Jaffna Central College

Jaffna Central College is a national school in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1814. It is among the oldest and most distinguished of the modern secondary schools in Sri Lanka. Jaffna Central College Motto: Central's flag must ne'er be lowered Established: 1814 Type: National Principal: Mr.S.Pathmanathan Location: Jaffna,Sri Lanka

Brief History of Jaffna central College.

A group of Methodist missionaries from Britain, first came to Ceylon in the year 1814 arriving on the 29th June which date is observed every year by the Methodist Church in our country as Methodist Day. After they arrived, they learnt that there was also a need to establish English Schools in the country. Rev. James Lynch and Rev. Thomas Squance, two of the original group of six missionaries travelled to Jaffna to start their mission there. They first mixed freely with the local people and started learning the local language and getting acquainted with the local customs.

On 1st August 1816, they purchased a centrally and ideally situated property, opposite the esplanade, that had earlier been used as an Orphanage that had closed down. The buildings and Chapel were quite adequate for their purpose and they established an English School. This School which has a continuous history from that date, was reorganized by Rev. Dr.Peter Percival, a great scholar and Principal who named it Jaffna Central. It was Rev. Dr.Peter Percival, himself a Tamil Scholar, assisted by Arumuka Navalar, the celebrated Tamil scholar who was a student of his at Central that produced a Tamil version of the Scriptures for which elegance and dignity of expression has never been equalled. This School is the oldest Methodist Mission Institution in South East Asia and has a long line of missionary Principals who were also educationalists of their time and they worked untiringly and with indomitable will and sprit to leave the place much better than when they entered it. The Staff too worked with devotion and dedication. The School grew from strength to strength. Academic education was unbeatable for quality and standards. The goal was excellence.

The School progressed, achieved Collegiate status, became affiliated to the Calcutta University preparing students for the FA Examinations of Calcutta and Madras, Junior and Senior Cambridge, London Matriculation and Commerce examinations. The School continued to grow and expand. New buildings were started on the original site and the school expanded. Several students attained academic distinction and went on for higher studies to the University in Colombo or abroad. In the forties of this century, after the University of Ceylon came into being, the first batch of students prepared for the medical entrance examination, all were successful and all of them entered the medical faculty. University entrance to all faculties has been a regular feature with very good results in the entrance examinations.

Side by side Sports and extra curricular activities also flourished and many students excelled in these as well, going further to represent the School in outside competitions. Cricket, Football, Athletics, Scouting, Debating, Oratory, Elocution, Music were all fields in which students excelled themselves. More than a hundred years passed by. In the House system, all houses, namely Percival, Romaine, Wilkes and Bullough are all named after former Principals and there is healthy rivalry between houses, especially on the sports field. In 1945 the School entered the free education scheme and numbers increased. Rev. C.A.Smith, the Principal at that time, added more buildings to the school and hostel. In 1960 when Rev. Dr D.T.Niles was principal, the school was handed over to the state along with several other Methodist Mission Schools. The Methodist Mission retained only one Boys School and one girls School, both in Colombo, to be run privately. Thereafter, Jaffna Central had local Principals many of whom were Old Boys who continued to maintain the standards and traditions that had been established. Now the School has the status of a “National School” with about 3000 children on the Roll. The School still continues to keep the flame burning.

But there are many constraints. Many old boys of all communities -Singhalese, Muslims, Burghers, Tamils have all happily studied together in this school and have also lived together in the Rigg Hall Hostel as one happy family without differences or problems. The Parent Body OBA is in Jaffna and is very closely associated with the school, while there are branches in Colombo as well as overseas in UK, Canada, Australia, France and Germany all showing great and active interest in the welfare of their Alma Mater.

Professors and lecturers in Universities here and abroad, Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Civil Servants, Legislators, Politicians, Businessmen have all been products of this school, that have taken their due place in society, served and continue to serve their country with honour, distinction and pride. The motto of the school is “In Gloriam Dei Optimi Maximi” which means “Unto the Glory of God, the Best and the Highest” and this the school has continued to observe down the years. The college song and college Hymn were composed by Rev.Percy T.Cash, a former Principal and set to music by Mrs. Cash. Centralities are proud to sing the college song whenever they get together.

The school buildings, furniture and equipment have been badly damaged and plenty of repair and rehabilitation works needs to be done. Basic requirements of books and writing materials have to be found and provided. Students and teachers who were grouped in combined schools spread here and there are slowly coming back and work is being resumed. A great deal has to be done. That is the present state of affairs. 180 years is a long and glorious period for Jaffna Central. The sprit of Central still grows and glows. We Centralities are justly proud of the past. But now we know and realize that the past should challenge the present and bring hope and fulfilment to the future.

