Fr. Charuka Namal, OMI

The Oblates of Colombo Province in Sri Lanka dedicate themselves to evangelizing the poor through quality education, irrespective of their ethnicity or creed, so that they can be protagonists of a better life with hope for tomorrow.

The Oblate Institute of Higher Learning (OIHL)

The OIHL is an institute of higher learning promoting humanitarian values, knowledge and skills to serve humanity in a creative way thereby responding to contemporary needs in the Sri Lankan church and in the secular society.

Reconciliation and peacebuilding

The origin of the Oblate Institute of Higher Learning dates back to 2016, when the late Rev. Dr. Oswald Firth OMI established it, focusing on national reconciliation and peacebuilding in post-war Sri Lanka. It is situated in the Western province of Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka. The fundamental dream was to develop the institute into a fully furnished higher education institute that would cater to the academic needs of the poor and middle-income earners. Committed to the purpose of “being the heart of innovative learning to serve humanity,” especially to those at the margins of society.

 

Immersion in religious and spiritual formation

The Oblate Institute of Higher Learning aims at excellence in studies, character formation, as well as human and spiritual growth for each student. It also serves to form religious men and women on Sri Lankan soil. Not only Catholic students but also Buddhist students have enrolled themselves in our institute to pursue their studies. A course on spirituality and a diploma in formation for renewal in our curriculum offer precious opportunities for the Oblates and the religious of other congregations here to immerse themselves in religious studies and spiritual formation.

Uplifting the needy

The Oblate Institute of Higher Learning has designed several courses, such as diplomas in psychological counseling, teacher formation, English for entrepreneurs, courses on computer study, bookkeeping, and accounts, and English for post-ordinary-level students and post-advanced level students, maintaining the time demands of the local context. It enables us as the Oblates to uplift the needy to be better off in society.

In the footsteps of St. Eugene

We dedicate ourselves following in the footprints of our blessed founder, St. Eugene De Mazenod, to evangelize and strengthen the poor irrespective of their ethnicity or creed so that they can be protagonists of a better life with hope for tomorrow.