Nalanda College, Colombo

Nalanda College Colombo නාලන්දා විද්‍යාලය, කොළඹ
"අපදාන ශෝභිණී පඤ්ඤා" Aapadana Sobhini Pangna "Character Illumines Wisdom" ‍"යහපත් චරිතයෙන් ප්‍රඥාව ඔපනැංවේ"
Location
Colombo Sri Lanka
Information
Type	National School
Established	1 November 1925
Founder	Patrick de Silva Kularatne
Principal	Ranjith Jayasundara
Grades	Class 1 - 13
Gender	Boys
Enrollment	5,000
Colour(s)	Maroon and Silver
Affiliation	Buddhist
Alumnus	Old Nalandians
Website	http://www.nalanda.sch.lk/

Nalanda College Colombo^{[1][2][3][3][4]} (Sinhala:නාලන්දා විද්‍යාලය, කොළඹ) is a public Buddhist national school in Colombo, Sri Lanka which is controlled by the central government, as opposed to a provincial council. The School was established by Mr. P. de S. Kularatne as an offshoot of Ananda College Colombo and was registered as a separate school on 1 November 1925.^[5]

History

Main Entrance to College

In 1922 a section of Ananda College was moved to Campbell Place, Colombo on a proposal made by Mr P. de. S. Kularathna (Patrick de Silva Kularatne), a leading Buddhist Educationist of the time. Mr L. H. Methananda was placed as Principal of this institution which was called as Ananda branch. Mr.W..E. Fernando was the Head master and Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Therea became its first Buddhist teacher.

Nalanda College Oldest Buildings

In 1924. Mr P. de. S. Kularathna has spent Rs. 5,500/= to purchase a quarter acre of land close to the Campbell place playground and built 16 class rooms for the new school. Governor Gregory Thompson laid the foundation stone for a building to have 16 class rooms. Out of 16 class rooms he has used two rooms for the Principals office and staff members another two rooms for the Laboratories and balance 12 rooms for the classes. Three Hundred and thirty students of Ananda were transferred under Mr L. H. Mettananda in 1924.

Malalasekara Theatre

Mr P.de. S Kularathna was the Chief person in all these activities was instrumental in getting the institution registered as a separate school on 1 November 1924. The new school was given its motto Apadana Sobhini Panna , and the school name NALANDA also proposed by Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero . The English and the Sinhala versions are Character Illumines Wisdom and Yahapath Charithayen Praggnawa Opanangwe respectively. Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera has selected this motto from the "Anguttara Nikaya, Tika Nipatha, Bala Waggo Lakkana Sutta.

Thakshila Building

On 1 January 1926 Mr P.de.S. Kularathna has appointed Dr. Gunapala Mallasekara as Principal of the Nalanda College and transferred Mr. L.H. Metthanada to Ananda College as Vice Principal. Nalanda was fortunate in having its second principal the renowned scholar Prof. Gunapala Malasekera (Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera). Later Prof Gunapala Malasekara set about his duties with much enthusiasm and launched several projects. He made plans for the collection of funds for the construction of buildings, later commenced a bulletin titled "NALANDA". Also arranged 15 minutes Buddhist talk at the daily students assembly and took many steps to promote the Buddhist environment in the school.

Mr P. de S. Kularathna has laid the foundation stone for second building on 30 March 1926. End of 1926 Nalanda students were increased to 550. Later he has borrowed money from Anagarika Dharmapala. to purchase a land for primary section which was settled by Dr. Gunapala Mallasekara. The College student assembly hall is named Malalasekara Theatre after him.

Evolution

Language Laboratory

The college is equipped with facilities such as science and computer laboratories, lecture halls, auditoriums, hostels, etc., including Malalasekara Theatre.^[6][7] The main medium of education at Nalanda is Sinhala while students have the option to select English from year seven onwards.^[8] Nalandians have excelled academically, achieving high grades at Ordinary Level and Advanced Level exams and also in sports.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]}

Swimming Pool

In 2011 Nalandian students won First Place in the world at the Oracle Thinkquest Application Development and First place for International Students Biotechnology Competition and the 14th International Convention on Students Quality Control Circles, held in Lucknow, India.^{[21][22][23][24][25]} Students of Nalanda College Colombo also have excelled in research activities.^{[26][27][28][29][30]}

Awards

At Nalanda College Colombo there are many endowed prizes and awards to felicitate its students who achieve immensely in education, sports and other extracurricular activities. Felicitation ceremonies are conducted each year.^{[31][32][33][34]}

• Annual Prize Giving - All Nalandians who gained unique academic achievements in education are felicitated.
• Annual Colours Awarding Ceremony - Ceremony to felicitate students who performed and achieved national and international victories during a year.
• International Awarding Ceremony - Ceremony to award students who gained high recognition in the international arena.
• Nalanda Puthra Abhinandana Award – Service to the nation awarded to M. J. Perera in 1992.
• Nalanda Keerthi Sri - Dr. Jayaweerage Samantha was the founder of the Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award Festival. As the media Secretary of the Nalanda College Old Scouts’ Association (2003–2004), the first edition occurred on 27 September 2003. The award is aimed at recognising alumni who have excelled in their respective profession and thereby contribute to the school's legacy and enhance the morale of its students.^{[35][36][37][38][39]}

Award recipients include: Kala Keerthi Dr Henry Jayasena, President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara, Dr Sarath Gunapala, Professor Chandana Jayarathne, Kuppiyawatta Bodhananda Thera, Dr Gunadasa Amarasekara, Professor Pathmajeewa Ganepola, Professor K. N. O. Dharmadasa, Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala.

