"Exspecta Dominum Viriliter Age"
(Expect the Lord and act manfully)
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The Crest
Top Left – Sword, arrows and the centurion’s helmet The sword and arrows were used to make him a Marty. Bottom Right – The Torch of Learning moral and physical education of children.
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The College Anthem
Chorus:
Wave, O wave the Green, White and Gold,
And bear it aloft, still to heights so bold:
O lads brave lads of lealty’s lure
Awaiting the Lord, Him manfully serve. O come, ring out your song Sebastianites
And loyal be your hearts: your voices free
Unite, unite your Alma Mater calls,
To dare to fight to win beneath her shield
Your life she moulds, be wise in learning’s lure
Be true the Crown is won in Heaven’s shore.
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St. Sebastian’s College started its unending voyage in 1854. Commenced on the verandah of St. Sebastian’s Church. Initially there were 11 pupils studying in English medium and was administered by Rev. Parish Priest. The first headmaster was Mr. Lawrence Perera. At the request of the Catholics of Moratuwa and the church authorities, De La Salle Brothers took over the administration from the Rev. Priests on the 3rd of January 1926.The first Director of the College was an Irishman. Rev.Bro.Bonaventure ably assisted by another two pioneers Rev.Bro. Athanasius Charles who was a Frenchman and Rev.Bro.Glaster Oliver who was a Sri Lankan. With the arrival of the Rev.Brothers they were provided accommodation at Chevalier Waluuwa, the present Moratuwa police station, within a few months secondary classes were started on the ground floor of the Brother’s residence. The main School was situated at Uswatte Circular Road, opposite the engine shed of the Moratuwa Railway Station. Rev.Bro.Bonaventure introduced the College Flag – Green, White and Gold and the first College Song. The Primary school was organized under Rev.Bro.Xavier as first Principal. Cambridge Senior and Junior school certificate classes were organized and the school was registered as a secondary school in 1927 and the Education Department reorganized the school in 1927 and thus it became St. Sebastian’s College. The first crest and the college song were introduced by Bro.Athanasius. The College was situated at present at Uyana was acquired by Rev.Bro.Camilles then the Provincial Visitor with a loan from Rev.Bro.Condert The Archbishop of Colombo and an outright donation from Mr. N. Bastion Fernando. The main two story building and the Science Lab was built in 1950. It was in 1951 the scholar post Rev.Bro.Anselam Alixtas was appointed as the Director of the College. He changed the College Song into the New College Anthem with the music composed by Anton Krasse a reputed pianist and the Inspector of music Department of Education. Rev.Bro.Anselam also re-shaped the College Crest. Mr. Krasse formed the melody and trained the choir ably assisted by Rev. Bro.Athanasius. With the take over of Denominational assisted school by the government in 1960 St.Sebastian’s College decided to have the option of continue as a non-fee levying private school. This was one of the most difficult periods in the history of the college and Rt.Rev.Bishop Edmund Fernando who was the parish priest of Moratuwa at that time organized the collection of funds for the maintenance of St.Sebastian’s College and Our Lady of Victories convent, Moratuwa. Rev.Bro Modustus an old boy of the college was the director of the college at that turbulent period. Rev.Bro.Raymond Benildus was the Principal of the College from 1964 to 1973 and almost single-handed managed a number of fund raising projects and also set up a welfare office to collect funds directly from parents. In 1974 college faced another financial crises and the welfare society formed with President’s counsel Mr.Eardley Perera, as president was responsible for maintaining St.Sebastian’s College as a Private School. The financial situation improved, when in 1979 the government decided to give a grant to the non-fee levying private schools. In 1989 the principal, Rev.Bro.Granville Perera started an overall building project for the school and in two years 16 primary classrooms were built. In March 1991 Rev.Bro.Emmanual Nicholas the Provincial Visitor introduced a Board of Governors as an advisory body to assist the administration of the college. President’s counsel, Mr.Eardley Perera was appointed as the Chairmen of the Board of Governors. In June 1991 the Board of Governors established the School Development Society, to be in-charge of the financial management of the college. With the cooperation of the Rev.Brothers and the Board of Governors, the teachers, parents and the old boys gathered round the college to build a three-storyed classroom building and a main hall. St.Sebastian’s College entered a new era in 2003 when Rev.Bro. Henry Dissanayake, the Provincial Visitor of the De La Salle Brothers handed over the college to his Grace the Archbishop of Colombo from April 2003. The college is administrated by the Rev.Fathers led by Rev.Fr.Bonnie Fernandupulle, Principal, Rev.Fr.Sylvester Ranasinghe Deputy Principal and Rev.Fr.Pradeep Fonseka, Principal Primary Department.
