Since the arrival of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Sri Lanka in 1847, we have viewed education as the master key to unlocking a better life for the needy and the disadvantaged. For the Oblates, teaching is not merely the transmission of knowledge; it is the vital work of nurturing genuine human, religious, and spiritual values to form complete, compassionate individuals.

Our current ministries stand proudly on the shoulders of legendary Oblate educators—visionaries such as Fr. Maurice J. Legoc, Fr. Peter A. Pillai, Fr. Basil Weeratunga, Fr. C.S. Matthews, and Fr. Timothy Long—whose names have become synonymous with academic and moral excellence across Sri Lanka.

Today, the Colombo Province continues this rich legacy through a diverse network of institutions, scholarships, and pastoral care designed to support students at every stage of their journey:

Primary & Secondary Education

Mazenod College (Anuradhapura): Established in 2019, this English-medium college serves the children of the North Central Province. Living out its motto, "Servire in amore" (To serve in love), the college provides high-quality, holistic education while actively fostering a "dialogue of life" and inter-religious harmony within a predominantly Buddhist environment.

Language & Youth Formation

Mazenod English Institute - M.E.I. (Negombo): Housed in the ancestral home of the late Fr. Tissa Balasuriya, this highly demanded institute offers residential English courses for youth who have just completed their O/Level and A/Level examinations. Beyond language proficiency, M.E.I. emphasizes integral human formation and the development of core values during a critical transitional period in young lives.

Higher Learning & Peacebuilding

Oblate Institute of Higher Learning - OIHL (Colombo): Born from a collective desire to address the urgent need for conflict transformation in post-war Sri Lanka, OIHL offers professional certificate and diploma programs in National Reconciliation and Peacebuilding. It trains humanitarians, community leaders, and peacebuilders to lay a solid foundation for sustainable peace across the nation.

University Empowerment & Pastoral Care

De Mazenod Scholarship Foundation: Inaugurated to mark the 200th anniversary of the Oblate Congregation, this foundation empowers bright, underprivileged youth from rural and low-income backgrounds by providing the financial assistance necessary to pursue their university education.

Catholic University Chaplaincy (Peradeniya): Located at the Chapel of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, the Chaplaincy serves as a spiritual home for young adults navigating university life. It is a welcoming space for students of all backgrounds to explore their faith, find honest answers to life's questions, and build lifelong friendships rooted in love and service.