A farm with some land and buildings was donated to the college by Leslie de Saram and his wife.

[citation needed] Due to the Japanese war threats to Colombo, during World War II, the State Council decided in February 1942 to close all schools in the Colombo District.

There were over 700 boys at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and as the Warden explored possibilities of opening branches inland, Leslie De Seram made the generous offer of their 18-hectare (45-acre) farm at Gurutalawa.

The college is a fully fledged school catering to extra-curricular activities with a swimming pool and has facilities for nearly all sports including athletics, cricket, basketball, rugby, volleyball, squash, soccer, table tennis, hockey, badminton, swimming as well as activities like scouting, hiking and trekking.

There is also the encouragement for a variety of societies and clubs, debating, oratory, oriental dancing and music.