(Joe Pinto the writer Maryite who (1945 - 49) hails from Chilaw was vested in the religious garb of the Christian Brothers in Penang Malaysia in 1952. Thenceforward he was called by name Rev. Bro. Michael Robert. Among his compilations ' Diceased Brothers of the District of Colombo' and the 'De La Salle Brothers in Ceylon are predominaut.)

De La Salle Brothers arrived at Chilaw and took charge of the existing St. Mary's School on 1^st May 1933. The new building of St. Mary's College, built on the present site was occupied on 19^th September 1933.

The town of Chilaw also termed Cilao in Portuguese, Halawatha in Sinhalese, Silavan in Tamil is situated fifty miles to the north of Colombo along the sea coast. The town itself, is separated from the coastal stretch by the Chilaw lagoon, famous for its crabs and prawns. At the northern end of the town the river Deduru Oya flows to the Indian Ocean. Fishing in the deep sea as well as in the lagoon has been the main occupation of the Karawa caste inhabitants who are nearly one hundred percent Catholics. Pearl- diving at Chilaw sea has vanished. So is the weaving industry, by which the Sinhala name of the town was derived. Nevertheless, the Weavers' Road in Chilaw still exists! The town felt the impact of the foreigners- the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British.

In the first decade of 17^th century the Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in charge of the mission of Chilaw 'were converting chieftains and grating favours in order to cause the envy of other gentiles to follow their example'. Munneswaram Kovil, the Hindu temple close to Chilaw, suffered destruction by the hammers and hand spikes of the Portuguese both soldiers and clergy. By 1644, the church of St. John the Baptist was built on that ground. The extensive fertile temple land became the property of the Jesuit Mission whose College at the Colombo was supported by the income thereof. Later on, the Hindus won their rights and today Munneswaram is a highly venerated Hindu Temple.

Fr. Froilano Oruna the Spanish Cistercian who arrived in Ceylon in 1845 built St. Mary's church at Chilaw which was consecrated on 16.11.1860 by Mgr. Stephen Semeria O.M.I. the Vicar of Jaffna. Chilaw then belonged to the Northern Vicariate of Jaffna. This was the first church to be consecrated on Ceylon soil. The Portuguese left a lasting impact in Chilaw in their religion, surnames and religious festivities. Few vestiges of the Dutch and the British period can still be traced in some building architecture, road names and cemeteries.

Chilaw when the Brothers arrived

Chilaw and Colombo fifty miles apart were connected then by a straight road, by the North Coastal Railway Line and by the Dutch Canal that linked the logcons. In addition to being an important fishing centre, Chilaw flourished as a commercial town due to the coconut plantations in neighboring villages. The intricacies of rules regulating Land Tenure led to a very busy District Court at Chilaw. The lawyers and their clerks were far from lacking work or remuneration. The population of Chilaw, roughly 8000, was composed of the Pitipana, Sea street and Alutwatta communities. The first two were the earlier settlers with this difference - the former spoke Sinhala and the latter spoke Tamil as their home language. The Alutwatta community was formed later by an immigration from the South of Ceylon. All these three communities professed Catholicism; by occupation they were fisherman. Very often the Archbishop had to act as the arbitrator when disputes arose regarding communal fishing rights in the sea or lagoon. In addition to the 6000 odd Catholics there were also some wealthy Muslim traders and Hindu landowners. There was also a closely connected remnant of Burghere, remains of the Dutch occupation.

St' Mary's School prior to Brothers' Take - Over

Bro. Caesar, the first Director of St. Mary's College worte: "St. Mary's English school was started in Jetty Street in the house occupied by G.S. Perera as a mixed school. In 1901 the school premises were shifted to the present Catholic Association Block which was erected as a Memorial to Queen Victoria. The school reminded a Mixed school till June 1914 when the girls began to attend the convert. Up to that time one or two Holy family nuns- Ceylonese Branch - had constantly been in the staff of the school. "The school at the Catholic Association Block next to St. Mary's church was managed by the Parish Priest who was overburdened with other parish commitments. In 1920 the Inspector of Schools Mr. E.H. Vanderwall recommended that the management of the school be handed over to a religious congregation of Brothers. Fr. Theodore de Silva O.M.I. was then the parish priest of St. Mary's church. He too endorsed the suggestion.

