# St. Anthony's College, Wattala

St. Anthony's College, Wattala (Sinhala: ශා. අන්තෝනි විද්‍යාලය, වත්තල Tamil: சாந்த அந்தோனியார் வித்தியாலயம்) is a catholic boys' school in Wattala, Sri Lanka.

## History

On 5 April 1942, Colombo was subjected to aerial bombing by the Japanese military for about 90 minutes. Many residents fled, with one group who traveled to the village of Wattala not wishing to return.
The influx highlighted the town's need for a school. A temporary cadjan shed was erected on a large property of about 7.3 hectares (18 acres), located on Averiwatta Road. On 4 May 1942, a permanent school opened, with Bro. Vincent Joseph as Director, assisted by four other brothers. This school was a branch of three schools: St. Benedict's College; St. Joseph's College; and De la Salle College.
The initial enrollment was 88 students. Most classes were housed in the shed, adjacent to the main building where the brothers lodged. Senior classes were held in the main house. The living conditions for the brothers were not comfortable absent electricity and running water. The Brothers had to draw water from a well to bathe and wash.
In addition to the three schools already mentioned, boys came from Royal, St. Joseph's College, Ananda College, De Mazenod College, and other outstation schools. Most of these boys returned to their respective schools when conditions improved in Colombo.
Most of the property was heavily vegetated and as the school population grew, the need for a playground increased. The students used the commercial service grounds near the Hunupitiya railway station, for games and physical activities. A sizable playground was constructed adjacent to the school within a year, where outdoor games like cricket, football, and volleyball were organised. 1942 concluded with a Parents' Day celebration. A temporary stage was put up at one end of the shed and each class contributed an item.
1943 several students returned to Colombo replaced by local boys. Absent facilities, the director of St. Benedict's College, Colombo allowed his laboratory to be used once a week for practical work in physics and chemistry. Ten students were presented for the first time for the SSC, which they all passed.
Bro. Vincent Joseph, the school's director started taking steps to make the school independent and not a branch school. With the help of organised meetings of parents and the chiefs of the various religious organisations, he petitioned for a new school. The Education Ministry bowed to public opinion allowing and the new school was officially established.

## Houses

The students are divided into four houses:

### Vincent House

* Named after Vincent Joseph Gottwald, the founder and the first director of the college.
* Color : Purple

### Stephen House

* Named after Stephen Harding, the second director of the college.
* Color : Green

### Callixtus House

* Named after Anslem Callixtus, the third director of the college.
* Color : Red

### Austin House

* Named after Austin Anthony, the fourth director of the college.
* Color : Pink

## Notable alumni

* Avishka Tharindu - Cricket Player (2010-2020)
* Manoj Hemaratne - First-class cricket player (1985–2000)
* Thisara Perera - International cricket player (2011–2012)
* Manjula Munasinghe - One Day International cricket player (1986–1991)
* Chaminda Vass - International cricket player (1987–1993)
* Malinda Lowe - record artist (1981)

## Past directors and principals
### Directors

| | Name | start | finish | notes |
| 1. | Vincent Joseph Gottwald | 4 May 1942 | 26 June 1950 | founding director |
| 2. | Stephen Harding | 27 June 1950 | 31 August 1952 | |
| 3. | Vincent Joseph Gottwald | 1 September 1952 | 31 December 1955 | founding director (2nd term) |
| 4. | Anslem Callixtus | 1 January 1956 | 31 December 1958 | |
| 5. | Austin Anthony | 1 January 1959 | 31 March 1963 | |
| 6. | Nicholas Joseph | 1 April 1963 | 31 January 1964 | |
| 7. | Marcus Felix | 1 February 1964 | 31 December 1965 | |
| 8. | Cassian of Jesus | 1 January 1966 | 31 December 1970 | |
| 9. | Lewis of Jesus | 1 January 1971 | 31 December 1974 | |
| 10. | Alexander Cyrillus | 1 January 1975 | 31 July 1976 | |
| 11. | Augustine Brendan | 1 August 1976 | 11 September 1979 | |
| 12. | Edwin Ambrose | 12 September 1979 | 22 August 1981 | |
| 13. | Alexander Cyrillus | August 1981 | December 1983 | 2nd term |
| 14. | Eustace Bastian | 1 January 1984 | 31 August 1986 | |
| 15. | George B. R. De Silva | 1 September 1986 | 31 October 1998 | |

### Principals

| | Name | start | finish |
| 16. | Shirley V. Perera | March 1999 | December 2002 |
| 17. | E. T. Malcolm B. Perera | December 2002 | February 2004 |
| 18. | T. T. A. S. De Silva Thanapathy | February 2004 | July 2007 |
| 19. | Mal Fernando | July 2007 | January 2023 |
| 23. | Sarojani Weerasinghe | | |