Milestones in the History of Jaffna Central College

29th June 1814 Landing of the Methodist Missionaries in Galle. 10th August 1814 Arrival of Messrs. Lynch and Squance in Jaffna. 01st August 1816 Purchased the Site for the School from the Government by Rev. James Lynch. 1817 Jaffna Wesleyan English School founded. 1825 The school transferred to Vembadi Site. 1826 Arrival Of Rev. Dr.Peter Percival. 1834 Re-named the School, "The Jaffna Central School" 1839 Visit of His Excellency the Governor, the Hon. J.A. Stewart Mackenzie. Receipt of First Government Grant of Stg.150/- 1851 Rev. Dr. Peter Percival retired 1852 Preparatory Department opened at St. Paul’s, Chapel Street 1853 Vannarponnai English School started 1854 Boarding Department housed at "Hope Cottage" (the present site of Wesley House") 1855 Mr. Samuel Grenier appointed as the Head master who later became the First Supreme Court Judge of Ceylon. Rev. William Barber appointed Principal 1859 The First Public Examination and Prize-Giving 1860 Rev. William Talbot appointed Principal Mr. William Nevins appointed Head-master 1862 Rev. John Mitchell appointed Principal 1867 Mr. John O. Rhodes appointed Principal Latin introduced as a Subject 1869 Affiliated to the Madras University 1870 Collegiate Department formed Rev. D. P. Niles acted as Principal 1873 Rev. S. R. Wilkin appointed Principal 1874 Rev. William R. Winston appointed Principal 1877 Mr. Edward Strutt appointed Principal 1879 Rev. F. M. Webster, B.A., appointed Principal 1881 Rev. F. M. Webster introduced Cricket for the first time into Jaffna. 1882 Thomas Little Esqr., appointed Principal 1883 Mr. William J. G. Bestall appointed Principal 1884 Joseph West , Esqr., appointed Principal 1885 Rev. A. E. Restarick appointed Principal College Y.M.C.A. founded College Literary Association inaugurated 1886 Mr. William Nevins retired Rev. D. P. Niles returned 1888 Rev. Sheldon Knapp appointed Principal 1890 Rev. E. M. Weaver appointed Principal 1891 Rev. W. T. Garret, B.A., appointed Principal 1894 Rev. Gabriel Leese appointed Principal Football (Soccer) introduced Mr. J. K. Chanmukam , B.A., L.T., appointed Head-Master 1896 Rev. W. T. Garret, B.A., returned as Principal 1897 Affiliated with the Calcutta University 1898 Won the Gymkhana Cup 1899 Rev. G. B. Robeson acted as Principal 1900 Rev. E. O. Martin acted as Principal 1901 Rev. A. Lockwood acted as Principal Rev. W.T. Garret B.A., returned as Principal. Mr. W.R. Cooke arrived. 1902 Visit of Mr. (Sir) S. M. Burrows, director of Public Instruction 1903 Rev. W. M. P. Wilkes, B.A., L.C.P., appointed Principal 1904 College Magazine " The Central" published The Central Crest and Colours designed Inauguration of a College building fund 1905 T. Saravanamuttu passed the F.A. of the Calcutta University obtaining First Class Honours and coming 16th in order of merit Visit of Sir Henry Blake, Governor of Ceylon 1906 Visit of Dr. and Mrs. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy Mr. W. Romaine Cooke went on furlough Cambridge Junior Local Class formed 28th December 1906 Inauguration of Old Boys Association - Jaffna Branch. 1907 Mr. W. R. Cooke returned First Old Boys’ Day Celebrations Cambridge Senior local Class formed T. Cooke Jayaratnam obtained a First Class in the Cambridge Junior Local, Coming 8th in order of merit in the Island 1908 Won the Prize Football Cup Visit of Sir Henry McCallum, Governor of Ceylon Rev. W. M. P. Wilkes transferred to Point Petro Rev. H. A. Meek , B.A., appointed principal 25th September 1908 Foundation laid for the present Assembly Hall 1909 Prize Football Cup won 2nd time 1910 Prize Football Cup won 3rd time Rev. H. A. Meek, B.A., retired Rev. W. M. P. Wilkes, B.A., returned as Principal Opening of the New Building by Mrs. G. J. Trimmer Staging of the First English Play completely at Central 1911 A. R. Rasiah won the Hewavitharne Science Prize 1911 Won the Union Jack at the Sports Meet 1913 Colombo Branch of the O.B.A formed 1915 Won the Doraiswamy Cricket Cup Visit of Sir (Lord) Robert Chalmers, Governor of Ceylon 1916 Rev. W. M. P. Wilkes retired Rev. E. T. Selby acted as Principal Scout Movement inaugurated Mr. J. W. Arudpragasam, B.A., joined 1917 Rev. H. Bullough, M. A., B.Sc., arrived W. R. Cooke, Esqr., retired Muttucumaru Football Cup won 1918 Opened a New Dormitory (the present Dining