A few years later Mr. Henry de Costa a catholic philanthropist donated a piece of land off Chilaw - Puttalam road 'for the purpose of erecting a Catholic College for the benefit of the Chilaw district.' Mr. Henry de Costa lived to see the new building and the Christian Brothers teaching there. He died on 11^th July 1935. On 2^nd October 1932 Mgr. Peter Marque the Archbishop appealed to Bro. Visitor Camille Eugene for De La Salle Brothers for the school at Chilaw on condition 'that the Brothers build the new Collage on the land donated by Mr. Henry de Costa.' Fr. Robert Fernando O.M.I. moved in the matter. As usual the Brothers consulted their higher superiors. Bro. Assistant's letter of approval arrived on 14^th November 1932. On 26^th November the telegram from Bro. Superior at Lembecq, Belgium arrived: "Construction of Chilaw are approved". Once the Brothers obtained the necessary permission from the Regime, the foundation stone for the new Building at that site was blessed by the Archbishop P. Marque on 19^th April 1933.

The Pioneer Brothers

The three pioneers of Chilaw - the French Bro. Caesar Albert (Dtr), the Slovak Bro. Jaroslav Josef and Ceylonese Bro. Gregory Bernard arrived at Chilaw ten days later on 29^th April 1933. The three Brothers, 28,24 and 25 years old then, temporarily resided at "Ridgeway House" a spacious building along the Main Road of Chilaw. They took charge of St' Mary's School at the 'Catholic Association Hall' on 1^st May 1933, at the time of the annual inspection. Bro. Caesar was a First Class Trained teacher and Bro. Jaroslav Josef had obtained a Ceylon Teacher's Certificate. There were 7 other lay masters to teach the 132 students in 6 classes. Two of these teachers taught Sinhala and Tamil languages. Although Chilaw was predominantly a Catholic town half the number of these students was non-Catholic. The quest for an English School by the Muslims and Hindus resulted in this imbalance. The Brothers taught for five months at the old school. On 17^th September 1933, the new College Building was blessed by Mer. Peter Marque and opened by Mr. L. McD. Robson, then acting Director of Education. On the 18^th September the students and teachers carried the furniture from the old school to the new college. The following day 19^th September 1933, St. Mary's College commenced classes at the new premises.

De La Salle Brothers at St. Mary's

Bro. Caesar Albert (Pierre Alphonse Navarre b.29.01.1905) was the elder brother of Bro. Athanase Navarre. Bro. Caesar arrived at Colombo as a missionary Brother on 20.11.1923. He directed several Brothers' schools in Ceylon: Chilaw (1933-35 & 1944-45), Moratuwa (1935-36), Badulla (1937 July), De La Salle (1937-38 & 46-49) Grandpass (1945-46) and Mannar (1951). In formation work he was appointed Director of Novices on 19.30.1938 when the Novitiate was evacuated to "Sea Spray" Marawila during the war years till 1944. Later on, he worked in Pakistan from 1960 to 1992. He died at Faisalabad, Pakistan on 24.11.1992. Bro. Caesar possessed a remarkable memory that stored the names of his past pupils, contacts as well as coolies and carters. In food and culture, he adapted the practices of the mission land even embarrassing some native Brothers who preferred the western life style!

Bro. Gregory Bernard, the pioneer was transferred at the end of the first year to join the other pioneering Community at St. Anne's, Kurunagala. Though not blessed with academic degrees, Bro. Gregory was an asset to any Community, more so to a pioneering Community. He was a competent Econome, Book-Depot manager, gardener, procurator, recruiter and of course sharp shooter. Bro. Jaroslav Josef (Jan Rybansky b. 07.07.1909) often referred to as Bro. J. Joseph, lasted two years at Chilaw when he was transferred to Kandana. In 1974 he went to his motherland Czechoslavia where he was behind the Iron Curtain. He died on 20.08.1993.

