Nalanda Maha Vidyalaya Colombo

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

Nalanda College Colombo
Apadana Sobhini Pangna "Character Illuminates Wisdom"
Location
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Information
Type	Public School
Established	1925
Principal	Ranjith Jayasundara
Colour(s)	Maroon and Silver
Past Students	Old Nalandians
Website	Nalanda College Colombo

Nalanda College (officially known as Nalanda Maha Vidyalaya¹) (Sinhala:නාලන්දා මහා විද්‍යාලය, කොළඹ) is a Buddhist school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The college was established by P. de S. Kularatne as an offshoot of Ananda College Colombo on 1 November 1925.²

History

The college was formed in 1925 due to the high demand places at Ananda College Colombo. ^{3citation needed} As a result of this demand, in 1923 the then principal of Ananda College P. de S. Kularatne leased land adjoining to Ananda College playground located in Campbell Place and made use of huts to overcome this capacity problemh.

This wing of the college was was run by E. W. Perera and the then director of education Mr Robinson approved as it as a separate institution.^when?

Later Mr Kularatne bought further lands close by and built up a new building comprising 16 class rooms; out of that two were used as laboratories and two others as the staff room and the principal's office. E. W Perera was appointed the head master and Balangoda Ananda Maitreya became the first Dharmarcharya.

It was the on the 39th anniversary of Ananda College on 1 November 1925 that it was registered as a separate school. L.H. Meththananda became the first principal of Nalanda. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya was allotted the task of finding a name and a motto for this new school named it 'Nalanda' and 'Apadana Sobhini Panna' meaning 'character illuminates wisdom' was chosen as the motto.

Mr Kularatne chose 330 best students of Ananda to be the first batch of students that were sent to Nalanda for both senior and junior schools^{3citation needed}. In 1926 this infant school was put in the care of Professor Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera and further buildings were constructed specially with loaned money from Anagarika Dharmapala. The College student assembly hall is named Malalasekara Theatre after him.

Nalandians have excelled academically, achieving high grades at Ordinary Level and Advanced Level exams and also in sports.^{456789101112131415}

The main medium of education at Nalanda is Sinhalese while students have the option to select English medium, only from year seven onwards.¹⁶

Present Nalandian Students have excelled again in 2011 by winning the First Place in the world for Oracle Thinkquest Application Development Competition USA and First place for International Students Bio Technology Competition held in Lucknow, India.^1718192021

Nalanda College today

College Entrance

Thakshila Building

Language Laboratory

Way to College

Primary School

Swimming Pool

Malalasekara Theatre

Malalasekara Theatre

Malalasekara Theatre of Nalanda College Colombo was named in memory of late Professor Gunapala Malalasekera who was the Principal of Nalanda in 1926. It was declared opened on 23 June 1990 by the then Minster of Education and Higher Education, Lalith Athulathmudali.

The Malalasekara Theatre, cynosure of Nalanda College was badly damaged by a fire caused by electrical defect on 7 April in 2006.

Later it was refurbished and redesigned the interior in such a way to provide facilities for a multi functional performing arts complex.²²

Nalanda Keerthi Sri Awards

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), Samantha proposed to the committee about his new project “Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award Festival” and organised the first “Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award Festival” as a chief organiser on 27 September 2003.

The Nalanda Keerthi Sri is an award aimed at felicitating and recognising alumni of Nalanda College Colombo who have excelled in their respective field of expertise or profession and thereby contribute to the legacy of Nalanda College Colombo and enhancing the morale of its students. A pioneer project by Nalanda College Old Scouts’ Association, the “Nalanda Keerthi Sri” was commenced in 2003, has felicitated several prominent figures since its conception. At the first “Nalanda Keerthi Sri” Award ceremony held in 2003. Following are the “Nalanda Keerthi Sri” award recipients:

• Kala Keerthi Dr Henry Jayasena – playwright, novelist, film & teledrama actor

• President Mahinda Rajapaksa – current President of Sri Lanka

• Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara – Chief Lay Head or Trustee of the Kandy Temple of the Tooth

• Dr Sarath Gunapala – Senior Research Scientist Jet Propulsion Laboratory National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA USA

• Dr Chandana Jayarathne – Senior Lecturer in Physics (Atmospheric & Lightning) University of Colombo

• Kuppiyawatta Bodhananda Thera – founder of Mithuru Mithuro Movement

• Dr Gunadasa Amarasekara – prominent Sinhala writer, poet, and essayist, graduate of University of Ceylon and a Dental Surgeon by profession

• Professor Pathmajeewa Ganepola – Professor of Medicine attached to Columbia University New York City, USA

Clubs & societies

Sports

Notable teachers

• Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayake Thero²⁶
• Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne – founder of Sarvodaya Movement²⁷²⁸
• Edward Jayakody – famous musician, singer and composer²⁹

Alumni

Main Article:Old Nalandians

Past students who have studied at Nalanda College Colombo are referred to as Old Nalandians.

Battle of the Maroons

Main Article:Ananda-Nalanda

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. Sri Lanka's first test captain was a Nalandian Bandula Warnapura and 1996 world champion team was led by Anandian Arjuna Ranatunga. Sri Lanka team that entered finals in 2007 were led by Nalandian Mahela Jayawardena. It was an Old Nalandian Karunaratne Abeysekera who made history in the world of Radio broadcasting by being the first cricket commentator using the Sinhala language. Nalandians Roshan Mahanama is an Elite Panel Referee of International Cricket Council and Kumar Dharmasena International Cricket Council Umpire.

References

External links

• Nalanda College Colombo Sri Lanka
• Nalanda Junior Old Boys Association