Wesley College, Colombo

Wesley College, Colombo, popularly known as "Wesley" or "The Double Blues" is a Methodist school providing primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka since 1874.

History
In 1858, Rev. Joseph Rippon wanted to establish a superior educational institution for the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in South Ceylon. On 2 March 1874 (the death anniversary of Rev. John Wesley) Wesley College was founded in the City Mission buildings at Dam Street, Pettah. Wesley's first principal was Rev. Samuel R. Wilkin and the first vice-principal was Rev. D. Henry Pereira.

Many years later, under the guiding hand of Rev. Henry Highfield, Wesley was moved from Dam Street, Pettah to its current residence at Karlsruhe Gardens, Borella in 1907.

The Methodist institution was envisaged to be a distinctly Christian college, however it currently provides secondary education for over three thousand Sri Lankan students from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Wesley College has since established two branches to accommodate its growing number of students. One branch is situated in Havelock Town, Colombo while the other is in Thampola, Katunayake.

Wesley College is named after John Wesley (1703–1791), the founder of the Methodist Church.

College song
The song was the first-ever school anthem to be written in the country. The lyrics were composed by H. J. V. I. Ekanayake in 1898, and set to the music of "Scots Wha Hae" by Robert Burns. This music is adapted from the traditional Scottish patriotic tune "Hey Tuttie Tatie", which was composed in 1314.

Houses
The house system was suggested by Rev. Henry Highfield and introduced by Rev Albert Hutchinson. Wesley College has four main houses, which were further divided by C. J. Oorloff as senior houses and junior houses. The houses are named after former principals and teachers, as follows:


 * Senior house-Wilkin / Junior house-Dias.
 * Senior house-Moscrop / Junior house-Lemphers.
 * Senior house-Hillard / Junior house-Mack.
 * Senior house-Passmore / Junior house-Honter.