Bro. Caesar introduced the House System that prompted healthy competition in studies, conduct and sports in the Collage. Following Bro. Visitor Camillus' directives, that feast of St. De La Salle was celebrated at St. Mary's Church, Chilaw on 16^th September 1934. Bro. Caesar himself taught a new subject-Ethics- to the large number of non-Catholic children of the College. At the end of the year, a special function was held under the auspices of Mr. G.C.S. Corea, State Council Member, to 'Give Away' the Annual Reports. A Variety Entertainment followed. The Chilaw lads showed their talent for drama and music in such Variety Entertainments that followed practically any gathering or function. On Bro. Caesar's transfer to Moratuwa, Bro. Theodoret of Mary was appointed Director of St' Mary's on 17.06.1935. During his regime of four yeas Bro. Theodoret procured a Piano and Radio set for the school and a small Refrigerator for the Community. In July 1936, Bro. Theodoret first consulted the teachers and the students before selecting the colours for the College Flag-Blue, Gold and Black. The Brothers were pleased to see the Church Corpus Christi procession winding its way to the College ground, about a mile from the church, where the final repository was erected. True to the Lasallian spirit Bro. Theodoret introduced the Arch confraternity of the Divine Child (A.D.C.), the students' monthly confessions, and the Students' Annual Retreat of three days. In 1938 Fr. Robert Fernando preached the Retreat to 45 boys. Young Bernard Fernando from St' Mary's joined the Brothers' Junior Novitiate and received the Holy Habit in Penang on 17.03.1937 as Bro. Andrew Bernadine. He was often referred to as 'Iron Bernadine' since Metal Work was his forte. This first Brother from Chilaw later left the congregation to join the priesthood. He served in Tamil speaking parishes of the Chilaw diocese as a priest. He spent the last years of his priestly life at the Bishop's House, Chilaw ever faithful to the Lasallian Manual of Prayers and other Lasallian devotions.

Chilaw breeze blowing from the sea was very conducive to good health. Yet, Brothers were inmates of the Chi law Base Hospital sometime or other. Bro. Theodoret the Director was hospitalized for three weeks suffering from pneumonia. Later Bro. Frederick was hospitalized for Malaria and Bro. Joseph Charles for high fever. Bro. Bernad Marius acted for Bro. Theodoret during the latter's absence from school. in July 1939 Bro. Antony Francis, earlier the first director of St. Bede's, Badulla succeeded Bro. Stephen Harding was transferred to Badulla. Bro. Antony Francis lasted just one year at St' Mary's. He too, suffered a breakdown in health. Bro. Stephen Harding was called in to act for him. The three Ceylonese Brothers who composed the Community- Michael Lewis, Frederick Peter and Joseph Charles - kept the College on foot in spite of breakdowns and changes at the Head. In 1940 Bro. Director Wenceslaus observed: "Changes in the personnel of St' Mary's College have been deplored year after year from the time the Brothers took up the College. This year, unfortunately, has been no exception to this state of things. Bro. Anthony Francis the Director, owing to serious breakdown in his health, had to be replaced in the middle of the year, Bro. Stephen Harding, Principal of St' Mary's School, Pettah acted for him until August". In fact, no Director at St. Mary's, Chilaw served two consecutive terms of 3 - year periods from its inception in 1933 till the term of Bro. Lewis of Jesus (January 1960 - January 1966) who served at St. Mary's as the principal a non-free levying private school as well as a nationalized Government school.

Bro. Joseph Charles, the community Econome, was a very practical man. “The incursion of stray cattle on the college grounds at all hours of the day and night was a bit of nuisance and somewhat unsightly and called for drastic remedies. Dogs, sticks, iron bars, in a word direct contact with the enemy proved only temporary remedies. Finally, the remedy that proved decisive was to employ a local cattle seizer, to lasso as many as he could every night and to exact a fine from the owners to retrieve them. The episode in which St. Mary's seemed a cattle ranch was finally closed.” Even with fences, years later the stray cattle menace appeared again. The elderly Bro. Michael Lewis reared some useful pet dogs especially Bongso, would round up and drive the cattle out of the College Main Gate.

