The long and steady journey of St. Joseph’s College

An Early History of St. Joseph’s College by Avishka Mario Senewiratne and Dr. Srilal Fernando

In this book, Avishka Senewiratne and Srilal Fernando explore the early history of St Joseph’s College. The book locates the beginnings of the College in the social and political milieu of late 19th and early 20th Century Ceylon, and discusses some key events and personalities associated with St Joseph’s from 1892 to 1936. What started initially as an article on the principal benefactors of the school has now evolved into a book with text and pictures that look in detail at some of the events leading to the establishment of what is now a leading Catholic educational institution.

Following the release of Archbishop Bonjean’s pastoral letter on education a group of wealthy Catholics gathered in Colombo on April 2, 1892 and pledged contributions for the establishment of the new school. Funds for the establishment of the school came from many donors across the ethnic and social spectrum, including from parishes in Negombo and Moratuwa: the benefactors were plenty and the harvest was bountiful.  Paradoxically, while Catholic schools were beginning to emerge in the second half of the 19th century, in other parts of the country a Buddhist revival was taking shape; a movement well captured by other historians, and one which had a profound impact on the social and political events of this country.

‘Uplands’ in Mutwal, a scenic 27-acre estate with excellent views of the harbour, and in proximity to where S. Thomas’ was then located, was chosen as the site on which to build St. Joseph’s.  ‘Uplands’ was also home to the massive Mauritius tortoise. However, even though the property had been on the market for six years without a buyer, the colonial government suddenly requested the land for expansion of the Colombo Port and the purchase price and an additional Rs 60,000 was refunded.

The ‘Lake House’ property adjacent to the Beira, on which stood the ‘Lake House Bungalow’, was then purchased and on that site the school began to bloom. Lake House Bungalow served briefly as the refuge of Orabi Pasha when he was exiled to Ceylon. Had the College been located in Mutwal, its history and evolution, no doubt, would have been very different. 

The book has details of the early benefactors and provides fascinating accounts of their social position, education, and achievements. Many of the offspring of these benefactors also studied at St. Joseph’s, attained professional eminence, and subsequently played important roles in the social and political history of the country. 

An interesting anecdote the authors dwell on relates to Justice Francis Soertsz, who almost did not make it into the legal profession. Soertsz performed excellently at the Senior Cambridge and was offered a substantial position in a well-known firm. Fr. Charles Collin, the Rector was not pleased that one of his best students was attempting to leave, and found a generous benefactor in the person of John Clovis de Silva to support Soertsz’s education. The rest as they say is history. 

The book contains engrossing accounts of the evolution of the architecture and the buildings at St. Joseph’s. The book traces the construction of the Clock Tower building, the school’s first structure. This was followed by the construction of the Bonjean Hall, the ground floor serving as a chapel till a new chapel was constructed. The North and South wings came later, mirror images of each other. Finally, the Maurice Block emerged, which houses the Primary School, and was built as a mirror image of the Bonjean Hall. The book discusses in detail the emergence of what is now the crown jewel of the institution, the College Chapel, and its construction over a period of 15 months under the dynamic leadership of Father Le Goc. 

Embellishing the book are rare photographs, illustrations and newspaper cuttings dating back over a hundred years. 

‘Fruits of Virtue’ is a fascinating and remarkable account of the early history of St Joseph’s written with zest, passion and clarity. It captures graphically and poignantly the early narratives of key personalities and events that were part of what is now a monumental educational institution. It traces the emergence of the now iconic buildings and their architecture, and provides a visual layer that enhances our understanding and experience of these early beginnings. 

However, the book is more than just an account of the early years of St. Joseph’s. Avishka’s and Srilal’s narrative is located in the social and cultural milieu of late 19th century and early 20th century Ceylon, and weaves gracefully the tales of socio-political events of that time.  Its discussion of the arrival of Orabi Pasha, the unsuccessful attempt at purchasing ‘Uplands’ in Mutwal, the discussion of the previous owners of the Lake House property where the school now stands, the tale of the ‘Mauritius tortoise’, the ‘boys next door’ at Darley Road, including Bevis and Geoffrey’s Bawa’s father, and other narratives make the book a riveting and nostalgic read. 

Its juxtaposition of text and visuals gives it a superb edge and adds another layer to our interpretation of the events from over a hundred years ago. The photographs, illustrations, and newspaper cuttings have been carefully selected, and I suspect that many of the readers will be seeing these for the first time. 

The book will entice Josephians, past, present and future. It will attract spiritual and lay staff, past, present and future. Beyond that, it will attract student, scholar, and general public interested in learning about Catholic institutions in Sri Lanka, the growth of the education and school system, and about social and political life at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century in colonial Ceylon.  It is a remarkable and powerful book, written in an easily accessible style, and will fill a gap in the literature on many different subjects. 

The book is a limited collectors’ edition and there are just 400 copies. Those interested in the book can reserve a copy by calling 0766122345.
(The writer of this book review is the Director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies)