The Joseph Vaz College of Wennappuwa is a public school in Wennappuwa, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1934 and consecrated in honour of St. Joseph Vaz. It opened with 28 children with Bro. Lewis as its first Director. It is a National School, meaning that it is funded by the central government as opposed to the Provincial Council providing both primary and secondary education. It has a student population of 7450 and the tutorial staff consists of 280 teachers.



History

In 1933 Peter Marque, Archbishop of Colombo requested the Marist Brothers to open a school at Wennappuwa.

The Superiors agreed to this request and consented to buy the necessary land and to put up the buildings. Funds were sent from the Marist Brother House in France. With the help of Fr. J. Mazeyer O.M.I. (Parish Priest of Wennappuwa) and the generosity of Chevalier John Fernando and Messrs. W.K. Michael Fernando, W.K. Charles Fernando and W.K. Peter Fernando, 4 acres (16,000 m2) of land were bought and the foundation laid in February 1934. By August of the same year the buildings were completed and declared open by the Archbishop. The first community of Brothers consisted of Revd Bro. Lewis (Director) Bro. Honorias and Bro. Felix.