Clubs and societies

Aeronautical Society[40] Adventure Club Astronomical Society Amadhyapa Sangamaya Agriculture Society Archaeological Society Buddhist Association[41] Cinema Club Communication Unit[42] Computer Society[43] Commerce Society[44][45] Dancing Circle[46]

Drama Society English Debating Society[47] English Literary Association English Drama Circle[48] Environmental Society Health Club Interact Club[49] Leo Club[50] Life Saving Club[51][52] Paranormal Investigation and Research Club[53] Prefects Guild[54][55] Photographic & Art Society[56]

Quiz Club Road Safety Unit Science Society[57] Scouts Troop[58] Shakespeare Drama Society Social Services Association Sinhala Literary & Art Society Sinhala Oratory & Debating Society Saukyadana Unit United Nations Club Western Music Association[59] Wild Life & Environmental Conservation Society

Sports

Nalanda College occupy a playground at Campbell Place,^[60][61][62] a modern sports complex,^[63][64] a modern squash court,^[65][66] swimming pool,^[67] shooting range^[68] and other sport facilities.^[69]

Athletics[70] Archery[71][72][73] Badminton[74][75] Baseball[76][77] Basketball[78] Cadet Platoon[79][80][81] Cadet Band[82]

Cricket Chess[83] Gymnastics[84] Hockey[85][86] Martial Arts – Karate, Wushu Rugby Football[87] Rowing[88]

Rifle Shooting[89][90] Soccer[91] Squash[92][93] Swimming[94][95] Tennis[96] Volleyball[97] Water Polo[98][99]

Battle of the Maroons

Ananda – Nalanda (Ananda versus Nalanda cricket match) is played between Ananda College, Colombo and Nalanda College Colombo since 1924. Over the years Nalanda College has produced many world famous cricketers such as Bandula Warnapura, Roshan Mahanama, Kumar Dharmasena, Mahela Jayawardena.

Principals

Name	From	To
L. H. Meththananda[100]	1925	1926
Prof. Gunapala Malalasekara	1926	1927
G. K. W. Perera	1927	1928
J. N. Jinendradasa	1928	1946
D. C. Lowris	1947	1952
M. de S. Jayarathne	1953	1955
M. W. Karunananda	1956	1962
K. M. W. Kuruppu	1962	1963
D. J. Edirisinghe	1963	1964
Gunapala Wickramaratne	1964	1969
Sugunadasa Athukorala	1969	1982
Dharma Gunasinghe	1982	1990
D. G. Sumanasekera	1990	1994
Edward Ranasinghe	1994	1999
Hemantha Premathilaka	1999	2010
Ranjith Jayasundara	2010	to date

Notable teachers

Nalanda College had notable teachers in tutorial staff in the likes of: Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayake Thero, S. Mahinda, Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Edward Jayakody, Premasara Epasinghe, Siri Perera

Alumni

Past students who have studied at Nalanda College Colombo are referred to as Old Nalandians. The school has produced some distinguished figures in the caliber of: Former President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Senanayake, I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla, M.D Banda, Wilfred Senanayake, Deshabandu Dr Hudson Silva (Founder of Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society), Piyadassi Maha Thera, M. J. Perera (First Ceylonese Director General of Radio Ceylon), B. D. Rampala (First Sri Lankan Chief Mechanical Engineer Sri Lanka Railways), Professor Abhaya Induruwa (Pioneer of academic Internet in Sri Lanka), Dr Vajiranath Lakshman De Silva (Founder of Saukyadana Movement of Sri Lanka), Karunaratne Abeysekera (world's first cricket commentator in Sinhala language)

• 

  Mahinda Rajapaksa

• 

  Maithripala Senanayake

• 

  Piyadassi Maha Thera

• 

  M. J. Perera

War Memorial and remembrance

Each year students and alumni commemorate the loss of 41 brave alumni who died in the Sri Lankan civil war.^{[101][102][103][104]} A war memorial is situated between the main oldest buildings of the college.^[105]

Nalanda College Junior Old Boys Association

The Association is the alumni association for the college. Its objective is to enhance the interests of the College, past students and present students by maintaining relationships among alumni and with their alma mater. Each year the union organises many events such as Future Minds, Nalanda Walk, Olcott Memorial old boys cricket tourney, Ranaviru Upahara, etc.^{[106][107][108]}

