Principal’s Message
Wesley College, Colombo which was established in 1874 has the distinction of producing leading pioneers in Sri Lanka. With the objective of supporting the education system of Sri Lanka – then called Ceylon, the Methodist missionaries established schools throughout the island which of course was an immense contribution of the field of education in our country.
We remain grateful to the missionaries of the Methodist Church for having tirelessly labored in providing an atmosphere of tranquility and understanding for the students of Wesley College so that on leaving the school, the boys are able to face the struggles of the wider world with courage andfortitude. No doubt the labours of Rev. Daniel Henry Pereira, has nurtured a rich crop of which we in this present age are beneficiaries and we are sure this harvest will be reaped by generations yetunborn. We remember with gratitude the commitment of Rev. Henry Highfield who saw the need for a quieter surrounding and further expansion, moved the College from Dam Street, Pettah to its present site. Despite numerous difficulties, he took the initiative to establish this school. We are grateful to God who has been the cornerstone of this School from its inception and has enabled the management to move on with a solid vision.
Having produced brilliant Men of Grit across the wide spectrum of society over its history, such as Mr M. A. M. Sheriff - the First Ceylonese to win the Athletics Blue at Oxford University, Mr Mahadevan Sathasivam - First in the world to captain two countries in Cricket (Malaysia and Ceylon)
The Vision of Wesley College has been to be the premier Christian secondary educational institute and produce men of stature and integrity to be leaders in the technologically advancing environment, while the Mission has always been focusing on inculcating Christian values and providing opportunities to develop latent potential and skills. At present we have more than 3000 students from all ethnic and religious groups and we aim at enabling each child to reach their full potential by fostering self esteem, discipline, integrity and respect.
As we prepare ourselves to celebrate God’s faithfulness which has carried us thus far, we look forward with great anticipation & thanksgiving to celebrate the 150th year in 2024. As the Principal, I feel honoured and privileged to lead this prestigious College which is about to celebrate a milestone. From the time of its inception, Wesley is renowned for its value based education and integral formation. 150 years of providing a stable and supportive environment for the students to learn would not have been an easy task if not for the faithful guidance of God and Him alone.
Throughout these years we have grown to nearly 3000 students with 200 members of staff including two Primary schools running at both Havelock Town & Tampola. Our dedicated staff has always ensured that the students are provided with an appropriate learning atmosphere and that the children are developed holistically. We have always ensured that when our boys go outside the walls of school life, they are relentless and have the audacity and commitment to always strive to reach greater targets. Each year we stepped into, has always begun with consistent foundation for improvement in every sphere within the College and we look forward to completing many more successful years of imparting knowledge, strengthening the character of our students and enabling them to become lifelong learners.
A Sesquicentenary is an achievement and we hope to mark this major milestone of our school by planning a range of activities and projects, some of which have already begun. In order to ensure the smooth progress in planning the events, a Core Committee, has been appointed with representatives from the College Staff, OBU, Welfare Society & Parents. The Core Committee will be the steering wheel for the activities / events / projects planned.
As we commence our celebration of this special milestone in the history of Wesley with an objective of commemorating in a splendid and unique manner, while remembering its traditions, the untiring efforts of our founders and instilling a sense of Respect, Loyalty and Honor in the minds of our students as well as the Alumni, I call upon our Alumni, parents, students and all well wishers to support the College in all possible ways.
ORA ET LABORA
Avanka Fernando
PRINCIPAL
