De La Salle Brithers
It was the Most Rev. Dr. Hillarian Sillani OSB who became instrumental in getting De La Salle Brothers to Sri Lanka. Three De La Salle Brothers arrived in Sri Lanka in December 1866, following a request made by the Bishop himself to the Superior General of the De La Salle Brothers in Rome. The primary intention of calling the Brothers to come to Sri Lanka was to take over St. Benedict’s Institute, Kotahena which had been initiated by the Benedictine Fathers
Even though these French Brothers took over the school management in January 1867, they sailed back in August in the same year as they were not able to handle English very well. Most Rev. Dr. Hilarion Sillani OSB did not give up on his attempts of requesting for Brothers to take over the school who were more skillful in handling English. As a result, a new group of De La Salle Brothers arrived in Ceylon and the La Sallian apostolate at St. Benedict’s Institute was officially commenced in May 1868.
Settling in the Island for a New Beginning in Education
As time went on, they settled themselves in places such as Kotahena, Mutwal and Negombo. Towards the beginning of the 20th century, they had the following schools within their administration.
St. Joseph’s College, Grandpass
This school was started in 1870 by the parish priest and the parishioners of Grandpass. It came into the hands of the De La Salle Brothers 1905 and continue to date. This school was managed as a branch school of St. Benedict’s Institute, Kotahena, ever since it came to the hands of the De La Salle Brothers.
De La Salle College, Mutwal
This school was started in 1905 by the De La Salle Brothers themselves. They have been managing the school throughout the history, even after the takeover of the schools. The school was started as a branch school of St. Benedict’s Institute, Kotahena.
St. Lucia’s College, Kotahena
This school was started in 1880 by the Most Rev. Dr. Christopher Bonjean OMI. The De La Salle Brothers had their administration in the school in the year 1931 and left the school. They once again came back to the school and had their administration between 1951 and 1971.
St. Mary’s College, Pettah
This school was started by the Most Rev. Dr. Christopher Bonjean OMI in 1871. The De La Salle presence in the school was between 1920 and 1940. The school disappeared in the year 1940 due to the expansion done in inner Colombo. The property still belongs to the church it is where the present Paul the VI building has been erected.
St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa
The school was started in 1854 by the parish priest and the parishioners of Moratuwa. The administration of the De La Salle Brothers was during 1926 and 2003. This school remained a non-fee levying private school after 1960 and continues as a private school to date. It came to the hands of the Archdiocese of Colombo in 2003.
St. Anthony’s College, Wattala
This school was started in 1942 by the De La Salle Brothers themselves. In order to accommodate the students of St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena during the World War II outside the city of Colombo, they purchased a house with a land in the area of Wattala and initiated this school. Later, it became an independent school which remained a non-fee levying school after 1960 and was later handed over to the government in 1969 due to financial constraints.
De Mazenod College, Kandana
This school was started by the parish priest and the parishioners of Kandana in 1914 in the church compound of St. Sebastian’s Church, Kandana as St. Sebastian’s English High School. In 1930, the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Marque, Archbishop of Colombo laid the foundation for the new school in its current location and was renamed as De Mazenod College in 1931. The school came to the hands of the De La Salle Brothers in 1933. The school remained a non-fee levying school after 1960 and continues to date.
St. Mary’s College, Chilaw
This school was started in 1905 by the parish priest and the parishioners of Chilaw pioneered by the Oblate Fathers. The school came to the hands of the De La Salle Brothers in 1933 and continues till date. It remained a non-fee levying private school after 1960 and was handed over to the government again in 1962.
St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala
This school was started in 1865 by the parish priest and the parishioners of Kurunegala.
It came into the hands of the De La Salle Brothers in 1934 and continued till 1964. The school remained as a non-fee levying private school till 1964 and was handed over to the government in 1964.
St. Bede’s College, Badulla
This school was started by the Sylvestro-Benedictine Fathers in 1929. The school came into the hands of the De La Salle Brothers in 1934 and continued till 1964 until it was taken over by the government.
