Nalanda College, Colombo

History

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.

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.

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.

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

The college is equipped with facilities such as science and computer laboratories, lecture halls, auditoriums, hostels, etc., including Malalasekara Theatre. The main medium of education at Nalanda is Sinhala while students have the option to select English from year seven onwards. Nalandians have excelled academically, achieving high grades at Ordinary Level and Advanced Level exams and also in sports.

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. Students of Nalanda College Colombo also have excelled in research activities.

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.

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, Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy.

Sports

Nalanda College occupy a playground at Campbell Place, a modern sports complex, a modern squash court, swimming pool, shooting range and other sports facilities.

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.

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)

War Memorial and remembrance

Each year students and alumni commemorate the loss of 41 brave alumni who died in the Sri Lankan civil war. A war memorial is situated between the main oldest buildings of the college.

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.