Ananda College

Infobox School
name = Ananda College


motto =
"Appamdho Amathapadhan"
(Buddhist quote from the Apramadha

Vagga in the Dhammapada.
Meaning: "Heedfulness, punctuality leads nirvana.")
established = 1886
type = Public
affiliation = Buddhist
principal = B.A Aberathne
city = Colombo
country = Sri Lanka flagicon|Sri Lanka
colors = Maroon and Gold
website = http://www.anandacollege.lk/

Ananda College, Colombo was established in November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. It is one of Sri Lanka's oldest schools and considered by many to be the leading Buddhist school in Sri Lanka. Ananda College is a National School, which provides primary and secondary education.

History

Ananda College was established by the Buddhist Theosophical Society. Originally it was known as English Buddhist School, describing its stated intention of providing English instruction to Buddhist students who would otherwise have had to go to a missionary school in order to get an English education.

The school opened on 1 November 1886 with 37 students in a private house at No. 61 Maliban Street, Pettah. Mr. C. W. Leadbeater was the principal. In August, 1889, the school moved to a more spacious place at No. 19 Prince Street. In 1895, it was relocated to Maradana, the period of A.E. Buultjens and was named after Arahant Ananda, the most devoted disciple of the Buddha.

Memorable Events

A memorable event in the school's history was the visit of Asia's first Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, on 10 November 1922, as chief guest at the annual prize giving. He declared on that occasion: "I acknowledge that the life of Ananda is its humility and unassuming nature."Fact|date=July 2008 Mahatma Gandhi visited Ananda in 1927.

Ananda College today

Today Ananda College stands to be one of the greatest Buddhist schools in Asia, with a student population exceeding 6,000 in all 13 grades of secondary education on a campus of more than 20 acres. The academic staff of more than 200 is led by Principal B.A. Abeyaratne. Ananda has produced notable alumni. These include statesmen such as Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and former United National Party deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya, and famous cricketers Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu.

History of Ananda College

1881 January 1: The inheritance of the Sinhalese Buddhist "Sarasavi Sandaresa"

1881 February 8: The arrival of Col. Olcott at dharmopakari society maradana colombo.

1885 May 29: The arrival of C. W. Leadbeater at "Sarasavi Sandaresa".

1886 October 22: A English-Buddhist hall is established.

1886 October 23: A meeting of the Buddhist public was held at pettah under the patronage of Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera.

1886 November 1: An English-Buddhist school was inaugurated at No. 61 Maliban Street.•C. W. Leadbeater becomes the first principal of "Ananda today". •37 students attended the first session •Mr. C.W. Leadbeater inaugurated Sunday schools for the teaching of Buddhism to the schoolteachers.

1889 January 16: The first prize giving was conducted by Olcott. Submitting school registration applications initiates.

1889 March: The registration of the English-Buddhist school, where there were 120 students. Bath and Oliver Jams graduate from the Madras University and join the teaching staff.

1889 May 27: The first examination is held. The proceeds of the examination amounted to Rs. 359.50.

1889 August: The shifting of the English-Buddhist school from No. 61 Maliban Street to a more spacious premises at No. 19 Prince Street.

1889 December: The first Anandian to pass the Cambridge junior examination was J.P.R. Weerasuriya.

1890: A.E. Buultjens assigned as principal. D.A. Wittachi was the acting principal until Buultjens accepted the position.

1890 March 1: Due to the agitation of a Catholic school's principal saying the transfer was against the educational constitution, the English-Buddhist school shifts its position from No. 19 Prince Street to No. 54 Maliban Street.

1890 October: The second prize giving is conducted by Olcott at No. 54 Maliban Street. 1891 November: C.C. Jayatissa, who was Anandian, was the first Sri Lankan to pass the Cambridge junior examination in the German language.

1892 September: Student enrollment reaches 200.

1893 November: A building fund is inaugurated.

1892-1895: Sri Sumangala Thera held the post of manager.

1894: The student population rose to 270.

