Nalanda College

Infobox School
name = Nalanda College, Colombo


motto = "Apadana Sobhini Pangna"
"Wisdom Beautifies Character"
established = 1925
type = Public School
principal = Hemantha Premathilaka
city = Colombo
country = Sri Lanka flagicon|Sri Lanka
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
colours = Maroon & Silver
free_label_1 = Past Students
free_1 = Old Nalandians
information =
website = [http://www.nalanda.sch.lk/ www.nalanda.sch.lk]

Nalanda College is a Buddhist school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The college was established by P. de S. Kularatne as an offshoot of Ananda College on November 1, 1925. [web cite|title=History of Nalanda|site|publisher=Nalanda College|url=http://nalanda.sch.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=37| accessyear = 2006 | accessmonthday = August 29 ] Like Ananda College, it was established partly through the assistance of the Buddhist Theosophical society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, an American convert to Buddhism. [ [http://www.theosophical.org/resources/library/olcott-centenary/bio/olcott-bio.htm Henry Steel Olcott Life Story] ] [ [http://www.katinkahesselink.net/other/c/c-olcott.html H. S. Olcott The founding president of the Theosophical Society] ] [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/06/04/fea11.asp Buddhist Spectrum] ] [ [http://www.nalandajunioroba.org/history.html Nalanda History] ]

History

It was an era the demand for students to enter Ananda College Colombo was immensley high. As a result, in 1923 the then principal of Ananda College Mr P. de S. Kularatne leased the bare land adjoining to Ananda College playground located in Campbell Place and moved some classes of Ananda. Those classrooms were in a humble bamboo shaded hut.

This wing of Ananda was under the administratorship of Mr E.W Perera and the then director of education Mr Robinson was highly impressed the way it was functioning and was approved as a new institution.

Later Mr Kularatne bought further lands close by and built up a new building comprising 16 class rooms out of that 2 were used as laboratories and 2 others as the staff room and the principal's office. Mr. E. W Perera was appointed the head master and Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya became the first Dharmarcharya.

It was the 39th anniversary of Ananda College on 1st November 1925 that Mr Kularatne registered this off shoot of Ananda as a separate school. Mr. L. H. Meththananda became the first principal of Nalanda. Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya who 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. In 1926 this infant school was put in to the care of Prof. G. P. Malalasekara who was an intellectual giant and further buildings were constructed specially with lented money from Anagarika Dharmapala.

Since then Nalanda College, Colombo has become a crown jewel in the education system of Sri Lanka and is a prestigious institute in the forefront of holding out the nation’s rich cultural heritage. [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/content/view/12/37/1/1/lang,en/ History of Nalanda ] ] Fact|date=July 2008

Nalandians have always excelled academically achieving highest grades at Ordinary Level and Advanced Level exams and also in Sports. [ [http://sundaytimes.lk/050410/news/17.html Only half qualify for A/L] ] [ [http://www.nation.lk/2007/04/08/special1.htm A cut above the rest] ] [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/10/30/news32.asp Best A/L students get excellence awards] ] [ [http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=10878 Visakha girls the shining lights at GCE O’ Levels] ] [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/02/01/fea20.asp Raveen tops Bio stream] ] [ [http://www.nation.lk/2006/10/08/newsfe2.htm Four students who came Island first at A’ Levels] ] [ [http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/11/17/ft/11.asp Emerald supports Nalandian talents] ] [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/10/27/news_pic.asp PRESIDENT WITH A/L STARS] ] [ [http://studentlanka.com/2008/09/29/top-students-of-biology-olympiad-from-vishaka-nalanda-dharmaraja-and-polonnaruwa-royal/ Gold medalists of the 2008 Sri Lankan Biology Olympiad] ] [ [http://www.travelsrilanka.com/index.cfm?PAGE=1211 Mahela Jayawardena: Maestro Cricketer] ] [ [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/04/06/spo10.asp World record-holder Mahanama Observer Schoolboy Cricketer in 1983 and 1984] ] [ [http://www.nation.lk/2007/10/14/eyefea3.htm Cricket’s gentle giant] ] [ [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/04/20/spo01.asp ‘Gura’] ]

