By Mr. Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar on Wednesday 29, July 1998

In 1943, Mr. K. Poornampillai succeeded Mr. Thamotheram as Principal of Hartley College. He is a Graduate of the London University and a Postgraduate Trained at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham. Like his predecessors Rev. Peter Percival and Mr. Thamotheram, he, too, rendered yeoman service to the development of this College.

It would be proper to refer to Mr. K. Pooranampillai's period as the beginning of the 'golden era' in the History of Hartley College. The academic standard was maintained as he had his education in England. He had made the College a place for the acquisition of skills necessary for life. In order to achieve this objective, he widened the scope for extra curricular activities and formed school societies. This led to the people gaining experience and opportunities to undertake responsibilities in later life.

One of the remarkable features of his ability was that he could see to every pupil participating in one or the other of the various activities in College. It was during his period the gymnasium was inaugurated, additional classrooms too were put up.

He had his own system of conducting the examinations. He conducted the weekly test, monthly test and the term test and examined the performance of every pupil and brought it to the notice of the parents. It is this systematic approach adopted by Mr. K. Poornampillai which led Hartley College to demonstrate it's outstanding performances in the academic field. The training received at Hartley College paved the way for some of the outstanding products to accept responsible positions such as Speaker of Parliament, Vice Chancellors, Deans, Lecturers, Supreme Court Judges, Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Accountants, Secretaries in the Ministries and Heads of the Banks, higher ranking officers in departments and even high ranking officers in the United Nations etc. both in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Even the present speaker of Parliament K. B. Ratnayake admitted that on account of the education and discipline which he received at Hartley College he was able to achieve this position as Speaker. In fact, the education he received at Hartley was able to face problems in his life as a Parliamentarian and Minister with courage and fortitude. All these he admits on account of the education which he received at the hands of the dedicated, devoted and highly disciplined teachers and principals like C. P. Thamotheram and K. Poornampillai.

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The arrival of the British in Sri Lanka laid the foundation for the beginning of the growth of the Methodist schools especially after it had removed the ban on the Missionaries by the East India Company by an Act of Parliament in 1813. The Missionaries waited for this opportunity and made arrangements for the expedition in the East.

It was at this time that John Wesley's Lieutenant Dr. Thomas Coke who had the reputation of having converted millions of people to Christianity sold his property and set sail for Ceylon as it was then called with six other missionaries in spite of his old age in December 1813 though Dr. Thomas Coke died, five missionaries arrived near Galle on June 29, 1814 and two of whom namely Lynch and Squance came to Jaffna in August the same year.

After spending some days in the Jaffna peninsula Rev. Thomas Squance leased out a plot of land from one Nagappar of Point Pedro near the sea side where the present Methodist Girls College is situated. A building was constructed on that plot of land wherein a Tamil school was started and was functioning.

In 1826 Rt. Rev. Peter Percival who was one of the Christian Missionaries came to Ceylon to convert the people of Ceylon to Christianity but in 1830 he was sent to Culcutta to start a Mission there. There his attempt proved futile. Later he came to Ceylon in 1832 when a remarkable change in the administration of British rule occurred as a result of the recommendation of the Colebooke Commission. This marked the significant event of their religion which eventually had its reflection on the education system.

Rev. Peter Percival started the Jaffna Central School in 1834 and in 1838 started an English school in Point Pedro which was known as Point Pedro Wesleyan Mission Central School. Thus the founding of the school took place due to persistent efforts and aspirations of the methodist Missionaries.

The Point Pedro Wesleyan Mission Central School started by Rev. Peter Percival progressed well with about 50 students. However on account of the nature of the people prevailing at the time the number attending school fluctuated from time to time. Nevertheless due to the continuous effort and aspirations of Rev. Peter Percival the general committee in London was satisfied with the progress of the school and paid Ref. Peter Percival the sum of sterling pounds 400 in 1854 which he had incurred as expenses.