Bro. Vaclav Maria, also called Bro. Wenceslaus, replaced Bro. Antony Francis on 25.08.1940. With Bro. Wenceslaus two other energetic Brothers- Frencch Hermenegild Jose and Ceylonese Sebastian Abel- joined the Chilaw Community bringing the number to six Brothers. The Czechoslavian Bro. Vaclav Maria (Josef Simo b.28.01.1909) received the Holy Habit on 06.10.1925. He came to Ceylon on 19.11.1929 in the company of the group of missionary Brothers accompanied by Bro. Assistant Anacletus.

College Hall

Earlier in 1938, Bro. Theodoret had referred to the school building 'as a very imposing and palatial one; it was the best in and around the town for miles around Chilaw'. The College Hall was capable of accommodating a large crowd, a facility that was not available elsewhere in the vicinity. The Brothers readily lent the Hall for both church and civic functions. The Brothers thus promoted cordial relationship with one and all in Chilaw. The first Bishop of Chilaw Diocese, Dr. Edmund Peiris was consecrated on 25^th April 1940. The official lunch, attended by all the Bishop of Ceylon and over a hundred priests took place at the College Hall. (Towards the end of this lunch, Fr. S. G. Perera S.J. who was then the Vicar General of Galle Diocese suffered a heart attack Bro. Joseph Charles successfully attended on him.) In October 1940, Sir Andrew Caldecott, the Governor of Ceylon, presided at a Meeting convened to appeal for War Funds from Chilaw. That Meeting was also held at the College Hall. The College Hall was used for Education and other Department Examinations and their Meetings. In December 1943 at the request of Mgr. Edmund Peiris, the College building served as the Retreat House for the Chilaw Diocesan Priests. The Brothers, in exchange, enjoyed a good Holiday at the diocesan holiday house at Nuwara Eliya.

The veteran teacher Mr. Peter Fernando and the Tamil teacher Mr. P.B. Croos died in July and September of 1940 respectively. The First College Prize giving, presided over by the new Bishop, was held in March 1941. After a lean period of public examination results, the 1941 students proved quite successful: at the Senior School Certificate Examination 16 out of 21 candidates were successful. Five out of seven passed the London Matriculation Examination. That led the District Judge of Chilaw Mr. N. Sinnatamby to say "We have come to expect excellent results at St. Mary's as a matter of course."

In April 1942 the Bishop's residence was moved from Wennapuwa to Chilaw. The Bishop as well as other Diocesan administrators became frequent visitors to the College both formally and informally. Addressing the members of the Catholic Association of Chilaw, the Bishop said, "I have no worries regarding the Boys' English school in the Diocese. We have Christian Brothers who are doing excellent work in Kurunagala and Chilaw. They may get more schools in the future". (St. Sebastian's School at Madampe, close to Chilaw was offered to the Brothers. The offer was rejected by the District Council) The Brothers organized a Grand Concert at the College Hall on 28^th November 1941. The proceeds were directed towards the War Relief fund and the Alutwatta Church Building Fund. This church of St. Sebastian close to the Brothers' House was damaged by fire on 30^th June 1941. In 1942 there was a majority of Brothers on the teaching Staff: 7 Brothers and 6 lay Masters teaching 228 pupils. Helped by a loan of Rs. 1500/- from the Bishop, the Brothers bought the house and property on the northern border for a payment of Rs. 3000/-. This house under the huge tamarind tree was converted to accommodate the College Science Laboratory. Fifty miles away from Colombo, the Chilaw School did not directly feel the anxiety following the Japanese bombing of Colombo. However, Due to the evacuation from Colombo, the numbers of students on roll shot up from 228 in 1942 to 290 in 1943 and 365 in 1944. The number of hostellors too increased to 40 in 1943 and 54 in 1944 in November 1943. Military Services of his homeland summoned Bro. Wenceslaus back to Chechoslavia, his mother country. he left the Congregation.

