamp relating to the 175th celebrations and presented it to the distinguished guests including warden Asanka Perera, Sub-warden Radeeka Mendis and the Bishop of Colombo Right reverend Dushantha Rodrigo. Afterwards,  the guests of honour gathered to lay the foundation stone for a new 3 storey-building (IVth phase) which is to be built in the schools premises soon.

According to the programme, the founder’s day assembly was the next agenda,  and it was held in the Main hall of the college. Ex-alumni Chandra Schaffter and Nahil Wijesuriya graced the occasion as chief guests.

Welcoming the guests on behalf the college,  warden Asanka Perera said:

“We stand today in a major milestone in our history. We are not only just celebrating a school anniversary; we are all celebrating a cornerstone of Sri Lankan identity.When our founder started the school,  he wanted the boys to be well adjusted grounded men to be a service to the society. Today we see his vision has not just survived. It has flourished. We are always taught education for life not just for exams. I know my staff and they are the unsung heroes. They do not just teach subjects. You have been adjusted with the care and nature and nurture of these young guys to hold their habits, to fix their principles and to make them good and wise. 

“There is no greater calling in the world as helping shape the future. To the old boys of the college, I say that you are ambassadors of the college whereever you are in the world. You carry the spirits of college review. As we celebrate this occasion we must ask ourselves what is it to be a Thomian in the middle of the 21stcentury.We celebrates our history not to become a museum of the past,  but to ensure we have a compass of the future, ” Asanka Perera emphasised. 

The commemorative stamp was presented to the warden Asanka Perera by the 

old boys association of the S.Thomas’ College

The museum plaque which was declared open

Some of the participants (Pix by Kithsiri De Mel)

The commemorative stamp

Right Reverend Dushantha Rodrigo the Bishop of Colombo laying the foundation stone of the IV phase building