Since its inception in 1838 it has been continuously functioning as a school except for a brief interval in 1860. It was in 1861 that the school was reopened with D.P. Niles, a graduate of the Batticaloa Seminary. As its Head Master from 1861 - 1868 he worked hard for the progress of this school and it was evident at a time when Jaffna Central College was in great difficulties on account of Hindu Religious revivalism.

When D. P. Niles was transferred to Jaffna Central School Mr. Samuel Hensman succeeded him as Head Master of this school. Even during his time the Point Pedro Mission Central School was on the path of progress without any interruption. The British government abolished the Central Schools Commission in 1870 and instead the Department of Public Instruction was established. Accordingly Government grants were made available to the school on the results of the annual examinations which eventually led to a report by a Sub-Inspector W.H. de Alwis that this school performance was one of the best in the peninsula.

However, with the passage of time, as changes took place during the British rule, people had to change their lifestyle. There developed a great desire for education, particularly among the middle class which had begun to grow in such a situation. The number started growing and in 1875 it has become a necessity on account of the increasing numbers to shift the school to the present site while allowing the old site to be used for the girls school. It is at this juncture John Chickering Thamotherampillai Sherrard became the Head Master of this school.

He was so closely connected with the school and so popular among the parents of that area everyone began to call and refer the school as Sherrard's School, instead of using the name Point Pedro Weslian Mission Central School. Mr. Sherrard was systematic in his approach and was painstaking teacher.

He had studied the people of the area and toiled hard for the development of the school and in the course of time it was upgraded which prepared the then candidates to sit the entrance examination of the Culcutta University.

After his retirement the Management appointed S. A. Paulpillai as its Principal. He was a graduate of Madras University. Nevertheless Mr. Sherrard continued his assistance to S.A. Paulpillai and guided him well for the development of the school.

S.A. Paulpillai was a reputed and successful teacher who proved his success with the very first batch of candidates for the entrance examination. This event opened the eyes of the authorities of the other leading schools. He was a disciplinarian and eventually died in 1906. After his death Stephen S. Kanapathipillai succeeded him as Principal.

He too was a graduate of the Culcutta University. He was a keen sportsman and was himself a soccer player. He taught Mathematics and Science in such a manner as to create enthusiasm amongst the students in those subjects. He was functioning as its Principal till 1918 and resigned with the view to study Law. He was also selected as a teacher to conduct lectures for the first in Arts Students at Jaffna Central.

In 1912 E. S. Abraham also a graduate of University of Culcutta was appointed as the Principal of this school. He showed great enthusiasm for Tamil Literature and inspired the students to learn Tamil. He had ability to select bright students and train them. He was unable to serve the school for a long period as he had to resign his post in order to serve the people of his birth place as Principal of Drieberg College, Chavakachcheri.

The year 1915 marked a turning point in the history of this School when C.P. Thamotheram was appointed Principal. He was a Graduate of the Madras University and during his period of 28 years, significant changes occurred. The School was named as Hartley College in 1916 when Rev. Marshall Hartley laid a foundation for a Chemistry Laboratory and six class rooms in his second visit to Point Pedro as Secretary in the Mission House for the East. The building was completed in 1917.

He was the pioneer of this School because of his tireless efforts and dedicated service, the school was given a face lift. Mention should be made of the late A. Kandiah, who was one of the first Chemistry teachers who later ended up as a Professor of Chemistry at the University.

During Thamotheram's tenure of office, he had capable assistants, who played a vital role for the development of the College. Notable contribution was made by W. A. Walton, who was a veteran in Shakespeare's Plays. He inspired the students to take an active part in Shakespeare's Plays.

Within a short period after he had assumed office, the school began to grow day by day. With the widening of he curriculum and demands of the Education Department, it became necessary to spend more money. This placed the Management in financial difficulties. The Synod of 1920, after deliberations, decided to concentrate to Jaffna Central School. But after a long debate, thereafter, the Synod decided to continue Hartley College as a Secondary School on condition that it does not seek financial assistance from the Missionary Society.

