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Ananda College

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Ananda College (Sinhala: ආනන්ද විද්‍යාලය) is a prestigious Buddhist school in Maradana, Colombo. It was established as the English Buddhist School by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott in 1886. In the present day, it provides primary and secondary education on a campus of 15 acres (61,000 m2).[1]

Ananda College
ආනන්ද විද්‍යාලය
Crest of Ananda College
Location
Map
P De S Kularatne Mawatha

Colombo

Sri Lanka
Coordinates6°55′30″N 79°52′09″E / 6.92500°N 79.86917°E / 6.92500; 79.86917
Information
TypeNational
MottoPali: අප්පමාදො අමතපදං
Appamādo Amathapadan
(Buddhist quote from the Apramada Vagga in the Dhammapada)
(Heedfulness, Punctuality leads to Nirvana)
Established1 November 1886; 138 years ago (1886-11-01)
FounderColonel Henry Steel Olcott
PrincipalLal Dissanayake
Grades1–13
GenderBoys
Age range6 to 19
Enrollment8000
LanguageSinhala, English
Color(s)Maroon and Gold
   
Songදින දින කිතුගොස බෝවී
AffiliationBuddhist
AlumniOld Anandians
WebsiteAnanda College
School grounds in 1920.
Colonel H.S. Olcott, founder of Ananda College

Early history

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Following a meeting of Buddhists at Pettah, under the patronage of Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera, an English-Buddhist school was inaugurated at 19 Prince Street on 1 November 1886 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society. The first session was attended by 37 students. In 1888, when about 130 boys were attending, it moved to 61 Maliban Street. C. W. Leadbeater was appointed the first principal of Ananda today.[2]

By the time the school was officially registered in March 1889, there were 120 students. That same year, J. P. R. Weerasuriya became the first Anandian to pass the Cambridge junior examination. The Cambridge graduate and confessed Buddhist A. E. Bultjens became principal.[2]

In March 1890, the school's proximity to a Catholic school led to controversy—and a move to 54 Maliban Street where further growth ensued, and student enrollments rose to 200 in September 1892 and 270 in 1894.[citation needed] As principals followed Don Baron Jayatilaka. That year, Mr. Tudor Rajapaksha donated 3.2 acres (13,000 m2) of land[3] and the school was relocated in the suburb of Maradana. On 17 August 1895, the former English Buddhist School was renamed to Ananda College Colombo with R. A. Mirando serving as its manager till his death during the 1915 riots.

When Patrick de Silva Kularatne took over in 1918 attendance was 450 which rapidly increased to 1000 two years later. At this time the annual budget was 80000 Rs.[2]

By 1961, the college had officially become a government school.[3]

Ananda Viharaya

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The Ananda Viharaya is the most easily distinguishable edifice and heart of the college.[4]

Completed under Col. E. A. Perusinghe, Late Governor, Honourable William Gopallawa handed over the Viharaya to the School on 6 March 1969.[4] The Buddha statue has been designed by Venerable Kalasoori Mapalagama Vipulasara Thero.[5]

"Battle of the Maroons"

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Main article: Ananda–Nalanda

In a tradition dating back to 1924, an annual cricket contest is held between Ananda College and Nalanda College Colombo. The two schools have contributed many players to the Sri Lanka national cricket team, including the old Anandians Sidath Wettimuny recipient of Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1985, Arjuna Ranatunga (who captained the Sri Lanka Cricket team to victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup and who was also named as a Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1999), former mod captain Marvan Atapattu and T20 captain Dinesh Chandimal.[6]

Old Boys' Association

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Sir D. B. Jayatilleke, the then principal, conceived the idea of the Ananda College Old Boys' Association in 1908. Initially, its main function was to organise a sports-meet and the annual dinner. In subsequent years the OBA and the school's administration have co-operated in furthering the development of the College. Prior to 1961 (when the school was nationalised), the incumbent principal of the school presided over the OBA. Since that date, a president is elected by members at each annual general meeting.[7] The present president of OBA is Dushmantha Karannagoda.[8]

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Ananda Gallery is the official Ananda College Merchandise portal.[9] Ananda Gallery was established in December 2017 by Principal S.M. Keerthirathna..

