In the suburb of Colombo when you travel along the Galle Road, you might have noticed a landscape in the center of Moratuwa with a significant architectural edifice with a green playing field in front and the gently flowing Lunawa Lagoon as its back boundary, which is the native land of “Cambrians” where the Prince and Princess are born.
The great philanthropist, Sir Charles Henry de Soysa donated this beautiful landscape to build a school to commemorate the arrival of the then Prince of Wales’, King Edward VII to the Island in 1875. He received the consent of the Royal Palace to name this school as Prince of Wales’ College, also received the privilege to endorse the crest of the school symbolizing the Crown and use the Anthem of the state of Wales as the school English Anthem. With all these priceless privileges the embarkation of Prince of Wales’ College took place on September 14 1876, ceremonially with Royal patronage by the then Governor General of the Island, Sir William Gregory.
Formerly, it functioned as a mixed school, but later on, Princess of Wales’ College started to function separately. Throughout this unique antiquity Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges were driven to success by many headmasters, and now its steering wheels have passed to Kusala Kumara Fernando and Malani Samarakoon. These two schools have served thousands of students, and about 5,000 princes and 3,500 princesses are served at present.
Throughout the 141 years of prestigious history, Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges have won many national and international championships and produced countless distinguished Cambrians and Princesses of great calibre. Well known and world renowned actors, cricketers, singers, politicians, religious leaders, sportsmen, military officers and high ranking government servants of the hierarchy are among them.
In 2017, Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges proudly celebrate their 141 years of unblemished superiority. To ceremonially celebrate their 141st anniversary, Prince of Wales’ College has organized a Pirith chanting program on September 13 at the College Budhu Madura which bears the largest full moonstone in Asia, followed by an alms giving to 50 monks on 14th. In addition, “Cambrian Spirit FB Friends” have organized a book donation program to the students of Diamond Jubilee College in Panadura on September 15, with their heartiest wish for their Alma Mater to have the strength to serve Cambrians and Princesses thousands more years.
“God bless our Prince of Wales”: ‘Princess, long live our School’
Pix: Asitha Jayamith