Fruits of Virtue

FRUITS OF VIRTUE-AN EARLY HISTORY OF ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, COLOMBO. JOINT AUTHORS: AVISHKA MARIO SENEVIRATNE & DR SRILAL FERNANDO

First Publised December 2022.Limited edition: 400 copies
ISBN; 978-624-99013-1-5 Available from the authors.

Fruits of Virtue” is a memoir on the early history of St Joseph’s Colombo, including a well researched background preamble to the events leading to the establishment of the school. The title of the book conceals the mission behind its publication. To the uninitiated, it may seem a phrase taken out of a religious document, although in fact it is an extract from the first verse of the school song of St Joesph’s College, the institution whose early history was the subject of indefatigable research in this book, by the authors.* The title also reflects in some manner, on the resolve, and the devotion of the joint authors to perpetuate the story and achievements of the leading Catholic school in Sri Lanka.

The authors themselves are from such diverse backgrounds that their joint efforts in bringing out this extraordinary memoir on the early days of their ala mater, need special mention. Avishka, a 24 year old trainee commercial pilot, joined forces with Dr Srilal Fernando an eminent Consultant Psychiatrist well known in Melbourne, and almost three times his age to jointly produce this remarkably well researched and documented memoir on the early years of their alma mater.

The history of Catholic education in Sri Lanka is fairly well documented and available in the mass media. Its genesis is succinctly reviewed in this book. It would appear that Catholic educational institutions providing instructions to students were in operation in the country from the times of the Portuguese invasion and occupation of the maritime areas of the island. Over the ensuing centuries a tradition of education interspersed with spiritual awareness and belief in the Catholic faith seem to have moved on unhindered in most parts of the country more specially in the coastal areas.

In Colombo the main centre of Catholic education was the St Benedict’s Institute in Kotahena, with its curriculum with a vocational rather than an academic bias. Consequently the more academically bent students sought to complete their education in other institutions which provided the facilities to pursue their intellectual interests. This resulted in talented students nurtured at St Benedict’s for instance in their early years, but who were compelled to complete their secondary education in other schools endowed with teaching facilities for a classical education. This hiatus in the scheme of Catholic education was identified and a group of old boys in concurrence with the church hierarchy decided to open a separate academically oriented school in Colombo to cater for this apparent need. That move heralded the birth of St Joseph’s College in 1896.

Fruits of Virtue is a memoir which records for posterity the events attending upon the birth of St. Joseph’s College which today is one of the leading secondary schools in the island. The joint authors have researched almost every event, or episode related to the establishment of the school, in documenting its early years,: a task executed admirably and thoroughly. The issues relating to the site selection is dealt with in detail including the failed attempt to purchase “Uplands” at one time the home of the Armitage family associated with the 19th Century Coffee boom in the country. The decision and the circumstances around the purchase of Lake House where the school eventually made its home are also discussed in great detail. The entire narrative is supported by well researched facts, embellished with vintage photographs. The interesting memoir also discusses in some detail the social and economic variants which influenced the community support base which was the foundation on which the school and its patronage was set up.

Fruits of Virtue provides the reader with descriptions of its ecclesiastical as well as lay benefactors including details of their family backgrounds supported by some classic vintage photographs. The formation of the old boys union, and the principal activists in the mission to set up the new school are all supported by portrait photos add great interest to this publication. The book resultantly is a product of the unstinted labour and devotion of two old boys of the school, who have left no stone unturned in their quest for a complete narrative surrounding the early days of St Joseph’s College.

It is presented in a limited, numbered edition of 400, bound in hard cover, and printed on superior quality paper. While the book is dedicated to Josephians past, present and of the future, it will certainly engage the interest of all those interested in the history of education in Sri Lanka, more particularly of Catholic education. This quality memoir is a guaranteed seller and is is almost certain to sell out quickly.

Hugh Karunanayake

*(The College song composed by Edgar and JML Neydorff in November 1920)