1894 January 1: Mudliyar Tudor Rajapaksha donated convert|3.2|acre|m2 of land from Paranawadiya to the college.

1895 August 17: The school known as the Pettah English-Buddhist school was renamed Ananda College at Paranawadiya.

Clubs and Societies

* Adventure Club
* Anandians Astronomical Association
* Archaeological Society
* Architects' Society
* Aviation Society
* Buddhist Association
* Commerce Society
* Computer Society
* Debaters' Council
* Discussion Forum
* English Drama Society
* English Literary Association
* Environment Conservation Society
* Film Society
* Historical Society
* Junior Sinahala Literary Association
* Leo Club
* Mathematics Society
* National Savings Bank
* Oriental Music Society
* Photography Society
* Political Science Society
* Red Cross Society
* Science Association
* Scrabble Club
* Seylan Bank
* Sinhala Literary Association
* SIPSA
* Social Services League
* Traffic Unit
* United Nations Club
* Western Music Society
* Wildlife Protection Society
* Young Biologist's Society
* Young Inventor's Club
* Young Zoologists Association
* Youth Services Association

Sports

Houses

All the students of the Ananda College are divided into four houses:
*Vijaya
*Parakrama
*Asoka
*GamunuThe houses are named after the ancient Sinhala kings of Sri Lanka.An annual athletic tournament, among the four houses, is held in the beginning of the first term.

Battle of the Maroons

Battle of the Maroons is the annual cricket contest between Ananda College and Nalanda College."Ananda has a great Cricketing history" [Mr. Sidath Vetthamuni, a former leader of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team on an interview on One MTV]

Sport clubs

col-begin col-3
*Athletics
*Rowing
*Swimming
*Cricket
*Chess
*Football
*Basketball col-3
*Badminton
*Tennis
* [http://www.anandahockeywing.com/joomla Hockey]
*Scouting
*Squash
*Baseball
*Volleyball col-3
*Wushu
*Karate
*Gymnastics
*Chess
*Table Tennis
*Rugby

col-end

School Anthem

Dina dina kitu gosa boovii - Vaejambenu ananda pa maataa//
Sudilii - Jayavii - Lovehii
Saadaa diilaa Sipsata haa - Kala da vinee da pahadaa//
Editara Sinhala daru kela sadalaa//
Dina dina kitu gosa boovii - Vaejambenu ananda pa maataa//
Lakehii boo anandee paturaa
Anada terun see loo vaeda salasaa//
Peevii seevee nisaa veseevaa
Pamaada novemuu tiloona desusee//
Dina dina kitu gosa boovii - Vaejambenu ananda pa maataa//

School Song

Anandai anandai anande ada anandai //Samma sambudu sugatha thatgatha samudu pilimaya abiyasadeeKelesun Duruwee Athyugalesadee - Anandai

