History

Ramakrishna Mission Sri Koneswara Hindu College,  a prestigious  Educational Institution in  the coastal town of Trincomalee in Eastern Sri Lanka, was founded in  1897 by some Hindu luminaries.

       The Institution  gained official recognition as a government primary school in 1922 and was administered by a Board of Management comprised of certain influential Hindus. The following men of repute are known to have been on the Board at one time or other.

1.    Attorney S.Vallipurampillai Mudaliyar

2.   Attorney S.Thiyagarajah

3.   Attorney  Visvalingam

4.    Mr.Arumainayagam

5.    Mr.Murugupillai(Surveyor)

6.   Mr.Subramaniam(Shroff)

7.  Mr.Vythilingam  

       At the beginning, this school had two divisions viz; Hindu Boys Tamil School and Hindu Boys English School under the same administration.  

       The year 1925 was significant as far as this school was concerned because Swami Vipulananda took over this school on behalf of the Ramakrishana Mission in 1925.Swami Vipulananda's return to the island as a saint of Ramakrishna Mission is considered as the beginning of an era in the history of education in the Eastern Province. The Swamiji's immense contribution to the growth of the Hindu Schools will undoubtedly go down in the annals of the history of the province..

        Swami Vipulananda took over the administration of  the school on 1^st June 1925 following a decision by the Board of Management  under the chairmanship of Mr.Vallipurampillai to hand over the school to Ramakrishna Mission and hence the celebration of this day as the College day

        There was a steady growth of both Hindu Boys English School and Hindu Boys Tamil School under the direct and able administration of Swami Vipulananda  in terms of the number of  students and the infrastructural facilities.

        The Kaliappu Hall built with the aid of a  public fund was declared open by the then Governor H.E.Sir Herbert Stanley and the Sampanthar Hall built in memory of an erstwhile teacher of Hindu Boys English School, Mr. P.K.Sampanthar, was  declared open by Mr.V.Kumarasamy the then Government Agent for Eastern Province.

        Swami Vipulananda had  served as the Manager of the school  since 1925. In addition to his managerial position he took over responsibilities as Principal  in 1928 in the interest of  the educational development of the school. Swami Vipulananda served in this capacity till  July 1930. However, he handed over the post of Principal to Mr.P.Ramachandra M.A(Hons) when  the responsibility of managing all the schools under the umbrella of Ramakrishna Mission fell on his shoulders.

         The school developed gradually during the period of Swami Vipulananda.  Science education was upgraded; laboratory facilities were improved. An opportunity to sit the London Cambridge Senior Examination was presented to the students. In 1932 this college was raised to senior secondary status. Owing  to the  second world war, especially between 1940 and 1945, the growth of this school was hampered. The school functioned in various places temporarily during the period. In 1945 the school commenced to function on  its original premises.

          In 1947 a library building constructed by Mr.L.H.Haradasa in memory of his late father Norris de Silva was  declared open by the then Minister of Education Hon.Nugawela. In 1952  Hindu College was raised to Grade One school. The  construction of the first upstairs building, presently named as Ampalavanar Block,  was begun in 1955 and completed in 1958.As time passed by, Hindu Boys English school  was renamed  R. K. M.Hindu College  and became a leading school in Trincomalee while Hindu Boys Tamil school became  R. K. M.Sri Koneswara Vidyalayam and became a leading primary as well as secondary school in Trincomalee.  

        At present  our College is one of the biggest Educational Institutes in Trincomalee with 2100 students, 90 teachers and 15 non-teaching staff under its fold. It produces remarkable  results at public examinations and the highest number of university entrants in the district. The College has excelled in co-curricular activities  such  as sports, scouts, art, and  literature at district, provincial and national levels. This Institution is  one of the best schools not only at district level but also at  national level .

         The  College inculcates a sense of responsibility and discipline in the students.  The parents and past students assist in the growth of the school. The school society gives its due respect to the  founders and the former teachers. R.K.M.Sri Koneswara Hindu College will continue  with its mission of producing worthy citizens in the future too.