Hall) Bracketed Champions in the Inter-Collegiate Gymkhana Meet 1919 Visit of Sir William Manning, Governor of Ceylon Visit of Sir John Randles, M.P. Death of Mr. S. A. Edward, B. A., L.T. Cup Pack organised Muttucumaru Football Cup won (Final) 1920 Percival Hall opened Commercial class formed 1921 Inter-Collegiate Athletics Championship won Rev. H. Bullough retired Rev. H. R. Cornish acted as Principal May 1922 Rev. Percy T. Cash, B.A., B.Sc., (London) arrived 1922 Mr. L. P. Spencer, B. A., transferred to Kilner College Union College started 1923 London Intermediate Classes formed. Botany introduced as a subject. House System organised. New Building scheme inaugurated. Foundation laid for the Two Storied Building. A. Kulanayagam won the Sir Marcus Fernando All-Ceylon Agricultural. Scholarship. The Tamil Kazhagam inaugurated. Y.M.C.A. affiliated to the Student Christian Movement of India, Burma, and Ceylon. Social Service League inaugurated The Master’ Fellowship formed The Temperance League inaugurated Visit of Sir William Manning, Governor of Ceylon 1924 T. M. Z. Mahamooth , P. C. Selvaratnam and W. A. Wijayaretnam chosen to represent Ceylon at the International Scout Jamboree held in Wembley, London. 1925 Sanskrit and Music introduced as subjects Teachers’ Guild inaugurated Visit of Rev. W. T. Barber, M.A., D. D. Visit of Sir Cecil Clementi (Acting Governor) 1926 Sir Hugh Clifford, Governor of Ceylon opened :- The William Paul Botanical Laboratory The William Romaine Cooke Library The Geographical Laboratory The Art Room 1927 Mr. J. K. Chanmukam, B.A., L.T., acted as Principal Rev. Percy T. Cash went on furlough 27th November 1927 Visit of Mahatma Gandhi 1928 Rev. Percy T. Cash returned Mr. J. K. Chanmukam retired 1929 Mr. J. W. Arudpragasam, B.A., and Mr. O. L. Gibbon, M.A., appointed Co-Vice Principals Rev. W. J. Noble visited the College 1930 Death of Mr. J. K. Chanmukam Vembadi-Central Recreation Club formed. Sir Herbert Stanley, Governor of Ceylon , presided at the College Prize Distribution Hon. Mr. M.T. Akbar, K.C., visited the College 1931 New Hostel Buildings opened 1932 W. R. N. Nathaniel won the Sir Marcus Fernando Scholarship Malayan Branch of the Old Boys’ Association formed Hon. Mr. P. J. Macdonnel, Chief Justice of the Island, visited. Death of Mr. G. W. Tamber. Rev. Percy T. Cash went on furlough. 1933 Mr. R. J. Seal, M.Sc., acted as Principal V. S. Ariaretnam won the Sir Marcus Fernando Scholarship S. Kandiah represented the Northern Province Boys’ Scout Association at the International Jamboree held in Budapest 1934 Rev. Percy T. Cash returned as Principal June 1935 Centenary of the renaming of the school as Jaffna Central School in 1834 was celebrated on a large scale. 1936 "Jaffna Central College": Centenary Memorial Edition was published. 1940 – 1942 Mr. R. S. D. Williams B.A., Dip. Ed., as Principal 1945 October Free Education scheme of the Government was adopted at the College. 1952 February Our student N Ethirveerasingham at the age of 20 particiapated in high jump at the Olympic Games geld in Helsinki,Finland, representing the country and the only student. 1955 December Rev. Dr. D. T. Niles became Principal of the College. 1956 The Golden Jubilee celebration of the Old Boys’ Association. 1960 December All schools in the island other the ones opted to be private were taken by the state. 1962 A.E. Tamber became the Principal. 1962 April The property of the school was vested in the crown by Gazette notification. 1964 A non-Centralite or Wesleyan Methodist, Mr. E. Sabalingam, was made principal. 1981 The centenary of the introduction of Cricket into Jaffna by Rev. F. Webster, Principal, was celebrated. 1990 November The college and its building were almost totally damaged or destroyed by aerial bombing. Mr. N. K. Shanmuganathapillai was appointed as Principal. 1993.01.05 The special committee appointed by the Old Boys’ Association to determine the date of founding of the College concluded its finding. First of August 1816 as the date of founding of the college. 1994 The college was made a National School. 1996.09.07 The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts issued a postage stamp (with the denomination of Rs. 2) and a First Day Cover to commemorate 180 years of the founding of Jaffna Central College. 1996 November Mr. K. Rasathurai was appointed as the Principal.

