College History

St. Thomas’ Catholic International College, the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, is named after the late Msgr. Thomas Cardinal Cooray, who performed the enormous task of elevating the standard of Catholic education in Sri Lanka. It is also dedicated to Thomas the Apostle who also is the Apostle of Asia.

     A colossal move was taken by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis (Archbishop Emeritus) to enhance the Catholic mission in the field of education in the country. As an initial step, the foundation stone was laid for building, a primary section by Archbishop Emeritus, on 7th October 2008, in the name of His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Cooray and St. Thomas the Apostle. Very Rev. Fr. Ivan Perera had already made preliminary plans which were concretized with the laying of the foundation stone.

     Nevertheless, the execution of the mission and the project came to fruition with His Eminence, who gave life to the vision of His Grace Archbishop Oswald Gomis by assigning the groundwork to Rev. Fr. Ranjith Madurawela in the year 2010. Rev. Fr. Ranith Madurawela who was the Archdiocesan Director of Education and General Manager of Catholic Schools added another notch to this mission by making specific plans for a College, which could provide students with a Catholic environment. This College would be under Archdiocesan management, and whilst providing traditional and integral Catholic guidance and discipline would also base studies in English. The formative years of students would, therefore, be inculcated in a language recognized worldwide and give them the opportunity of rising way above students educated in the vernacular.

       The school motto “Fides Quaerens Intellectum” (Knowledge through Faith) upholds the vision and calls pupils to fathom the destinies of human beings not only in this world but to reach beyond material realities in the light of true faith. Our principal objective is education with a spiritual background and building character in a Catholic atmosphere as a unique means of producing useful and outstanding citizens of the world.

       The doors to such learning were made accessible to students on 11th January 2011, followed by a ceremonial opening on 18th January 2011 by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo and second Cardinal of Sri Lanka.

With a deep sense of gratitude, we mention God’s intervention through the Holy Trinity Foundation of Attidiya-Dehiwela, headed and inspired by Mr and Mrs Ranjan Gomez and the Thrithva Bhavana Community and its pastors who came to our rescue. We see this as God’s plan, at the very inception of our venture. Their generosity truly had no limits and gave much-needed rest to our sleepless eyes, relieving us of the burden of how to proceed without funds. The promise was incredible and the actions manifested as we saw the buildings rise. The Archdiocese of Colombo continues to pray for these donors for becoming the pillars of the Holy Catholic Church. Their generosity in response to the call of God was amazing. Let us acknowledge and pay our utmost tribute to the magnificent generosity of Mr and Mrs Ranjan Gomez, the strong instruments of God, sent as prophets amongst us today. God loves a cheerful giver and we acknowledge His messenger with gratitude and love. May God assure His heavenly rewards for the chosen servants of God.