Mr. Thamotheram took up this challenge and dedicated himself to run the School without any assistance from the Missionary Society. As a result of his tireless efforts and ability, the hall was renovated and some more class rooms came to be constructed. It is worth mentioning the fact a piece of land was bought to be used as a playground. At this time, the Hostel too, was shifted to the land in front of the playground. It was only after this event that sports activities such as Football, Cricket, Athletics were encouraged systematically. Thus, Hartley College also began to demonstrate that it is not second to any of the leading schools in the peninsula.

Hartley's results at the Cambridge Examinations were exceptionally good. Scholarships were won especially in Mathematics and Science both at then University College and abroad. Hartley College earned its recognition as a leading school during Mr. Thamotheram's tenure of office.

Mr. Thamotheram could be properly described as an all-rounder. He was a versatile teacher, who could teach any subjects whether it be Mathematics, English Literature or English, History with enthusiasm. He had a personal knowledge of every student. After a long period of 28 years as Principal of Hartley College, he retired in 1943 at the age of 60 years and the number on roll at this period stood at over 500.

In 1943, Mr. K. Poornampillai succeeded him as Principal of Hartley College. He is a Graduate of the London University and a Postgraduate Trained at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham. Like his predecessors Rev. Peter Percival and Mr. Thamotheram, he, too, rendered yeoman service to the development of this College.

It would be proper to refer to Mr. K. Pooranampillai's period as the beginning of the 'golden era' in the History of Hartley College. The academic standard was maintained as he had his education in England. He had made the College a place for the acquisition of skills necessary for life. In order to achieve this objective, he widened the scope for extra curricular activities and formed school societies. This led to the people gaining experience and opportunities to undertake responsibilities in later life.

One of the remarkable features of his ability was that he could see to every pupil participating in one or the other of the various activities in College. It was during his period the gymnasium was inaugurated, additional classrooms too were put up.

He had his own system of conducting the examinations. He conducted the weekly test, monthly test and the term test and examined the performance of every pupil and brought it to the notice of the parents. It is this systematic approach adopted by Mr. K. Poornampillai which led Hartley College to demonstrate it's outstanding performances in the academic field. The training received at Hartley College paved the way for some of the outstanding products to accept responsible positions such as Speaker of Parliament, Vice Chancellors, Deans, Lecturers, Supreme Court Judges, Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Accountants, Secretaries in the Ministries and Heads of the Banks, higher ranking officers in departments and even high ranking officers in the United Nations etc. both in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Even the present speaker of Parliament K. B. Ratnayake admitted that on account of the education and discipline which he received at Hartley College he was able to achieve this position as Speaker. In fact, the education he received at Hartley was able to face problems in his life as a Parliamentarian and Minister with courage and fortitude. All these he admits on account of the education which he received at the hands of the dedicated, devoted and highly disciplined teachers and principals like C. P. Thamotheram and K. Poornampillai.

After the relinquishing of office by Mr. Poornampillai as Principal at Hartley College M/s Ratnasabapathy MSc. (1967 - 1971) Mr. C. Rajadurai BSc. (1971 - 1973) Mr. P. Ahambaram B.Sc. (1973 - 1975) and Mr. W. M. S. Samuel B.A. (1975 - 1985) functioned as Principals with great, acceptance both by the students and the parents.

S.P. Balasingham is a distinguished old boy of Hartley College who strained every nerve of his to keep the flag of Hartley College flying amidst tension and turmoil, when he was the Principal of Hartley College.

Indeed Mr. Balasingham functioned as Principal during a critical and crucial period (ie.) during Vadamarachchi operation and (IPKF) Indian Peace Keeping force operation and was highly commended by the officials of the Ministry of Education, Members of Parliament and even ministers for the tremendous service he rendered during that period.

Though Hartley College was started by Missionaries it became a government sponsored one in the early part of sixties. Even though Hartley College is a Government College at present all those who have gone through Hartley College are still grateful to their alma mater. Despite the turmoil and tribulations in the peninsula in particular and the country in general Hartley College has not failed in its duty to hold the torch of learning burning aloft and mould its students as useful citizens for the country.