Listings of Past Principals

1816 Rev. James Lynch

1819 Rev. Thomas Squance

1820 – 24 Rev. Robert Carver

1825 Rev. Joseph Roberts 1834 – 51 Rev. Dr. Peter Percival

1852 – 54 Rev. John Walton

1855 Rev. William Barber

1859 – 61 Rev. William Talbot

1862 – 66 Rev. John Mitchell

1867 – 70 Rev. John O. Rhodes

1870 – 72 Rev. D.P. Niles (Acting)

1873 – 74 Rev. Samuel R. Wilkin

1874 - 76 Rev. William R. Winston

1877 – 78 Mr. Edward Strutt

1879 – 81 Mr. Fredrick M. Webster, B.A

1882 Mr. Thomas Little

1883 Mr. William J.G. Bestall

1884 Mr. Joseph West

1885 - 86 Rev. A.E. Restarick, B.A.

1886 - 87 Rev. D.P. Niles (Acting)

1888 - 89 Rev. Sheldon Knapp

1890 Rev. E. Middleton Weaver

1891 - 93 Rev. W.T. Garret B.A. 1894 - 95 Rev. Gabriel Leese

1896 - 98 Rev. W.T. Garret B.A.

1899 Rev. George B. Robeson (Acting)

1900 Rev. E.O. Martin

1901 Rev. Arthur Lockwood

1901 - 03 Rev. W.T. Garret B.A.

1903 - 08 Rev. W.M.P.Wilkes B.A., L.C.P.

1908 - 10 Rev. H.A. Meek B.A.

1910 - 16 Rev. W.M.P.Wilkes B.A., L.C.P.

1916 Rev. E.T. Selby (Acting)

1917 - 21 Rev. Harold Bullough M.A., B.Sc.

1921 Rev. H.R. Cornish (Acting)

1922 – 26 Rev. Percy T. Cash M.A., B.Sc.

1927 Mr. J.K. Chanmukam B.A., L.T.(Acting) 1928 - 32 Rev. Percy T. Cash M.A. B.Sc.

1933 Mr. R.J. Seal M.Sc. (Acting)

1934 - 39 Rev. Percy T. Cash M.A., B.Sc. 1940 - 42 Mr. R.S.D. Williams B.A., Dip.Ed.

1943 - 44 Mr. J.W. Arudpragasam B.A. 1945 - 55 Rev. C.A. Smith B.A.,(Hons) L.Th. 1949 Mr. J.C. Charles (Acting)

1956 - 62 Rev. Dr. D.T. Niles B.A.(Hons),D.D.,(Chic)

1962 - 64 Mr. A.E. Tamber B.Sc.

1964 - 71 Mr. E. Sabalingam B.Sc.,P.g.Tr.,S.Gr.P.

1971 – 80 Mr. E.K.Shanmuganathan B.A.Dip.Ed.SGrP

1980 – 82 Mr. N.S. Rathinasingham B.A.Eng,Trd,T.C. 1983 - 90 Mr. V Balasuntharam B.Sc.

1990 Mr. N. Rasaratnam B.A. Dip.Ed

1990 – 96 Mr. N.K. Shanmuganathapillai B.Sc,Dip.Ed,T.C.Cer, SLEAS 2

1996 Mr S. Sivanrooban B.Sc,Dip.Ed (Acting)

1996 – 2005 Mr. K. Rasathurai B.Ed.,B.A.,M.A.(Ed)

2005-Todate - Mr.S.Pathmanathan B.A. Dip.Ed