In 1880, one Mr. Brohier began a private school, under the management of Rev. Fr. Wilkinson OMI, the Parish Priest, in a building in close proximity to Holy Cross Church, Kalutara. This building was owned by the Town Council and was taken on lease at a rental of Rs.12/- per year. In 1890, Fr. Wilkinson got the school registered as a grant-in-aid school and catered to both boys and girls. In 1900, Rev. Fr. Leo Fernando, whom we may consider as the founder of Holy Cross College came in charge of the Parish of Kalutara. Soon, he realized the difficulties faced by the parents in not having an English School for the education of their children. With the help of the authorities and benevolent Catholics, he opened up a school on the present site. This new school was registered in 1902 and Mr. Thariar was made the head master. The school at that time was a small cadjan shed sufficient to accommodate a small number of children. When Fr. Leo was transferred in 1904 there were 75 students on the roll consisting of both boys and girls. Rev. Fr. Theobald Silva OMI succeeded Fr. Leo but his stay was only for 18 months.

A landmark in the history of the College was set up with the arrival of Rev. Fr.Martin Herel OMI in 1905. To him we owe most of the improvements to the Church and the School. It was during his regime that the Government permitted the College to send up students for the Cambridge Examinations. In addition to studies, Fr. Herel promoted extra curricular activities and the College shone on the field of cricket by producing one of Ceylon's most famous cricketers in M K Albert. To Fr. Herel, we also owe the beautiful grotto of our Lady of Lourdes. In 1912 Rev. Fr. Charles Edmund Fonseka OMI came in place of Fr.Herel. By this time the Parish and the School had expanded to such an extent, that it was not possible for one person to take care of both. Therefore Rev. Fr. Robert Fernando OMI was appointed as the Principal of the College. Fr. Robert introduced a library and for the first time science subjects were taught in the College. Rev. Fr. Francis Lawrence Breton OMI, succeeded Fr. Robert in 1918. Fr. Breton's stay at the College was limited to a period of little over two years during which time he introduced cadetting. Rev. Fr. Clement V Croos OMI replaced him in 1921. Three significant achievements during his tenure of office were: the raising of the status of the College to a Senior Secondary School by the Government, construction of well equipped laboratories for Physics and Chemistry and the construction of the College Hall. The inauguration of this hall by His Grace the Archbishop of Colombo took place on 10th March 1927. This hall stands in good stead to date.

Another landmark in the history of the College was the appointment of Rev. Fr. Gaston Chaulieu as the Principal in June 1930. With this began the golden era of a glorious regime, when the school progressed with great strides, culminating in the erection of lofty buildings on the hill, which stands to date. During his period, students were sent for the London Matriculation Examination and in the ensuing years admirable results were obtained. Within a few years, ever growing numbers and constant and steady progress demanded the opening of a separate convent school for the girls, under the care of the Sisters of Holy Family.

At this time, Holy Cross College was housed in two separate buildings. The Kindergarten and the Primary School consisting of classes from standard two to standard five were on the hillock separated by the Hill Street. The Head Mistress of this section of the school was one Mrs. Rodrigo. Classes from grade six to Cambridge Senior were in some of the buildings that are still being occupied by the College. Holy Family Convent was established in 1935 in the building on the hillock, under the guidance of Rev. Mother Loyala, the Superior and Rev. Mother Marcel, the First Principal. Another important innovation of Fr. Chaulieu was the introduction of the House System in May 1937. The boys were grouped into four houses: Herel, Robert, Breton and Croos named after the last four Principals whose achievements thus perpetuated, will prove an inspiration to many generations. House activities embraced school life in all its aspects: studies, games, sports, regular attendance, cleanliness, refinement of manners etc. Holy Family Convent too followed suit and introduced a house system and named three of the four houses as Chaulieu, Loyala and Marcel in honour of the services rendered by these three persons in the formation of the school.

After a period of sixteen years at the helm Fr.Chaulieu handed over the reins to Rev. Fr. Arthur Nicholas Fernando in January 1946.The short stay of two and a half years of Fr. Arthur brought in another acquisition to the College in the form of a fair sized play ground, a necessity for the progress of the College. Up to this time the College had to depend on the town esplanade for all its sports activities. On 3rd February 1948, on the eve of the restoration of national freedom, Honorable Don Stephen Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of Ceylon was the Chief Guest at the College Prize Giving. On the same day he also opened the “ Liberty Fair ”, a carnival organized by Fr. Arthur for the people of Kalutara to celebrate the Independence. Before Fr. Arthur left in June 1948, the status of the College was raised to an “A” Grade institution.

