# Wesley College, Colombo

Wesley College popularly known as "Wesley" or "The Double Blues", is a Methodist school providing primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka since 1874.

## History

In 1858, Rev. Joseph Rippon wanted to establish a superior educational institution for the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in South Ceylon. On 2 March 1874 (the death anniversary of Rev. John Wesley) Wesley College was founded in the City Mission buildings at Dam Street, Pettah. The school's first principal was Rev. Samuel R. Wilkin and the first vice-principal was Rev. Daniel Henry Pereira.
Many years later, under the guiding hand of Rev. Henry Highfield, Wesley was moved from Dam Street, Pettah to its current residence at Karlsruhe Gardens, Borella in 1907.
The Methodist institution was envisaged to be a distinctly Christian college, but it currently provides secondary education for over 3,000 Sri Lankan students from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Wesley College has established two branches to accommodate its growing number of students. One branch is situated in Havelock Town, Colombo, while the other is in Thampola, Katunayake.
Wesley College is named after John Wesley (1703–1791), the founder of the Methodist Church.

## College song

The song was the first-ever school anthem to be written in the country. The lyrics were composed by H. J. V. I. Ekanayake in 1898, and set to the music of "Scots Wha Hae" by Robert Burns. This music is adapted from the traditional Scottish patriotic tune "Hey Tuttie Tatie", which was composed in 1314.

## Houses

The house system was suggested by Rev. Henry Highfield and introduced by Rev Albert Hutchinson. Wesley College has four main houses, which were further divided by C. J. Oorloff as senior houses and junior houses. The houses are named after former principals and teachers, as follows:
* Senior house - Wilkin / Junior house - Dias
* Senior house - Moscrop / Junior house - Lemphers
* Senior house - Hillard / Junior house - Mack
* Senior house - Passmore / Junior house - Honter

## Notable alumni

| Name | Notability |
| Kamal Addaraarachchi | actor |
| E. W. Adikaram | social activist, philosopher, founder of multiple schools in Sri Lanka (Anula Vidyalaya, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya Kotte 1971; Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama) |
| Rohan Amerasekera | Commander of the Air Force (1962–1970) |
| Claude Corea | member of parliament (1931–1946) |
| Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke | Governor-General of Ceylon (1954–1962) |
| Walisinghe Harischandra | social reformer, historian, author |
| Don Baron Jayatilaka | |
| Brendon Kuruppu | international cricket player (1987–1991) |
| E. F. C. Ludowyk | first Professor of English, University of Ceylon |
| Farveez Maharoof | international cricket player (2004–2011) |
| Mohamed Macan Markar | member of Legislative Council of Ceylon (1924– ) |
| M. H. Mohamed | Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament (1989–1994) Cabinet Minister (1965–1970, 1977–1988 & 2001–2004) member of parliament (Colombo 1965–1970 & 1977–2004 –2010), Mayor of Colombo (1960–1962) |
| Wapchie Marikar Abdul Rahman | member of Legislative Council of Ceylon |
| Mahadevan Sathasivam | international cricket player (1944–1949) |
| Jeffrey Vandersay | One Day International cricket player (2015–present) |
| Sampath Wickremeratne | Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Air Force |
| Gerard Wijeyekoon | member of Legislative Council of Ceylon |