See also

• Education in Sri Lanka

References

1. PARTI : SEC. (IIA) – GAZETTE OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA – 12.09.2014 Page 6
2. PART I : SEC. (IIA) – GAZETTE OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA – 27.06.2014 Page 14
3. G 498 Gazette Extraodinary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Election) 1.p65
4. "News".
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27. "Cancer repellent in Ceylon Tea". Dailynews.lk. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
28. "Nalanda student finds cure for Leukemia from green tea". ITNnews.lk. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
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30. "Nalandians Rakitha and Rananjaya win Gold at ISPRO 2015".
31. Host of activities mark Nalanda's 90th anniversary
32. Annual Prize Giving
33. International Awarding Ceremony
34. Annual Prize Giving 2014
35. Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara nominated for Nalanda Keerthi Sri 2010
36. Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award for Prime Minister
37. Nalanda Keerthi Sri
38. Air Force Commander receives 'Nalanda Keerthi Sri 2015" Award
39. Nalandians’ Tribute to the Commander of the Air Force
40. "Geared for take off".
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42. "Nalanda College Communication Unit Official Site". Retrieved 25 February 2012.
43. "Nalanda College Computer Society Official Site". Retrieved 25 February 2012.
44. "Nalanda College bags CA Sri Lanka Challenge Trophy at the Royal College Quiz Competition".
45. "Nalanda College Commerce Society Committee Video".
46. "Sambhasha (Media Day)".
47. "Raveen tops Bio stream".
48. "The making of Alan".
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50. "Leo Club of Nalanda College".
51. "Nalandian saves student from drowning in Tissa Wewa".
52. "Nalanda lifesavers honoured".
53. "Paranormal Investigation and Research Club Official Site". Retrieved 25 February 2012.
54. "New Board of Prefects' Guild".
55. "Nalanda College Junior Prefects' Guild Secretariat".
56. "Photographic & Art Society Official Site". Retrieved 25 February 2012.
57. "Nalanda College Science Society".
58. "32nd Colombo Nalanda College Scout Troop Official Site". Retrieved 1 March 2012.
59. "Western Music Association of Nalanda College".
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63. "Captain Cool?". Daily FT. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
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66. "Nalanda to popularise squash among schools". Sunday Observer. 28 November 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
67. "Nalanda College Swimming Pool". Wikimapia. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
68. "Rifle shooting hits schools at last". Sunday Times. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
69. "The school playground opening". NJOBA. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
70. A lad for all seasons
71. "Easy target".
72. Nalanda junior archers champs
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75. "Nalanda – the best shuttlers".
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77. ""i want to study " - Baseball star". Nation.lk. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
78. "Nalanda wins U-17 Baseball C’ship".
79. "Security Check Required".
80. Senal Warnakula. "Education Times - Character illuminates wisdom at Nalanda".
81. NTC parade ends on high note
82. "Security Check Required".
83. Girls High School, Nalanda win senior chess titles
84. "The Sunday Leader Online".
85. "The Island".
86. Nalanda and Vijaya college are joint champs
87. "Rugby Football at Nalanda". Nalanda.sch.lk. 1 May 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
88. "Security Check Required".
89. "Rifle shooting hits schools at last".
90. "Nalanda and Devi Balika on top".
91. Dharmaraja Invitation Soccer Tournament starts today
92. Inaugural squash tourney at Nalanda
93. Nalanda to popularise squash among schools
94. Nalanda College. "Nalanda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka - Swimming Pool". Nalanda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
95. Nalanda swim through to claim Triangular title
96. St. Peter’s dominate the school tennis scene again
97. Thimira turns draws into wins
98. "DS Senanayaka College win Gratien Gunawardena Challange Trophy". Dailynews.
99. "Security Check Required".
100. Principals of Nalanda
101. Ranaviru Upahara at Nalanda College by Sarath MALALASEKERA
102. Nalanda Ranaviru Upahara Ulela
103. Administrator. "Ranaviru Upahara Highlights". Nalanda Junior Old Boys Association.
104. Administrator. "Ranaviru Upahara 2011". Nalanda Junior Old Boys Association.
105. Administrator. "Ranaviru Upahara Highlights". Nalanda Junior Old Boys Association.
106. Olcott Memorial old boys cricket tourney by Upananda Jayasundera
107. Carnival to raise funds for Nalanda sports complex by Asanga Warnakulasuriya
108. "Nalanda Walk 2014 - Facebook".

External links

• Nalanda College Colombo Sri Lanka
• Nalanda Junior Old Boys Association
• Nalanda College Buddhist Association
• Battle of the Maroons
• Old Nalandian's Buddhist Association
• Old Nalandian's Sports Club
• Nalanda Old Boys Association America
• Nalanda College Old Boys Association United Kingdom
• Nalandians in Sydney Australia
• - Nalandians in Sydney Inc Nalanda Directory 2012
• Nalanda OBA Melbourne Australia
• Nalanda College Colombo facebook
• Future Minds
• Nalanda College Alumni - UAE

Coordinates: 6°55′20″N 79°52′29″E / 6.92222°N 79.87472°E