MARIS STELLA COLLEGE

Maris Stella College is a Catholic college located in Negombo, Sri Lanka, established by the Marist Brothers. Its origins trace back to 1918, when four Marist Brothers arrived in Negombo and took over management of St Mary's College. In 1922, the school moved to its present site and was renamed Maris Stella College. The primary school's history dates to 1921, when Bro. Lewis oversaw the elementary classes held in cadjan sheds. Over the decades, the school expanded its facilities, including new classrooms and a purchased plot of land for the primary school. During World War II, the school buildings were requisitioned by the Royal Artillery and later the Royal Air Force, while the primary school temporarily relocated to Tammita Church grounds. The Primary Department operated for years as a separate government-aided third-grade school before being reintegrated under the main school's administration. Several principals, including Gerard Peiris, Joseph Fonseka, and others, led the primary school through the mid-20th century. On 18 June 2022, the college celebrated its centennial anniversary with a mass presided over by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo.