St. Patrick's College - Jaffna

Our College is a private school in, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1850 by Roman Catholic missionaries. The Jaffna Catholic English School was established in 1850 by Monsignor Orazio Bettacchini, an Italian Roman Catholic missionary. The school was later renamed Jaffna Boys’ Seminary. The school was registered as a High School in 1881 and renamed St. Patrick’s College on 10 January 1881. Rev. Fr. John Smythe, formerly a member of Ceylon Civil Services, was appointed as its first Rector.

Under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Timothy M.F long (O.M.I) as rector (1936-1954), the college rose to the height of glory academically as well as in sports and in almost every sphere of educational and social development. Most private schools in Ceylon were taken over by the government in 1960 but SPC chose to remain as a private and non-fee levying school.

The primary section consists of grades from 1 to 5 with 488 students. The section is functioning in a newly built three story building which is located along the Bankshall Street and also in an old building adjacent to the new one.

This section which includes grades 6, 7 and 8 functions at Long Block along St Patrick’s Road. The total number of students in this section for the current academic year 2020 is 415.

The famous Mathews Block which stands at the main entrance of the College accommodates our senior secondary section which includes grades 9, 10 and 11 with 528 students.

The Gardiner Block which was built and opened last year (2019) accommodates the collegiate section (A/L classes). The Gardiner Block was donated by Mr Sanjeev Gardiner, grandson of Sir Chittampalam Gardiner – an old Patrician. Thanks to his great generosity. The technology stream of the A/L section functions at the Technology Centre which is adjacent to the Gardiner Block. Presently 426 students are reading in the A/L classes.