At the beginning of 1944 Bro. Caesar Albert, the pioneering Director returned to direct the College for another year. He thus relieved Bro. Hermenegild of his added burden as acting Director during the last two months of 1944. Regarding the increase in the number of students on roll Bro. Caesar observed: "A less pleasing feature was that quit a good proportion of the new admission from day scholars were non-Catholics from the surrounding rural areas, anxious for instruction in English and apparently drawn by the good reputation of the school ". Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai, the great educationist, presided at the College Prize - Giving in 1944. Bro. Caesar Albert was followed by Bro. Cassian of Jesus as Director in April 1945. Bro. Cassian noted: "The College continues to maintain good relations with the ecclesiastical authorities. The Civil authority is not so sympathetic towards the College, mainly owing to the influence of those who would like us to enter immediately in to the 'Free Education Scheme' It is hoped that this strain will be removed when they have come to realize the implications of this new scheme". The number of students on roll dropped to 356 in 1946. "The return of schools in Colombo and elsewhere to normal working conditions made those boys who had joined the College during the emergency period, to go back to their former schools".

Bro. Hugh Faingdon succeeded Bro. Cassian of Jesus in January 1947 for a period of 20 months. Bro. Luke Gregory the new Provincial Visitor of De La Salle Brothers in Ceylon presided at the annual Sports meet while Mr. J. J. Fernando, the new Member of Parliament presided at the Prize Giving. The letter function was 'not greatly attended by the public', exposing political rivalries that were just brewing in the country. It also showed the inappropriateness of inviting local politicians for school functions in the Ceylonese context. Bro. Hugh Faringdon remarked: "So far there has been no attempt to establish an Old Boy's Association. Much is feared from the divisions already existing among the Catholics of the town". The development of sport, Athletics, Soccer and Cricket was hampered by the uneven sandy patches of the playfield. Bro. Hugh dreamed of an ideal playground. Lorry loads of clay soil from the Deduru Oya river basin were transported, deposited, leveled and turfed. His successor Bro. Calixtus completed the task of producing an ideal playfield.

Our Lady of the Bull Shed

One evening in 1947, when Bro. Director Hugh Faringdon was attending to the clearing of the backyard, there emerged from the straw heap of the bull shed, an uncompleted cement statue that resembled the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was a crude work, noseless and flat back. Bro. Hugh was mesmerized and fascinated by this statue. He built a small grotto, cement painted the statue and deposited grotto. A few months later, Mr. C. L. W. Perera a leading lawyer of Kurunegala, paid a visit to the Brothers. A few minutes at prayer before this statue prompted him to present a new, beautiful statue of our Lady for the grotto. Bro. Hugh Faringdon, still harbouring a soft corner for the discarded statue, called in a mason, and ordered a niche above the College portico for the statue. But the mason informed him that horizontally the space was not sufficient to place the statue. Bro. Hugh's next inspiration: plaster the back of the statue onto the wall of the alcove! There, the statue of our Lady of the Bull Shed stands, unnoticed, unsung today, above the portico of St. Mary's College, Chilaw.

Bro. Anselm Calixtus succeeded Bro. Hugh Faringdon on 24.08.1948. During his short period at St. Mary's Bro. Calixtus endeavoured to uplift the academic dimension of the College. The annual Elocution Contest was indeed a popular event judging by the choice of the judges of that competition in December 1948: Mr. Wijewardene, the District Judge; Mr. Thambidurai, the police Magistrate and Bro. Hugh Faringdon the former Director. Many of these young competitors who were also active members of the College Parliament turned out to be successful lawyers, an esteemed profession of Chilaw. In 1949 Mr. E.A. Nugawela, the Minister of Education presided at the College Prize Giving. He recognized the contribution of St. Mary's towards the education of the youth of Chilaw. The original extent of land donated by Mr. Henry de Costa, kept on expanding under every Director. Bro. Calixtus acquired an adjoining property for Rs.6000/- with three boutiques which were soon demolished.

