Nalanda College[2][3][4][5] (Sinhala: නාලන්දා විද්යාලය) is a leading Buddhist school in Sri Lanka where provides primary and secondary education for Sri Lankan boys. The school was established by P. de S. Kularatne as an offshoot of Ananda College Colombo and was registered as a separate school on 1 November 1924.[6]
History
In 1922, a section of Ananda College was moved to Campbell Place, Colombo on a proposal made by Patrick de Silva Kularatne, a leading Buddhist educationist of the time. L. H. Mettananda was appointed as the principal of this institution which was called as Ananda branch. W. E. Fernando was the headmaster and Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera became its first Buddhist teacher.[7][8]
In 1924 Kularatne has spent Rs. 5,500 to purchase a quarter acre of land close to the Campbell Place playground and built 16 classrooms for the new school. Governor Gregory Thompson laid the foundation stone for a building to have 16 classrooms. Out of 16 classrooms, he has used two rooms for the principal's office and staff members another two rooms for the laboratories and the balance of 12 rooms for the classes. Three hundred and thirty students of Ananda were transferred under L. H. Mettananda in 1924.[9]
Kularatne was instrumental in getting the institution registered as a separate school on 1 November 1925. The new school was given its motto Apadana Sobhini Panna, and the school name Nalanda was also proposed by Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero. The English and the Sinhala versions are "Character illumines Wisdom" and "Yahapath Charithayen Praggnawa Opanangwe" respectively. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera has selected this motto from the Anguttara Nikaya, Tika Nipatha, Bala Waggo Lakkana Sutta.[10]
On 1 January 1926 Kularatne appointed Dr Gunapala Malalasekara as principal of the Nalanda College and transferred L. H. Metthanada to Ananda College as vice principal. Nalanda was fortunate in having its second principal, Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera. Malasekara launched several projects, making plans for the collection of funds for the construction of buildings, and later commenced a bulletin titled "NALANDA". Also arranged 15-minute Buddhist talks at the daily students' assembly and took many steps to promote the Buddhist environment in the school.
Kularatne laid the foundation stone for the second building on 30 March 1926. By the end of 1926, the number of students had increased to 550. Later he borrowed money from Anagarika Dharmapala to purchase land for the primary section which was settled by Malasekara. The student assembly hall is named Malalasekara Theatre after him.[11][12]
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.[28][29][30][31][32] Students of Nalanda College Colombo also have excelled in research activities.[33][34][35][36][37] In 2017 a student of Research Forum won a silver medal for his research, Deposition of air pollutants on pollen grains and occurrence of respiration allergies among humans at the International Conference of Young Scientists in Germany, where Sri Lanka participated for the first time at the event as a competitive country.[38][39]
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.[40][41][42][43]
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 (Sinhala: නාලන්දා කීර්තී ශ්රී සම්මානය) - 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 professions and thereby contribute to the school's legacy and enhance the morale of its students.[44][45][46][47][48]
Nalanda College occupy a playground at Campbell Place,[71][72][73] a modern sports complex,[74][75] a modern squash court,[76][77] swimming pool,[78] shooting range[79] and other sports facilities.[80]
Past students who have studied at Nalanda College Colombo are referred to as Old Nalandians.
War Memorial and remembrance
Each year students and alumni commemorate the loss of 41 alumni who died in the Sri Lankan civil war.[113][114][115][116] A war memorial is situated between the main oldest buildings of the college.[117]
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.[118][119][120]
