Isipathana College

Isipathana College[1] previously known as Greenlands College.[2] Isipathana College is a prestigious national school for boys in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded in January 1952 by B. A. Kuruppu, the school offers both primary and secondary education, with classes ranging from grades 1 to 13. With an enrollment of 5,000 students.

Isipathana College
Isipathana College Logo
Location
Colombo

Sri Lanka
Coordinates6°53′15″N 79°52′06″E
Information
TypeNational
MottoPali : "දළහං පගණත විරියං"
Sinhala : "අදිටනින් වෙර වඩමු"
(Strive With Determination)
Established2 February 1952 (1952-02-02)
FounderB. A. Kuruppu
PrincipalOshara Panditharathna
Staff350
Grades1 - 13
GenderBoys
Age5 to 19
Enrollment5,000
Colour(s)Dark green and light green
   
Former pupilsOld Isipathanian
Websitewww.isipathanacollege.lk

History

In January 1952, with an intake of 400 boys, who constituted the overflow from the Royal Preparatory School, Greenlands College was established in a coconut grove amidst Havelock Town on Greenlands Road (after which it was named), about 7 acres (28,000 m2) in extent.

The first principal was B. A. Kuruppu (1952 -1959), who was then the vice-principal of Blue Street Central College, Kotahena.

The initial admissions were made by a Board composed of principals of Royal College Colombo and Thurstan Colleges, and the headmaster of Royal Preparatory School; classes were organised in all three streams - Sinhala, Tamil and English, with a tutorial staff of seven teachers.

The first principal designed the college crest with the assistance of J. D. A. Perera and Stanley Abeysinghe of Heywood School of Art. It consists of a lighted lamp and an opened book with the motto "Strive with Determination" below. The college colours are dark and light green, which was selected from the college's name (Greenlands College).

The first sports meet was held in March 1953, and the first prize-giving was in 1954.

The first issue of the college magazine came out in 1954. In 1956 Vihara Mandiraya and Chaitya were built to commemorate "Buddha Jayanthi year" at school premises. The college had adapted itself to the socio-cultural changes which were taking place since Buddha Jayanthi in 1956, which led to the renaming of the college in 1961. Greenlands Road had been renamed as Isipathana Mawatha[3] after Isipathanaramaya Temple, and the school was renamed as Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya. Within a decade, Greenlands became Isipathana.

In 1962, the college was divided into two schools, Kanishta (junior) and Jeshta (upper) Vidyalayas (colleges), with two separate principals. In 1975 the Education Department amalgamated Kanishta Vidyalaya (junior college) with the Maha Vidyalaya (senior college).

In 1999 the schools were amalgamated into a single college under one principal.

The school currently has more than 5,000 students from grades 1 to 13.

Houses

The students are divided into four Houses. The names are derived from four poets - Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera, Rabindranath Tagore, John Milton and Muhammad Iqbal. The houses compete to win the inter-house games.

House Name Poet House Colour
Tagore Rabindranath Tagore   Red
Rahula Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera   Yellow
Milton John Milton   Blue
Iqbal Muhammad Iqbal   Green

Sports

Cricket

An annual cricket contest match, Battle of Brothers, also called The Big Match, played against the school's traditional rival Thurstan College. The first Battle of Brothers was in 1963, and there have been 57 matches played, with 41 endings in a draw. Thurstan College won seven times and Isipathana College five times.[4]

Rugby

In addition to the 'Abdul Jabar Trophy,' which is played with the traditional rivals Thurstan College, with most trophies won by Isipathana College.[5]

The word "Isipathana" is a synonym for Rugby in Sri Lanka for their proud history and heritage in the schools' rugby arena. The school is responsible for producing many top-notch rugby players for the nation.

The college commenced playing rugby as a competitive sport in 1963. Before this, it played friendly games at under 17 levels. The first official match was against St. Anthony's College, Kandy, where Isipathana won 8-3. In 1965 the school was officially affiliated as an SLRFU school.

Notable alumni
Name Notability References
Asanka Gurusinha International cricket player (1985–1996)
Ashantha de Mel International cricket player (1982–1986)
Asoka de Silva (cricketer) International cricket player (1985–1991)
Aravinda de Silva International cricket player (1984-2003)
Jayantha Paranathala International cricket player (1977–1990)
Rohan de Silva pianist
Suresh Perera International cricket player (1998–2001)
Basil Rajapaksa Minister of Economic Development (2010–2015)
Gangodawila Soma Thero Scholar monk [6]
Chitral Somapala vocalist, songwriter and composer. [7]
Sampath Tennakoon Cinema, theatre and television actor [8]
Hashan Tillakaratne International cricket player (1989–2004)
Sanjeewa Weerasinghe International cricket player (1985)
Nuwan Zoysa International cricket player (1997–2004)
Sarath Namalgama Cinema, theater and television actor [9]
Ramesh Rushantha Musician (1999–present)
Sando Harris Actor (1988–2021)

Principals
NameFromTo
B. A. Kuruppu1 January 195211 October 1959
S. J. Rodrigo12 October 19597 January 1965
A. H. Wijetunge8 January 196528 May 1965
H. R. Perera1 June 196531 July 1966
H. D. De Silva (Acting Principal)1 August 196631 July 1967
Brevel. Col. G.W. Rajapakse1 August 196730 June 1969
W. T. P. T. Thilakaratne1 July 19699 February 1971
T. E. de S. Leelananda10 February 197122 October 1979
S. de Muthukumarana23 October 197930 December 1980
V. S. Kudaligama1 January 19815 January 1981
Gamini Chandrasekara6 January 198230 January 1987
D. G. W. Jayasinghe1 February 19877 January 1997
H. A. Upali Gunasekara10 January 199731 February 2002
Punyadasa Kuruppu1 January 200319 July 2010
I. M. Kamal Palitha Illanasinghe20 July 201030 May 2011
A. M. A. A. C. Perera1 June 20111 June 2015
Epa K. Premesiri (Acting Principal)1 June 201528 February 2020
Pabasara Bandara (Acting Principal)1 March 20208 June 2021
Oshara Panditharathna9 June 2021Up to Now

References
  1. "Isipathana College Online Information Centre". Isipathanaonline.info. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  2. "About Isipathana College". Isipathanaonline.info. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  3. "Street Names In Colombo". CeylonLanka.info. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. "Isipathana and Thurstan in tame draw". Sunday Observer. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  5. "Annual Abdul Jabbar Shield Rugby clash: Isipathana thrashes Thurstan 48-nil". Daily News. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  6. "Soma Thero". Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  7. "Chitral 'Chity' Somapala". www.somapala.com. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  8. https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20120611/283132835891303. Retrieved 31 December 2020 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. "Film actor Sarath Namalgama bids farewell". truenews. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
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