Prince of Wales is striding forward with great vision
View(s):Prince of Wales’ College is considered as a reputed school in the Moratuwa area since the inception of the school in 1876. Today, it has
Principal Sampth Weragoda (SLEAS l)
established its name as a leading school in Sri Lanka functioning with more than 4000 pupils.
Rowing Champions
By the end of the 19th century, only a few schools in Sri Lanka presented higher education and most of them were narrowed to Colombo. The inception of Prince of Wales’ and Princess of Wales’ schools can be measured as a special reward to the children of Moratuwa area. The originator of the school was the great philanthropist, Sir Charles Henry De Soysa. Following the arrival of the then Prince of Wales (Edward VII) in Colombo in 1875, Sir Charles Henry De Soysa preferred naming the two schools he intended to build as Prince of Wales’ and Princess of Wales’.
September 14, 1876 was an unforgettable day for the Moratuwa community; the school, facing the Galle Road and bordering the Lunawa lagoon, was ceremonially opened. The then governor of Sri Lanka, Sir
The College Environment
William Gregory, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Mr. W.S. Gunawardena (B.A. Calcutta) was the first principal of the school and served the school from 1876 until 1891. At first, this was not operated as one school, but as four educational institutes with 40 teachers for all four institutions. Satisfactory results were emerged from the school in no time. The school hostel was started in 1882 and cricket was also introduced to the school during this time.
During the reign of 1896 to 1917 a Cricket Society was formed in the school and the school ground was further developed. The Debating Team, Cadet Corps (1903), library, laboratory, Commerce Section, tennis and soccer teams, a kid’s park were some of the elements which were added to the school during this era. In 1933, the inaugural Battle of the Golds cricket match (Prince of Wales’ College vs. St. Sebastian’s College) was
The Board of Prefects
held at the school ground. Another highlight during this time was the introduction of Free Education to the school on April 1 in 1951. According to the new education reforms in 1968, the primary school was started. Classes from Grade 1 up to Grade 7 belonged to this.
Mr. H.L.B. Gomes (M.A.), who was an old boy, a teacher and vice principal (during Mr. M. E. C. Fernando’s reign as principal), was appointed as the principal in 1989. During his time, the school became one of the 15 National Schools in Sri Lanka.
Today, Prince of Wales’ as a National School is commemorating 137 years of academic excellence, having a student population of more than 4000 and a tutorial staff of nearly 160.The Principal at present is Mr. Sampth Weragoda (SLEAS l) with vast experience is steering the College towards the path of success with the full blessings of academic and non academic staff ,parents , students, old boys and other well wishers.
The College Band
There was a tremendous growth to be seen in the results of Grade 5 scholarship exam, O/L and A/L exams. A gradual increase could also be seen in the number of students who qualified for University education after the A/L exam. Today a huge number of students get through all the public examinations bringing fame to the college. Annually a large numbers of students enter leading universities. Forty five students got through the Grade 5 scholarship examination in 2012. The 2011 G.C.E.(O/L) examination brought them sixteen 9A’s with a 79.6% passing rate. They enjoyed 61% in 2013 G.C.E.(A/L) examination with 158 university entrants and 21 of them obtained 3A’s.
Apart from these, the Western and Eastern bands, Pahatharata and Udarata dancing groups, Drama team and various other sport teams of the school managed to record many victories at the national level which helped to spread the reputation of the school, island wide.
Four Prince of Wales’ students participated in the World Wushu Championship and brought fame to the college, bagging four silver
Rugby Champions
medals of the five gained by Sri Lanka. They were also the all island Wushu champions in 2012. The Rowing team bagged two gold and four silver medals at the Karachi Asian Rowing Championship. The Wales’ are the only rugby team to win two championships –The Singer Challenge and Prime Minister’s Trophy during the same year which is a great feat. The college Badminton team is also not second to any other sporting teams, they brought the all island “D” division championship to their Alma Mater as well. The cricket team bagged the 2013 six-a-side all island tournament whilst the handball team emerged all island first runners-up under all age group categories.
Over the years, Prince of Wales’ College has provided the society with countless men of great caliber whom we are happy to say have served both, their school and the country extremely well.
Today, keeping in step with the fast paced world, Moratuwa Prince of Wales’ College strides forward with the vision of “To be a distinctive facilitator in empowering the learners with compassion and wisdom to revitalize all facets of life”
- Sujitha Miranda
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