The main medium of education at Nalanda is Sinhalese whilest students have the option to select English medium, only from year seven onwards. [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/content/view/194/69/lang,en/ Nalanda Facts] ]

Nalanda College Today

Clubs & Societies

* Astronomical Society
* Aeronautical Society
* Adventures Club [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=45 Adventures Club of Nalanda College] ]
* Communication Unit [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/content/blogcategory/38/83/lang,en/ Communication Unit of Nalanda College] ]
* English Drama Club [ [http://sundaytimes.lk/030629/mirror/6.html English Drama Club] ]
* Life Saving Unit [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/07/21/fea20-1.asp Life Saving Unit of Nalanda College] ]
* Prefects Guild [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=48 Prefects Guild of Nalanda College] ]
* Scout Troop [ [http://www.2eyedia.com/scouts/index.htm Nalanda Scouts] ]
* Western Music Association [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/content/blogcategory/38/83/lang,en/ Western Music Association of Nalanda College] ]

ports

Sports played at Nalanda include;

* Athletics
* Badminton [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=217&Itemid=46 Badminton at Nalanda] ]
* Baseball [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=218&Itemid=46 Baseball at Nalanda] ]
* Basketball
* Cricket
* Chess
* Gymnastics
* Hockey
* Martial Arts - Karate, Wushu
* Rugby Football [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=46 Rugby Football at Nalanda] ]
* Cadet Band Fact|date=July 2008
* Soccer
* Squash
* Swimming
* Tennis
* Volleyball

Principals of Nalanda

* L. H. Meththananda 1925 - 1926 [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/content/blogcategory/28/84/lang,en/ Principals of Nalanda] ]
* 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 - to date

Notable Teachers

* Ananda Maitreya Thero - one of the great personalities of Theravada Buddhism in the twentieth century in Sri Lanka [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/content/view/12/37/lang,en/ History of Nalanda] ]

* Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne - founder of Sarvodaya Movement [ [http://nalanda.sch.lk/content/view/25/84/lang,en/ Should Science be taught in Sinhala?] ] [ [http://www.sundaytimes.lk/010805/sportsm.html Forget our differences unite for reconciliation] ]

* Edward Jayakody - famous musician, singer and composer [ [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/02/17/spe07.asp Music and drama brought them together] ]

* Dr. Lionel Algama - renowned musician & composer [ [http://www.nation.lk/2008/06/01/letters.htm Music Maestro Dr Lionel Algama passes away] ]

* Piyasena Rathuwithana - famous astrologer, poet, writer, journalist [ [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/03/18/imp05.asp He refused to do the marketing] ]

* Wickrema Seneviratne - famous tele & stage drama actor [ [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/09/02/spe03.asp Denial of youth in the name of education] ]

* Dilip Rohana - famous teledrama actor [ [http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/07/11/fea14.asp Jana Karaliya now in Tangalle] ]

* Somalatha Subasinghe - famous film & teledrama actor [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/04/08/spe04.asp]

* Deshakeerthi Colonel H.H. Lawrence De Silva, KSV [ [http://www.nation.lk/2008/09/21/letters.htm A farewell to an officer and a gentleman] ]

Old Nalandians

"Main Article: List of Old Nalandians"

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

Following list contains few of Distinguished Old Nalandians:
*List of Old Nalandians

External links

* [http://www.nalanda.sch.lk/ Nalanda College, Sri Lanka]
* [http://www.nalandajunioroba.org/ Nalanda College Junior Old Boys Association]
* [http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/9617 Nalanda College Old Boys Association of America]
* [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/03/30/spe06.asp Nalanda College Old Boys Association in London]

* [http://www.nalanda.com.au Old Nalandians in Sydney - Australia]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nalanda_OBA_melbourne/ Old Nalandians in Melbourne - Australia]

* [http://www.infolanka.com/people/nalanda/oba-ca/ Old Nalandians in Canada]
* [http://www.nalandadir.org/ Old Nalandians Directory Online, Subscribe]
* [http://www.2eyedia.com/scouts/pages/ourhistory.htm Nalanda College Scouts troop]
* [http://www.mahelajayewardene.lk/# Mahela Jayawardena's Website]

References and Further Reading

* Souvenir, that was released to mark the 60th anniversary of Nalanda College Colombo in 1986