St. John’s Panadura is reaping the benefits of ongoing projects
View(s):St. John’s College Panadura bears testimony to her proud history of 133 years in no uncertain terms. A galaxy of illustrious old 
Johnians has contributed to the school’s promising history. The school has produced a vast number of old Johnians of international repute who had brought fame to the motherland.
Johnians are obliged to pay the respect and deep gratitude to their educated, cultured and distinguished patriotic Johnians who have contributed to the success of the school during a period of over five
IT Software Competition Winners
decades. Professor Gunapala Mallasekara, Dr.Colvin R. De Silva, former minister Mr. Leslie Gunawardhana and Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali, Dr.Punchibandara Sanansgala, Professor Ediriweera Sarathchandra, prominent surgeon Dr.M.V.P.Peiris and Assistant Director of the Central Bank Mr. S.D.S.Goonathilaka are among that distinguished and patriotic Johanian’s list.
St. John’s College was founded in 1876. The school has a proud history of more than 100 years and celebrated the 135th anniversary during the year 2010. Mr. Cyril A. Jansz who was the founder of this prominent school completed fifty years as Principal. The loyal corporation of the staff and the steady increase in the number of pupils gave Mr. Jansz a strong sense of security.
A year after he arrived in Panadura Mr. Jansz married Miss. Amelia Jansz of Galle.
Principal Mr.Thilak De Silva
While the boys’ school progressed steadily Amelia started a class for girls. This class which was started in 1885, was the start of the girls’ school. When these classes grew in numbers this institution was accommodated in temporary buildings.
Most of the work in the top classes of both schools was taken by Mr. Jansz the preparation of students for the Cambridge examinations involved conducting extra classes after school. Both boys and girls were taught together in these classes.
Dancing Troop
The excellent discipline and the careful supervision maintained brought a unique feature of co-education while the two schools, the boys’ school and the girls’ school work in separate buildings as two entities. St. John’s College was started in 1903 for boys and girls.
Even though there were only few girls and boys at the start, the number increased to 2250 in a short time. With this vast development, it is now one of the National school’s in Panadura. Even with many obstacles the present principal Mr. Thilak De Silva has ventured out to uplift the present standard of the school. Now the school has been enriched with an academic staff of 102 members.
The school has joined the ‘Wonderful project of thousand super grade schools’ and now the school is in the process of reaping the benefits of the ongoing projects. In the near future the school will be equipped with all the required facilities to help the
College Cricket Team
school to obtain the highest standard attainable.
Achievements in the fields of examinations began when Mr. Edmund Rodrigo capped his brilliant performances in the Cambridge examinations by winning the coveted Intermediate Arts Scholarship. St. John’s was the first Outstation School to win this Scholarship and Rodrigo proceeded to England. Since then they have excelled in every public examination held to date.
The association of Old Johinans’ in pursuance of a better future for the school is always ready for any assistance for the development of the school and has developed the playground to a cricket ground and has established many
College Gymnastic Team
scholarship schemes to assist needy students, especially those entering universities.
The school has also been able to witness outstanding performances in the field of athletic, aerobics, cricket, dancing, music, arts, Information Technology and
College Environment
Scouting. Among these athletes, there were two notable performances when Upali Gunarathna established a national record for the 100 yards in 1938 and Chandra Senanayaka became holder of the national record for discuss and putt shot. The college cricket team bagged the “C” Division championship while the under 15 Gymnastic team emerged champions in their age group. Three of their students obtained the Provincial first place in the IT Software Competition.
The school’s Eastern Dancing troupe was placed third at the All Island Dancing Competition. The school has done well in music and literary activities at provincial and national level, bringing medals for the school in its wake.
- Sujitha Miranda
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