Medals & Trophys

Fritz Kunz Memorial Trophy

Distinguished Old Boys

* Hon. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, MP 14th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (November 21, 2005-Present)
* W.S.Karunaratne, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States of America and Mexico, Professor of Buddhist Philosophy and Comparative Religion, Dean Faculty of Arts and Member of the Board of Regents of the University of Sri Lanka.
* N.M. Perera, Founder & Leader of LSSP & Minister Of Finance
* Tudor Gunasekara, former Member of Parliament for Mahara Electorate, District Minister for Gampaha and the first Sri Lanka Ambassador to Poland, Bulgaria and Rumania
* Muhandiram Thomas Amarasuriya, Former President of the Senate
* Stanley Thilakaratne, Former Speaker of The National Assembly
* Regi Siriwardena, Sri Lankan academic, journalist, poet, writer, playwright and writer of screenplays
* Lt. General Hamilton Wanasingha, Commander of the Army (16 August 1988-15 November 1991)
* Lt. General Rohan De S Daluwatta, Commander of the Army (1 May 1996-15 December 1998 )
* General Lional Balagalle, Commander of the Army (25 August 2000-30 June 2004)
* Lt. General Sarath Fonseka, Commander of the Army
* Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Commander of the Navy
* Lt. Col. (Retired) Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary
* Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Presidential Advisor & MP
* Phillip Gunawardana, personal rights advocate
* Ana Punchihewa, former CEO, Pure Beverages Ceylon and Ex-President of BCCSL
* Upali Dharmadasa, Joint Deputy Chairman, Nawaloka Group and Ex-President of BCCSL
* Rohitha Bogollagama, Honorary minister Of Foreign Affairs.
* Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, former minister of Mass Communication
* Anura Pradeep Hapangama, former Member of Parliament
* Dr Ananda Tissa De Alwis, former speaker and minister of Media
* D.P. Atapattu, M.P. for Beliatte, Secretary to the Minister of State, 1965-70
* Sam Wijesinghe, Secretary General of Parliament 1977
* Dharmasiri Senanayaka, former Minister of Tourism & Media
* D.J. Wimalasurendra, hydro-electricity engineer in Sri Lanka
* Col. G. W Rajapakse, former principal of Ananda College, Colombo 10.
* L.H. Meththananda, inaugural principal of Nalanda College, Colombo 10.
* Thilan Wijesingha, former Chief of BOI & CEO of Forbes & Walkers.
* A.S.Jayawardena, Governor of Central Bank
* D.A. Ranasinghe
* Arjuna Ranatunga, former Sri Lanka cricket captain
* Marvan Atapattu, former Sri Lanka cricket captain
* Sidath Wettamuni, former Sri Lankan Opening Batsman.
* Asoka Jayasena, former Sri Lanka Rugby captain
* Moksevi Prelis, director of Dialog Telekom banker
* D.G Sumanasekera SLEAS Class 1, teacher, former principal of Nalanda College, Mahanama College, Colombo. CEO Shikshana Edu. Consultants and Investments.
* JJ Amabani, chairman, Metropolitan Group
* Ashok Pathirage, chairman and CEO, Softlogic Holdings
* Dr. Gamini Wickremasinghe, MD, Informatics Group
* Dr. H.T. Wickramasinghe, former Head of Pediatrics, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital
* Bandula Padmakumara, chairman, Lake House; journalist
* P. Yasith de Silva, Lord Mountbatten Bravery Award Winner
* Dr. Dileepa De Silva, IT management consultant, former chairman of British Computer Society Sri Lanka Section
* Upali Sunil Arambewale, former additional director general-SLRC, CEO Isura FM, head of Transmission Technologies and Spectrum, ABU
* Baratha Lakshman Premachandra, former MP of Colombo District
* Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi, former Late MP of Kolonnawa
* Titus Totawatte, SL Film Director
* Chandra Jayaratne, businessman.
* Kumar Jayasuriya, chairman, James Finlay & Co. Ltd
* KAW Perera, SL Film Director, Producer
* Patrick Amarasinghe, former president, Ceylon Chamber of Exporters
* Deva Rodrigo, former president, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
* Thilak De Silva, managing director, Laughf Holdings
* Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, CEO, Sri Lanka Insurance
* Dr. Rajitha Senartne, Minster of Construction
* Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Cabinet Minister (science and technology), professor of microbiology, former head of the MRI, and leader of the LSSP
* Bernard Soyza, former Minster of science and technology; prominent leftist leader.
* Mahinda Balasuriya, senior DIG
* Rear Admiral, Sarath Rathnakeerthi, former Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Navy.
* Rear Admiral, Sarath Weerasekara, commanding officer, Home Guard Services
* Thilan Samaraweera, Sri Lankan cricketer
* Avishka Gunawardena, Sri Lankan cricketer
* Robert Gunawardena, prominent leftist leader.
* Premakeerthi De Alwis, composer and narrator
* Dr. Praneeth Abeysundara, prominent lyricist
* Kularatne Ariyawansa, composer
* Brendon Kuruppu, former Sri Lanka cricketer
* Thilak Karunaratne, former MP and founder of “Sihala Urumaya”
* Bathiya Jayakody, musician
* Lucky Dias, T.V. and film actor
* Gomin Dayasiri, senior presidential councilor.
* Patali Champika Ranawaka, minister of environment.
* Prof. J B Dissanayake, ambassador to Thailand; language specialist.
* Sirisena Cooray, former minister; mayor of Colombo
* Geethanjana Gunawardena, deputy speaker of Parliament.
* Agga Maha Panditha Rev. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero
* Sugathada Athukorale, former principal of Nalanada College
* Upali Gunasekara, principal of Royal College
* Warnasena Rasaputhra, former Central Bank governor
* Dr. Nandadeva Wijesekara, Commissioner of Official Languages
* Meemana Premathilaka, poet
* Dr. Tarzi Vittachi, former deputy executive director UNESCO
* Prof. D E Hettiarchchi
* Dharma Gunasinghe, former principal of Nalanda College
* L D H Peiris, former principal of Royal College
* Dr I M R A Iriyagolla, former minister of education
* D B Rampala, engineer; former GM of Ceylon Railways.
* Dr. S A Wickremasinghe, former minister; leader of Sri Lanka Communist Party
* Dr. Asoka Mendis
* W B Makuloluwa, former director of education
* P Dayaratne, minister of plan implementation
* Dr. D B Nihalsinghe, accomplished filmmaker
* GPA Silva, former Chief Justice
* Ranapala Bodhinagoda, former chairman, Lake House.
* Rev. Dr. Parawahera Vajiragnana Thero
* Aggamaha Panditha Polwatte Buddhadatta Thero
* Dinesh Ambani, deputy chairman, Suntel & Chairman, Metrocorp Group.
* Mohan Pandithage, deputy chairman, Hayleys Group.
* Ranjitha Pandithage, chairman and CEO, DIMO Ltd
* Deepal Sooriyarachchi, managing director, Eagle Insurance
* Yasasiri Kasthuriarchchi, chairman, Yashoda Holdings
* Daya DK Gamage, chairman, Daya Group of Companies