Bro. Hermenegild Joseph assumed duties as Director 15.02.1950. His enterprising spirit and earlier experience at Chilaw contributed to the achievements of his three-year period. Bro. Hemenegild obtained two large statues of St. John Baptist De La Salle. He placed one at the College main Entrance; the other at St. Mary's Cathedral in November 1950, the Lasallian Tercentenary Year. The College Magazine "Chilaw Breezes" was published after a lapse of ten years. On 1'1 April 1951, St. Mary's College, like the other Brothers' school, entered the "Free Education Scheme". St. Mary's also actively participated in the various function organized for the Lasallian Tercentenary Year. In 1952, Bro. Hermenegild branched out to commercial education, begining a class of 24 students with 10 second hand typewriters. That year, a Geographical Society under Bro. Alfred, an Art Society under Mr. Thamel and a Cinema Club under Bro. Andrew Michael were started. The Science Laboratory received official approval by the Education Department. Laboratory equipment and bottles of chemicals that were borrowed for the occasion, from our premiere institution St. Benedict's College, were capable of winning the approval of the Inspectors in a typical Ceylonese style! Bro. Hemenegild built the new Hostel Block for the Boarders, thus releasing their old dormitory to serve as the new College Chapel which was blessed on 14.07.1952 Following the new Education Reforms, in 1953 Grade VI students were taught in Sinhala and Tamil media. Bro. Director organized evening English classes for their benefit.

Bro. Hermenegild Joseph was transferred to De La Salle School, Mutwal leaving Bro. Calixtus to manage the College from 04.05.1953 to 26.07.1953 when Bro. Lawrence Justinian was appointed Director on 27.07.1953 The buying spree of adjoining land continued. Bro. Lawrence acquired half an acre of " Moulana's Land " on which the "Commercial Block" was built. The so-called 'Commercial Block' was only a coconut cadjan shed with a big-name board. Bro. Lawrence sold off an acre of land on the other side of the Puttalam road which the Brothers had bought earlier, as it was not serving any purpose for the school. In 1954 the College was raised to Grade 1- School status. 143 newcomers joined the school that year. However, the official status of the College also rendered other obligations: University Entrance and Higher School Certificate classes; more qualified teachers; better laboratories and libraries; a good playground. Mr. T. D. Jayasuriya, the director of Education presided at the Prize Giving in 1954, when Bro. Lawrence in his Report soundedthe authorities on the 'establishment of Practical School for overage pupils and school drop-outs'.

On 12^th November 1954 at about 1.40 p.m. while most of the school boys were at a cinema show in one part of the sheds of the College, another shed caught fire in a mysterious manner. Soon both the boys and the members of the staff stopped the spread of the fire by pouring water on the roof and removing cadjans of the unburnt portion. The damage was about Rs.400/-. To withstand future fires, that section was rebuilt with asbestos roofing. The students in these classrooms became victims of a heated roof instead of the soothing, cooling cadjans!

At the end of the August Retreat in 1955 Bro. Glastain Oliver replaced Bro. Lawrence who was transferred to St. Anne's College, Kurunegala. The Staff was composed of4 Brothers and 16 Lay Masters. The number of students on roll passed the 500^th mark in 1955. Of the 523 pupils, only 283 were Catholic i.e.54% Catholic students only! The 1000^th mark was reached in late 1970s and that with the admission of girls also. Comparatively, at St. Anne's College, Kurunegala which the Brothers managed from 1934, the number of students on roll reached the 500^th mark in 1947 and the 1000^th mark in 1950. The absence of a Primary Department at St. Mary’s College, the lack of efficient teachers, capable of producing attractive results at public Examinations, quick transfers of Directors and other Brothers, the prevention of students leaving their schools from the Primary section once the prevention of students leaving their schools from the Primary section once the Vernacular media were introduced in the Sinhala and Tamil schools-were some reasons for the slow growth in numbers at St. Mary's. ln 1955 Bro. Director Oliver noted: "In the classes above J.S.C. a considerrable number of boys are too old for the classes in which they are.

