Isipathana college colombo-5

re made by a Board composed of Principals of Royal and Thurstan Colleges and the Head Master of Royal Primary classes organized in all three streams - Sinhala, Tamil and English, with a tutorial staff of seven teachers, the college made steady progress. The College crest was designed by the first Principal with the assistance of Mr. Perera and Mr. Stanley Abeysinghe of Heywood School of Art, with the lighted lamp and open book and motto "STRIVE WITH DETERMINATION" which is acceptable to children of all religions. The college colours Dark and Light Green was selected from the name of college "Greenland College". The first sportsmeet was held in March 1953 and the first prize giving in 1954. The first issue of the College magazine was out as early as 1954. In 1956 "Vihara Mandiraya and Chaitya" was built to commemorate "Buddha Jayanthi year" at school premises. The College seemed to have adapted itself to the socio-cultural changes which were taking place since Buddha Jayanthi in 1956 which led to the renaming of the college on 2.5.1961. Greenlands Road had been renamed as "Isipathana Mawatha" after "Isipathanaramaya" temple and it was deemed to be in fitness of things that the school should also be renamed as "Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya", within a decade "Greenlands" became "Isipathana". In the month of January 1952,with an intake at nearly 400 boys who constituted the overflow from the Royal Primary Greenlands College,

was born in coconut grove amidst the lush greenery of Havelock Town on Greenlands Road, about 7 acres in extent. The initial admissions were made by a Board which comprised of Principals of Royal and Thurstan Colleges and the Head Master of Royal Primary classes organized in all three streams - Sinhala, Tamil and English, with a tutorial staff of seven teachers, the college made steady progress. The college crest was designed by the first Principal with the assistance of Mr. Stanley Abeysinghe of Heywood School of Art, with the lighted lamp and open book and motto "STRIVE WITH DETERINATION" which is acceptable to children of all religions. The college colours Dark and Light Green was selected from the name of college "Greenlands College". Kuruppu inaugurated the House system of the college perpetuating the four great poets, Rahula, Tagore, Iqbal, and Milton. The college seemed to have adapted itself to the socio-cultural changes which were taking place since Buddha Jayanthi in 1956 which led to the renaming of the college on 2.5.1961. On 1.3.1962 the college was divided into 2 schools as "Kanishta" (Junior) and "Jeshta" (Upper) Vidyalayas with two Principals in 1975 the Education Department amalgamated "Kanishta Vidyalaya" with the "Maha Vidyalaya". The college today has a student roll of over 4000 and over 175 teachers. We celebrated Golden Jubilee of isipathana college February 2002.

........................................................................................
The School Crest and Motto


The College crest was designed by the first Principal with the assistance of Mr. Stanley Abeysinghe of theHeywood School of Art. The lighted lamp and open book were selected as the main symbols, and the motto was selected as "STRIVE WITH DETERMINATION" which is acceptable to children of all religions. The College colours of Dark and Light Green were selected in line with the name of the College - "Greenlands College".

........................................................................................
Our Founding Principal


The first Principal of Isipathana was Mr. Kuruppu (1.1.1952 - 11.10.1959). It was under his guidance that the School Crest was designed, with the assistance of Mr. Stanley Abeysinghe of the Heywood School of Art. Kuruppu also inaugurated the House system of the College perpetuating the four great poets - Rahula, Tagore, Iqbal, and Milton. Kuruppu later became the Vice Principal of Green Street Central College, Kotahena.

........................................................................................




Isipathana was the first to...

1. The first school to publish a periodical children’s news paper with an editorial board consisting of students only.
2. The first school to provide the learning of Japanese language and culture from grade 2 onwards.
3. The First school to be Triple Champions in schools rugby.
4. The first school to produce a cadet platoon band.
5. The first school to produce a Test Player who turned Test Umpire.
6. The first school to develop a web site for an UN Organization by its students. ( Unicef – Sri Lanka)
7. The first school to produce a photographic laboratory.
8. The first school to produce a Test Cricketer to take the first hat-trick for Sri Lanka.
9. The school that produced the first ever Sri Lankan to be appointed by the International Rugby Board ( IRB ) as the Referee Trainer for the Asian Region.
10. The first school to produce a documentary of the school on the CD.