St. Xavier’s College, Mannar
This school was started by the Oblate Fathers in 1870 with the help of the parishioners of Mannar. The school was handed over to the De La Salle Brothers in 1951 and continues till date.
St. Andrew’s College, Puttalam
This school was started by the Most Rev. Dr. Andrew Melizan OMI, Archbishop of Colombo in 1885. The De La Salle presence in the school was between 1954 and 1955.
St. Mary’s College, Negombo
This school was started by the parish priest and the parishioners of Negombo. The De La Salle presence was between 1883 and1889. This school remained a non-fee levying private school after 1960 and later handed over to the government due to the financial constraints.
St. Xavier’s College, Nuwara Eliya
This school was started by the parish priest and the parishioners of Nuwara Eliya in 1859. The De La Salle presence was in 1921 and between 1958 to 1961.
St. Joseph’s College, Bandarawela
This school was started by the De La Salle Brothers themselves in the year 1909. Their presence was between 1909 and 1914. In 1915, the school was handed over to the Marist Brothers.
St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena
This school was started in 1865 by the Sylvestro-Benedictine Fathers. The De La Salle presence begins in 1868 as they come and land this country to begin a journey to develop education under different parameters. This school happens to be their first apostolate and continue their presence up to today. The school remains a non-fee levying private school after 1960.
In addition to these schools they also nurtured few other schools with their presence as members of the tutorial staff.
- St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota
- St. Anne’s College, Nanattan, Mannar
- Adampan Maha Vidyalaya, Adampan, Mannar
There are 3 schools which were started on the sole initiative of the De La Salle Brothers. They are,
- De La Salle College, Mutwal in 1905
- St. Joseph’s College, Bandarawela in 1909
- St. Anthony’s College, Wattala in 1942
There are a few schools which had the presence of the De La Salle Brothers and these schools still remain to be private. They are,
- St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena
- St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa
- De Mazenod College, Kandana
There are some still other schools which had the presence of the De La Salle Brothers that went private in 1960, but the schools were handed over to the government once again due to financial constraints. They are,
- St. Anthony’s College, Wattala
- St. Mary’s College, Negombo
- St. Mary’s College, Chilaw
- St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala
Diyagala Boys’ Town
Diyagala Boys’ Town in Tewatta, Ragama was opened in 1964 for all the children in the society who were coming from families with a low economical background, irrespective of the creed. It mainly provided technical and vocational training for children. They had the capacity to take nearly 250 students to give a three year residential training.
Education for slum dwellers
In 1980, the La Sallian Community Educationa Service (LCES) Centers were opened by Brother Emmanual for slum dwellers in North Colombo to develop their education and health. They have been taught at pre-vocational levels. The LCES institute at Mutwal was haven for hundreds of homeless people.
Nazareth Retreat Centre, Hawa Eliya, Nuwara Eliya
Started in 1910, the scenic hill property of the Brothers was their holiday bungalow. In the 1980’s, it was turned into a farm by Diyagala Boys’ Town as an approved charity run by them. Guest facilities were also made available by them for large groups. In the year, 2010, it was renovated together with the bungalow and was turned into a retreat house.
Lasallian Education Services, Mutwal
La Sallian Community Education Service (LCES) provides community education in slums, teaching at pre-vocational levels etc. The LCES Institute at Mutwal, Colombo, similar to Boys Town, provides a refuge to children of slum-dwellers and is a haven for hundreds of homeless people.
Lassalian English Academy
The De La Salle Academy at Kotahena, Colombo, founded in 1972, provides non-formal education to youth and adults alike seeking career courses. It has a Montessori school, nursing, typewriting and English courses. The Mission to the Poorest at Mutwal was the result of the zealous efforts of Old La Sallians and the members of the Sodality of Mary at De La Salle. Around the same time the Brothers ventured beyond the shores of their country to India and Pakistan.
This congregation will never go away from the history of this country as pioneers of Catholic education. They had many schools under their care and produced many Bishops and priests for the church in Sri Lanka