Past Principals of Ananda College

C. W. Leadbeater	(1886 - 1890)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs02.html A. E. Buultjens]	(1890 - 1898)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs03.html Sir D.B. Jayathilaka]	(1898 - 1908)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs04.html J.T. Davis]	(1908 - 1909)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs05.html M. C. Moore]	(1910 - 1913)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs06.html Fritz Kunz]	(1914 - 1917)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs07.html Mr. C. V. Ranawake]	(1917 - 1918)
P. de S. Kularatne	(1923 - 1932)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs09.html Dr. G. P. Malalasekera]	(1932 - 1943)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs10.html Mr. A. B. Perera]	(1943 - 1945)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs11.html L. H. Mettananda]	(1945 - 1953)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs12.html Mr. S. A. Wijetillake]	(1953 - 1960)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs13.html Mr. M. W. Karunananda]	(1961 - 1964)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs14.html Lt. Col. E. A. Perusinghe]	(1964 - 1969)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs15.html Colonel. G.W. Rajapaksha]	(1971 - 1981)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs16.html Mr. S. K. Nettananda]	(1981 - 1982)
[http://www.anandanet.org/prs/prs17.html Col. V. S. Kudaligama]	(1982 - 1988)
A. P. Guneratne	(1988 - 1995)
T.B. Damunupola	(1995-2001)
B. A. Abeyrathne	(2001-2008)
Lal Dissanayake - Deputy Principal	(2008-)

[ [http://www.anandanet.org/ Ananda College World Wide Network ] ]

Notable Teachers

* Dr. T B Jayah
* Lionel Ranwala
* Prof. G P Malalasekara
* Lionel Ranaweera
* Rev. Kotagama Vachissara
* R.M. Abeyawardene
* M.K.N. Panikkar
* V. Thanabalasingham
* G Weeramanthry
* C Sunethralingam
* CS Strange
* JN Jinendradasa
* GC Edirisinghe
* Tibet National, S. Mahinda Thero

External links

* [http://www.anandacollege.lk Official web site of Ananda College & OBA]
* [http://www.ananda.sch.lk Official Web Portal]
* [http://www.anandanet.org Old Anandian's World Wide Network]
* [http://www.oldanandians.org Old Anandians E-Meeting Place]
* [http://earth.google.com Ananda College @ Google Earth]

Trivia

*First school to introduce Basketball In Sri Lanka
*First to start Navy Cadet platoon in Sri Lanka

References