St Joseph's College, Bandarawela
National school in Bandarawela, Uva, Sri Lanka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
St. Joseph's College is a 1AB national school located in Bandarawela, Uva, Sri Lanka.Founded in 1909 by the De La Salle Brothers, A Roman Catholic Missionary Congregation, It was later administered by the Marist Brothers in 1915 and was vasted in Government in 1961.It is also known as Bandarawela St. Joseph's National School.[1] Established in 1909,[2] the school provides primary and secondary education to students in the Badulla District.
| St. Joseph's College | |
|---|---|
School Crest | |
| Location | |
 | |
Badulla Road , , 90100 6.828757°N 80.995014°E | |
| Information | |
| Type | National school |
| Motto | Semper Fidelis |
Religious affiliation | Christianity |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Patron saint | St. Joseph |
| Established | February 1, 1909 |
| Founder | Rev. Brother Lewis |
| Little Flower Convent Bandarawela | |
Educational authority | Sri Lanka Education Department |
| Rector | S.K.Samaranayake |
| Staff | 126 |
Teaching staff | 110 |
| Grades | Class 1-13 |
| Gender | Male |
| Age range | 5 to 19 |
| Enrollment | 3,000 |
Education system | National Education System |
| Language | English, Sinhala, Tamil |
| Colours | Blue and gold |
| Song | Forward we go ahead |
| Athletics | Yes |
| Sports | Yes |
| Publication | College Magazine Josephian (since 1920) |
| Affiliations |
|
| Alumni | Old Josephians |
Alumni name | Old Boys Union of St.Joseph's College Bandarawela |
| Website | www |
The campus occupies 2.0 hectares (5 acres) on a section of Badulla Road which is part of the A16 highway.
History
In 1909, St. Joseph's School was established by the De La Salle Brothers. Seventeen boys were admitted on the first day. The first principal was an Irishman, Patrick Purchell, known as Brother Simon Mathew. However, the land on which the school was situated was sold in 1914.[2]
The land was repurchased in 1928 by the Marist Brothers. In this second stage, the first principal was known as the Reverend Brother Lewis. By the time of his departure in 1934, there were 250 students.[2]
St. Joseph's remained a private school until 1961, when it became a government school. The first principal under the new system was Arthur Deegalle.[2]
In 1974, the primary section was added and girls were admitted, making it a mixed school. In 1981, the school was recognised as a National School by the Ministry of Education, and it was graded a 1 AB school in 1999.[1]
Old picture of the campus
Old photograph of staff
Present morning assembly
Administration
The Headmaster is the head of the administration of the college and is assisted by a deputy rector. The school is divided into three sections: the primary school (the former St. Joseph's College Preparatory School), middle school and the upper school, each coming under a deputy headmaster.
In addition, Sectional Heads and Academic Coordinators are appointed for all sections from Grade 6 to 13.
The college has also appointed a Discipline Master, English Master, Cadet Master, Band Master, Sports Master, Scout Master, and Prefect of Games (POG).
The non-academic staff ( minor staff ) of the college includes Clerks, a Store Keeper, Laboratory Assistants, Peons, Watchers, Gardeners, Sanitary Labourers, and Drivers.
The college educates close to 3,000 students.
Activities
Houses
St. Joseph's College assigns its students to one of four houses to encourage cooperation and friendly competition:
- Blue House
- Gold House
- Green House
- Maroon House
Annually, the college organizes inter-house athletic games to improve the athletic skills of the students as well as their team spirit.
Sports
Rugby Captain
Our Rugby Team
2009 Road Race
2010 Inter House Sport Meet
Battle of the Golds Uva
St. Joseph's College has a standing rivalry with Bandarawela Central College and have engaged in an annual cricket match titled the "Battle of the Golds Uva" since 1996.[1] This is a revival of an older tradition of competition between these two schools that had been dormant since 1972.
Cadeting
The College Cadet Wing has a very long history, dating back to the distant past even before 1950.
The College had two Cadet Platoons as Junior and Senior, and the Cadet Platoons have qualified for the annually held Assessment Camps as well as the Hermann Loos Camp.
Furthermore, in the year 2008, the Army Cadet, Sea Cadet, and Air Cadet platoons introduced by the National Cadet Corps were also started in the College, and the College has produced more than 15 Cadet Regimental Sergeant Majors to date.
The College has produced more than 15 Cadet Regimental Sergeant Majors, a testament to its strong cadeting tradition.
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Cadet Band
The College Cadet Band Platoon was initiated in 1997 under the leadership of Sergeant Rasika Lokuhettiarachchi, and was officially registered as a Cadet Band of the National Cadet Corps in 1998. At present, it contributes to all special events of the College, and also participates in the National Cadet Corps All Island Western Band Competition, serves as the duty band for passing-out parades at cadet assessment camps, and competes in events such as the Wind Band Competition.
Sergeant Ravindu Viraj was appointed as the first Cadet Under Officer of the Cadet Band in 2018. He was promoted to WO2 Company Sergeant Major (CSM) in 2019. The second Under Officer was Cadet Band Sergeant Hareen Jayawardhana in 2024. He was appointed as WO2 Cadet Drill Instructor in 2025, and he is also the first in the history of our College Cadet Band to be appointed as the Western Cadet Band Corps WO1 RSM of the National Cadet Corps in 2026
2019 All Island Western Cadet Band Competition
Head Masters / Principals
| Title | Name | Period | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rev. | Father Simon Mathew (First Principal) | 1909-1913 | |
| Rev. | Brother Benjamin Lewis | 1928-1933 |  |
| Rev. | Brother Elarius | 1934-1938 | |
| Rev. | Brother Onorius | 1939-1951 | |
| Rev. | Brother James | 1952-1952 | |
| Rev. | Brother Rudolph | 1959-1961 | |
| Mr. | W. M. de Silva (Acting Principal) | 1962-1963 | |
| Mr. | A. Deegalla | 1963-1964 | |
| Mr. | Pereliya K. Harschandra | 1964-1967 | |
| Mr. | S. W. Fernando | 1967-1975 | |
| Mr. | C. W. L. Mendis | 1975-1978 | |
| Ven. | Kanumuldeniye Ganaratana thera | 1978-1994 | |
| Mr. | H.M. Weerasekare (Acting Principal) | 1994-1995 | |
| Mr. | R. M. A. Rathnayake | 1995-1996 | |
| Mr. | A. M. Jayasekare (Acting Principal) | 1996 | |
| Mr. | D. M. Gunaratna | 1996-2001 | |
| Mr. | W. M. Karunasena | 2001-2005 | |
| Mr. | Withanage Wijesinghe (Acting Principal) | 2005-2006 | |
| Mr. | K. H. P. Jayatissa | 2006-2011 | |
| Mr. | Y. M. Amarasinghe (Acting Principal ) | ||
| Mr. | W.M. Bandula Wijesundara | ||
| Mr. | Somarathne (Acting Principal) | ||
| Mr. | R.W.M. Chandrasena(Acting Principal ) | ||
| Mr. | R.M. Laksiri J. Ranasinghe | 10-06-2021 | |
| Mr. | S.K. Samaranayake | 2026 |
