History

Trincomalee Rama Krishna Mission Sri Koneswara Hindu College
History and development

Ramakrishna Mission Sri Koneswara Hindu College operating in Trincomalee district in the eastern province of the island of Sri Lanka is one of the famous Buddhist schools in the country. As a successful educational institution, the college is successfully fulfilling the educational expectations and aspirations of the community.

A successful educational institution is not merely an institution that imparts education. It can be seen that the company is a symbol of the personality, energy and development of the society in which it operates and has contributed greatly to the development and maintenance of language, religion, culture and traditions. We are all proud that Trincomalee Ramakrishna Mission Sri Koneswara Hindu College is functioning well today after reaching one hundred and twenty-three years of history with such symbols and social contributions. It is necessary to arrange some notes on the history and development of the college which has brought us here.

It may be convenient and convenient to organize the development of the college into the following stages.

Origins - Early (1897)
Managerial Period of Ramakrishna Mission (1925 – 1961)
Period after Adoption as Government School (1962 – 1992)
Period after Elevation to National School (1993 – Till date)

Origin - Early Period (1897 – 1924)
We can trace the beginnings of the Trincomalee Ramakrishna Mission Sri Koneswara Hindu College to the very last years of the 19th century. Evidences show that this college was started in 1897. This college was started as a small school by some Hindu elders who lived in this city. Due to the selfless service of the teachers who worked with self-sacrifice, the college was alive as a primary school in its early days.

In 1922, the college was officially registered as a primary school by the government. The school was managed by a Board of Directors consisting of respected Hindu Periyars in the community. In the early days, this college was functioning under the same administration in two divisions, Hindu Boys Tamil School and Hindu Boys English School. It is significant that before Swami Vibulanand took charge of this school in 1925, English language education was in this school. From 1910 to 1922, Mr. V. Thambaiah from Valvetti, Jaffna worked as the headmaster of the Hindu Boys Tamil School for a long time. Mr. Arumugam and Mr. Paramasamy have also served as principals of the Tamil school. During the same period, the following served as headmasters of the Hindu Boys' English School.

Mr. A. Masilamani – (Thirumalai)
Mr. P. Velayuthampillai – (Thirumalai)
Mr. S.U.Kanakasabhapathy – (Battleship)
Mr. Ramakrishna Iyer BA – (India)
Mr. K. Govintachari BA – (India)
By 1910, there was only up to the fifth class in the Hindu Tamil School. I have been in English school till class 5. The classes were arranged according to the system of students studying up to the fifth standard in Tamil school, first year in English school, second year and then fifth standard. It was customary for the Inspector of School to come and examine the students.

In 1921, as there was no sixth form in the English school, students who completed the fifth form in this school continued to study in the sixth form at the Wesleyan Mission School (now Methodist Girls' College). But from the month of October 1921, sixth grade was started in the English school as well, so many students who went to the Wesleyan Mission School from here came back here.

Till the time of Headmaster Mr. K. Govindachari, Hindu English School has been up to eighth standard. The government examination at the end of class eight is called ESLC (Elementary School Leaving Certificate). It is known that when Swami Vibulanandhar took charge of this school in 1925, Mr. K. Govintachari himself was the headmaster.

Before Swami Vibulananda took charge of this school, the following were present in the management council of the school from time to time.

Advocate C. Vallipurampillai etc
Advocate S. Thiagarasa
Advocate Viswalingam
Mr. Arunachalam
Mr.Murugupillai (Land Surveyor)
Mr. Subramaniam (Chief)
Mr. Vaithilingam

Managerial Period of Ramakrishna Mission (1925 – 1961)
1925 was an important year for this college. It was in this year that Swami Vibulananda took charge of the college on behalf of the Ramakrishna Mission. In 1924, Swami Vibulananda became a monk of Ramakrishna Math.