These overage boys are the most part indifferent, irregular and little worried about their future". In 1958 some teachers ' carried on a special campaign of house to house recruiting of students that resulted in a reasonable 480 on roll' . St. Mary's also failed to increase the number of Catholics in a predominantly Catholic town. The well-to-do Catholic parents boarded their children in Colombo schools. Sons of the fisherfolk were satisfied with a basic primary education to move on to their fathers' fishing boats. The College was situated amidst the Moor colony of Chilaw. On the west, the College property was bordered by the Moor Street. That accounts for the large number of Muslim students. The Buddhist children came from the neighbouring villages. Even the sons of the priests of Munneswaram Hindu Temple attended College. Yet, religious harmony prevailed in the College.

On 10^th July Bro. Oliver organized a Rally of the Catholic Teachers of Chilaw. Teachers from the town schools as well as from the neighbouring parish schools attended the meeting. At this well attended gathering, the teachers learned about St. De La Salle and his teaching methods.

The heavy rains during the month of December 1957 did not spare the usually dry Chilaw area. The nearby rivers and irrigation tanks overflowed their banks and dams. The homeless villagers rushed to the College. The College Hall and class rooms were converted to a temporary Refugee Camp that accommodated over 400 homeless persons.

The year 1958 was the Silver Jubilee of the Brothers' arrival at Chilaw. The Jubilee programs were disrupted by the communal riots in the country. The Military requisitioned the College Hall in May for a couple of weeks. However, the Jubilee Prize Giving was held on 14^th November presided over by Mr. Dahanayake, the Minister of Education.

Bro. Hugh Faringdon returned to St. Mary's on 12.01.1959 for another year of administration. Bro. Hugh organized a Vocation Week in the College wherein other Religious Congregrations participated. Six boys joined the Brothers' Junior Novitiate. However, their perseverance rate was very poor. At the end of the year Bro. Hugh faringdon was replaced by Bro. Lewis of Jesus. Bro. Lewis directed the College from January 1960 to December 1965, retaining the school as a non-fee levying private school for two anxious years 1961 and 1962. Bro. Lewis started work in all earnest: the Brothers' living facilities improved with the erection of new toilets and bathrooms; a Vocation Week in the school harvested another seven candidates to the Juniorate; the Catholic Teachers' Rally was held in May; Mr. D. Peter Perera, a member of the staff celebrated 25 years of teaching career at St. Mary's; the College Cadets won the Inter-Collegiate Sports Cup at Diyatalawa Camp; The Old Boys' Association was formed in July; the first O.B.A. Day was celebrated on 25th September 1960.

The ominous School-Take-Over law came into effect on 1^st December 1960. St. Mary's College being a Grade I school chose to be maintained as a non-fee levying private school, on the advice of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. A Welfare Society to look after the interests of the Chilaw College and the Convent was formed on 30^th November 1960. But soon the initial enthusiasm of its members faded leaving to the Principal the onerous task of begging for funds to pay the teachers their monthly salary. Collecting school fees from the students was forbidden by law. Realizing the futility of the decision St. Mary's College was handed over to the Government on 8^th October 1962. On r January 1963 the whole property of Mr. Henry de Costa's donation together with annexed land and Brothers' buildings was vested in the Government. Bro. Lewis managed the College as a Govt. school till the end of 1965. He was followed at the helm by Bros. Thomas Alphonsus, Edwin Ambrose, George de Silva, Aloysius Stephen and Placidus Fernando. On 01.10.1995 Bro. Placidus Fernando returned to St. Joseph's School, Grandpass handing over the baton to lay Principals at St. Mary's. The Brothers' Residence, which was handed back at the arbitration, housed the hostel till the end of 1999 when Bro. Michael Robert withdrew, handing over Hostel management to T.O.R. Franciscan congregation.

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COMMUNITY- ST. MARY'S COLLEGE- CHILAW

1933: Caesar Albert, Gregory Bernard, Jaroslav Josef.

1934: Caesar Albert, Jaroslav Josef, Ambrose Lucian.

1935: Theodoret of Mary, Jaroslav, Ambrose, Edward Albert.

1936: Theodoret of Mary, Edward Albert, Edmund, Cassian Charles.

1937: Theodoret of Mary, Stanislav Anton, Frederick Peter,

1938: Theodoret of Mary, Stanislav Anton, Frederick Peter, Cornelius.