Rev. Fr. Benedict Julius Caesar Pinto, who was the Prefect of Discipline during Fr. Arthur's tenure as Principal, succeeded him. The Golden Jubilee of the College was held during his period and the Chief Guest at the function was Lord Soulbury, the first Governor General of Ceylon. During the same period the Cadet Platoon won the Herman Loos Challenge Cup and Sir John Kotelawala Cup for Battle Drill that was presented for the first time. The students were also successful in winning the Trophy at the all island Shakespeare Drama Festival.

In 1954, Rev. Fr Theodore Peiris OMI assumed office as the Rector of the College and continued in that position until 1971. He introduced Tennis and Basketball to the College. A few years later, the then Public Works Department acquired a fair amount of land from the College for widening of the Galle Road. Thus the College lost the Tennis court, the Basketball court and the firing range used by the cadets. Subsequently a new basketball court was put up on the northern end of the main playground and Tennis was not started again. The Neon signboard placed above the statute of our lady of Lourdes in the Grotto that read as “ I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ” was the work of Fr. Theodore. However it is sad to note that the Neon signboard that was removed for repairs was never reinstalled.

The year 1960 will go down in the history as the “Heart Break Year” for denominational schools. The government of the day by an Act of Parliament ended the system of education that prevailed in the country from 1843. In March 1961 the Assisted Schools and Training Colleges Act was passed. As a result 2750 assisted schools were taken over by the State. Grade 1 and Grade 2 schools, however, were given an option to remain as Private Schools, provided they elected to make themselves unaided and non fee levying. This was an agonizing dilemma forced on the Managers of the denominational schools and the parents of children attending those schools. The Managers of the respective schools with the concurrence of the parents and past students took a decision and 48 schools thus came under the new designation of “ Private Non Fee Levying Schools”, probably the only kind in the whole world. Holy Cross College, Kalutara was one among the 48 and was the only such boys school between Moratuwa and Galle. In the course of time some of these schools were handed over to the State for obvious reasons. However, Holy Cross College continued to remain unabated. Thanks to the generous support of Parents, Past Students and Well Wishers. There is no doubt that they contributed to the best of their ability when it came to supporting the College. However these donations were not sufficient to meet the expenses of the College that mostly consisted of the salaries of the teachers. It was no secret that the deficits were bridged by the Archbishop of Colombo on a monthly basis as outright grants, although it was a severe constraint on the coffers of the Arch Diocese. The quality of education was maintained amidst these financial difficulties. The College that had earned a reputation for Cadetting had to give this up as the government withdrew all the facilities given for Cadetting. Rev. Fr. Thimothy Peiris took over from Fr. Theodore Peiris in 1971 and continued as Rector until his departure to USA in 1973. Thereafter Mr. M J Anthony Cooray, an old boy of the College was appointed as the first lay Principal and continued until his retirement in 1978.

The year 1978 is another important landmark of the College. The Management of the College was handed over to the Marist Brothers who had wide experience in managing schools in the North Western Province. We welcome them in the South Western Province.

The first Principal under the new management was Rev. Bro. Francis Silva. He did not spend much time to recognize what the people of the Kalutara District needed and went on to identify places suitable for construction of new buildings, to meet at least partly, the demand for new admissions. He completed a two-storied building with the assistance of the OBU. It is heartening to note that the government in 1980 decided to pay the salaries of the teachers of the Private Non Fee Levying Schools as per an agreed formula. However funds for sports, extra curricular activities, salaries of additional teachers, buildings and other expenditure had to be mobilized by the school. 2nd March 1987 was a sad day for all those who were associated with the College as Bro. Francis was called to eternal rest on this day. Rev. Bro Shanthi Liyanage was the Principal from March 1987 to 1988. Rev. Bro. Sirimal Kerewgoda was the Principal in 1989 and Rev. Bro Clinton Perera became the Principal in 1990. He completed a four storied building, laid the foundation for a five storied building, extended the area of the play-ground and introduced a Brass Band during his tenure of office. The present Principal Rev. Bro. Lal Fonseka took over office from Bro. Clinton Perera in January 2001. Bro. Lal had already completed two floors of the proposed five-storied building. These two floors accommodate eight classrooms. Currently, there are 1500 students and 70 teachers at the College. The buildings in the College are appropriately named after the persons who were responsible for the construction.

At this point, it is fit and proper to pay a tribute to Oblate Fathers and Secular Priests of the Arch Diocese for all the good they have done to the people of the Kalutara District through the medium of Holy Cross College. Each Principal had done his best in his own unique way, according to the needs of the time then prevailing, for the progress of the school. Of these great heroes Reverend Fathers Leo, Theobald, Herel, Charles, Robert, Breton, Croos, Chaulieu, Arthur, Pinto, Theodore and Reverend Bro. Francis have gone to their eternal reward. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to them and also to those who are still living. They will remain lasting memorials in the minds of all Crusaders of Kalutara.

Clarence Seimon
Secretary, HCC OBU Colombo Branch