Ananda Daham Pasala

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Ananda Dhamma School Logo

Ananda Daham Pasala (ආනන්ද දහම් පාසල/Ananda Dhamma School) is the Sunday school of Ananda College. It was started in 2004 as a project of the 81 group.[10][11][12][13]

Notable alumni

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Main article: List of Ananda College alumni
See also: Category:Alumni of Ananda College

Olcott oration

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Olcott oration is an annual event organized by the old boys association of Ananda College, which commemorate the founder Colonel Henry Steel Olcott of Ananda College and other leading Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka. Every year famous personalities who educated at Ananda College, share their own experience for the "Olcott oration" and renowned dignitaries who have delivered the oration in the past, include Prof. Nimal Rajapakshe, Prof. Sumedha Chandana Wirasinghe and Prof. Ravindra Fernando.[14][15][16]

College war memorial

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The Ananda College war memorial is situated in front of the Henry Steel Olcott Hall and is dedicated to alumni of Ananda college who died while members of the Sri Lankan armed forces. Lieutenant A. P. N. C. De S. Vaas Gunawardene on 23 July 1983 became the first Anandian officer to sacrifice his life while in the Military. The plaque bears the names of old Anandians who were killed in the line of duty which includes the names of 45 war heroes from the Sri Lanka Army,[17] and many more names of war heroes from the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Air Force. Ananda College OBA organises an annual "Ananda Viruharasara" event to honour the military dead.[18][19][20]

Past principals

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Name Entered office Departed office
Charles Webster Leadbeater November 1886 October 1889
A. E. Buultjens January 1890 December 1898
Don Baron Jayatilaka December 1898 December 1907
 J. T. Davis January 1908 April 1909
Don Baron Jayatilaka May 1909 April 1910
 M. U. Moore April 1910 November 1913
Dandiris de Silva (acting) November 1913 January 1914
 Fritz Kunz January 1914 March 1917
C. V. Ranawake (acting) April 1917 December 1917
P. De S. Kularatne January 1918 December 1922
G. P. Malalasekara (acting) January 1923 July 1923
P. De S. Kularatne January 1923 July 1932
L. H. Mettananda (acting) November 1932 April 1935
L. H. Mettananda July 1935 March 1936
P. De S. Kularatne April 1936 March 1938
S. De S. Jayaratne (acting) April 1938 November 1938
P. De S. Kularatne November 1938 April 1943
A. B. Perera May 1943 November 1945
L. H. Mettananda November 1945 December 1954
S. A. Wijayatilake January 1955 December 1961
M. W. Karunananda January 1962 October 1964
Lt. Col. E. A. Perusinghe October 1964 May 1969
Bvt. Col. G. W. Rajapaksha May 1969 January 1981
S. K. Nettananda January 1981 January 1982
Col. V. S. Kudaligama January 1982 October 1987
A. P. Guneratne October 1987 June 1995
T. B. Damunupola June 1995 January 2001
B. A. Abeyrathne January 2001 June 2008
Lal Dissanayake (acting) September 2008 November 2009
Bvt. Col. L. M. D. Dharmasena November 2009 May 2013
Kithsiry Liyanagamage May 2013 August 2016
S. M. Keerthirathna August 2016 January 2022
Lal Dissanayake February 2022 Present

Notable teachers

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See also: Category:Faculty of Ananda College

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Foundation of Ananda College Archived May 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine on official website
  2. ^ a b c Ananda College, Colombo; Buddhist Annual of Ceylon, Vol. I (1920), 1, p. 41.
  3. ^ a b Milestones Archived May 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine on official website
  4. ^ a b Historical Sketches of Ananda Archived December 30, 2014, at the Wayback Machine on official website
  5. ^ "Montage - Cultural paradigm | Sundayobserver.lk - Sri Lanka". archives.sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  6. ^ Battle of the Maroons website
  7. ^ About OBA Archived 2013-02-17 at the Wayback Machine at official website
  8. ^ Official website
  9. ^ Ananda Gallery
  10. ^ "Dinamina and Silumina".
  11. ^ "දිනමිණ ePaper : Dinamina Online eEdition - Lake House - Sri Lanka".
  12. ^ "Daily Mirror E-Paper". epaper.dailymirror.lk. 24 July 2019. p. A14. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  13. ^ "DailyNews and SundayObserver epaper".
  14. ^ "Olcott Oration 2011". Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  15. ^ "Olcott Oration - 2010 | Letters". Print2.dailymirror.lk. 29 October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  16. ^ "OLCOTT ORATION 2012". Ananda College. 10 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  17. ^ Ananda College. "Anandians and Sri Lanka Army". Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  18. ^ Ananda Kannangara (5 July 2009). "Premier Buddhist school pays tribute to its war heroes: Anada Viru HARASARA". Security News | Sundayobserver.lk - Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Ananda College pays tribute for Old Anandian war heroes". Defence.lk. 30 December 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Quick Look – Ananda Viru Harasara". Daily News. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
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