1939: Antoine Francis, Frederick, Michael Lewis, Ambroz Josef, Joseph Charles.

1940: Vaclav Maria, Frederick, Michael, Joseph Charles, Hemenegildo Jose, Sebastian Abel

1941: Vaclav Maria, Michael, Joseph Ch., Hermenegild, Sebastian, Stefan Maria.

1942: Vaclav Maria, Michael, Joseph, Hermenegild, Sebastian, Stefan, Hilary Joseph.

1943: Hermenegild, Michael, Joseph, Sebastian, Hilary.

1944: Caesar Albert, Michael; Hermenegild, Hilary, Marcian, Mathias.

1945: Cassian of Jesus, Michael, Hermenegild, Hilary, Marcian, Ig. Robert, Ladis. Bonifac.

1946: Hugh Faringdon, Hermenegild, Hilary, Marcian, Robert, L. Bonifac. Anzelm Stan.

1947: Hugh Faringdon, Hilary, Marcian, Robert, L. Bonifac. Anselm Stan.

1948: Anselm Calixtus, Hilary, Ladislay. Bonifac, Justinian. 1949: Anselm Calixtus, Hilary,          Justinian, Michael, Sebastian.

1950: Hermenegild, Hilary, Justinian, Michael, Sebastian, Victor Thomas.

1951: Hermenegild, Michael, Sebastian, Victor, Alfred, Edwin Ambrose.

1952: Hermenegild, Michael, Alfred, Edwin, Frederick, Andrew Michael.

1953: Lawrence Justinian, Michael, Alfred, Frederick, Modestus, Ambrose Lucian.

1954: Lawrence Justinian, Michael, Alfred, Frederick, Ambrose, Edward Camillus.

1955: Glastian Oliver, Frederick, Ambrose, Joseph Nicholas. 1956: Glastian Oliver, Frederick, Nicholas, Sebastian, Anthony Peter.

1957: Glastian Oliver, Frederick, Nicholas, Sebastian, A. Peter.

1958: Glastian Oliver, Frederick, Sebastian, A. Peter, George Raymond.

1959: Hugh Faringdon, Frederick, Sebastian, George R., Boniface Patrick.

1960: Lewis of Jesus, Frederick, Sebastian, George R., Boniface.

BROTHERS PRINCIPALS OF ST. MARY'S COLLEGE CHILAW

Bro. Caesar Albert                                                                            01.05.1933                -           1935

Bro. Theodoret of Mary                                                                   17.06.1935                -           1939

Bro. Antony Francis                                                                          30.04.1939                -           1940

Bro. Vaclav Maria                                                                             25.08.1940                -           1943

Bro. Hermenegild(acting)                                                                05.11.1943                -           1944

Bro. Caesar Albert                                                                            16.01.1944                -           1945

Bro. Cassian of Jesus                                                                        10.04.1945                -           1946

Bro. Hugh Faringdon                                                                        01.01.1947                -           1948

Bro. Anselm Calixtus                                                                        01.09.1948                -           1950

Bro. Hugh Faringdon(acting)

Bro. Hermenegild Joseph                                                                15.02.1950                -           1953

Bro. Anselm Calixtus                                                                        02.05.1953                -           1953

Bro. Lawrence Justinian                                                                   26.06.1953                -           1955

Bro. Glastian Oliver                                                                          29.06.1953                -           1958

Bro. Hugh Faringdon                                                                        01.01.1959                -           1959

Bro. Lewis of Jesus                                                                           01.01.1960                -           1965

(The School was handed over to Govt. on 08.10.1962)

Bro. Thomas Alphonsus                                                                   04.01.1966                -           1968

Bro. Edwin Ambrose                                                                        01.06.1969                -           1979

Bro. George de Silva                                                                         15.09.1979                -           1986

Bro. Aloysius Stephen                                                                      20.10.1986                -           1992

Bro. Placidus Fernando                                                                    15.01.1992                -01.10. 1995

Derivation:

De La Salle Brothers of Ceylon - Part 2 (1919 -1961) by

Bro. Michael Robert. P. 123 -134, 266, 279 – 280