Period after Adoption as Government School (1962 – 1992)
Although Hindu College and Sri Koneswara Vidyalayam were under the same administration of the Rama Krishna Mission, when the government took over the missionary schools in 1962, these schools were handed over to the Rama Krishna Mission as two separate schools. These two schools, standing side by side as sister schools with the same flag, color, slogan and anthem, understood the educational mission. These have emerged as the leading schools of the district for primary, secondary and higher level education.

In 1962, the Principal Mr. S. Ambalavanar transferred Rathmalan to Hindu College and Mr. K. Sivapalan, who was the Vice Chancellor, accepted the responsibility of the Principal.

In March 1964, when the city of Trincomalee was badly affected by a severe cyclone, under the leadership of Principal Mr. K. Sivapalan, the students of the college engaged in massively difficult work and cleaned the city.

In 1964, Mr. Gopalasingham was selected as the first university student of Hindu College for the Arts Department.

At the end of 1968, Atiba; Mr. K. Sivapalan transferred to Palali Junior University as Vice Chancellor. In 1969, Mr. S. Ilayathambi took charge as the Principal. At the beginning of 1971, Mr. R. Krishnapillai and at the end of 1971, Mr. A. Nataraja took over the post of Principal.

In 1978, the students of Koneswara Vidyalaya appeared for the first time in the G.B.D.

In 1978, Mr. A. Sivalokanathan took charge as the Principal. In 1982, new science labs and loft buildings (Vibulanandar Agam, Vivekanandar Agam, Sivanandar Agam) were inaugurated and the college journal “Ullakamalam” was published for the first time.

Hindu College started functioning as the central school of Trincomalee Central Kothani in the school Kothani system brought in Sri Lanka's school management system.

Chancellor in 1989. Mr. S. Gunaratnam took charge as the principal after A. Sivalokanathan retired from service. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the college saw great growth during the eleven years that Mr. A. Sivalokanathan was the Principal from 1978 to 1989. During his tenure, the college has seen many improvements in terms of examination results, building and physical facilities, as the college has got good teachers with experience and skills, the college occupies a leading position in this district in terms of high quality education.

During the 1970s, students from backward areas like Trincomalee were encouraged by the district-based admission distribution system adopted by the government in the university admission system. The college took advantage of this enthusiasm. Due to this enthusiasm the students of this district are driven towards higher education. Today it is no exaggeration to say that Hindu College is the leading school that sends the most students from this district to universities.

In 1990, Mr. C. Thandayuthapani, who was on duty as the Vice-Chancellor, took over as the Principal. Mr. S. Gunaratnam, who served as the principal, was promoted to the provincial education department as an education officer. The Alumni Association, which was not functioning for many years, was reorganized in 1991 and started functioning under the leadership of Dr. Kalanidhi K. Hemachandra. Since then the Alumni Association has been making valuable contribution as an integral part of the development of the college.

Although the college was adopted from a Ramakrishna Mission school to a government school in 1962, the college continues to maintain Ramakrishna Mission links. Even in its official name it has added the words Ramakrishna Mission. A statue of Swami Vibulananda was installed by the Alumni Association in 1992 to coincide with the centenary celebrations of Swami Vibulananda. The idol was inaugurated by Swami Atmakananda and Swami Jeevananda. Since the unveiling of the statue, the relationship between the college and the Ramakrishna Mission has grown closer. Many Ramakrishna Mission swamis also visited the college frequently.

Efforts were made to start a primary section in Hindu College and in 1992 classes from Grades 1 to 5 were started at once.

Until Hindu college and Sri Koneswara Vidyalaya were merged and made into a national school, Sri Koneswara Vidyalaya had Mr. S. K. Kumaraswamy Iyer, Pandithar. E. Vadivelu, Mr. K. Nadarasa, Mr. K. Velupillai, Mr. S. Sivaprakasam, Mr. K. Jeevarethinam. These principals have performed their duty in a very good manner. The work of the above principals is the main reason why Sri Koneswara Vidyalayam has attained a leading position in the field of primary education. Principal Mr. S. K. Kumaraswamy Iyer, who has served as Principal for a long time since he was in charge of the Mission.