Ananda College

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Coordinates: 6°55′30″N, 79°52′09″E

Ananda College
Image:Ananda Crest.png

Appamdho Amathapadhan
(Buddhist quote from the Apramadha Vagga in the Dhammapada.
Meaning: "Heedfulness, punctuality leads nirvana.")
Location
Colombo, Sri Lanka Flag of Sri Lanka
Information
Affiliation(s) Buddhist
Principal B.A Aberathne
Type Public
Color(s) Maroon and Gold
Established 1886
Homepage 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.

Contents

[edit] History

Colonel H.S. Olcott, founder of Ananda College
Colonel H.S. Olcott, founder of Ananda College

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

[edit] Memorable Events

One of the most memorable events in the annals of the college was the visit of Asia's first Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore on November 10, 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." Mahatma Gandhi visited Ananda in 1927.

[edit] Ananda College Today

Today Ananda College stands to be one of the greatest Buddhist schools in Asia, with a student population exceeding 5000 in all 13 grades of secondary education on a campus of over 20 acres. The academic staff of 200 + is led by the Principal, B.A. Abeyaratne. Over the years, Ananda has produced notable alumni and thus contributed immensely to Sri Lanka. These include statesman such as the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and former United National Party deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya, and famous cricketers Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu.


[edit] History of Ananda College

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

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

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

1886 October 22nd: A buddhist English hall has established.

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

1886 November 1st: 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 16th: The first prize giving was held under the patronage of Col. Olcott submitting of applications to the registration of schools.

1889 March: The registration of the English buddhist school, there were 120 students. m/s. Bath and Oliver Jams graduates of the Madras University join the teaching staff.

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

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 Mr. J. P. R. Weerasuriya.

1890 - Mr. A. E. Buultjens assigned as principal. Mr. D. A. Wittachi acted as the principal till Mr. Buultjens assigned.

1890 March 1st: Due to the agitation of a catholic school principal saying that the transfer was against the educational constitution thereby shifting of the English buddhist school from No. 19 Prince Street to No. 54 Maliban Street.

1890 October: The second prize giving was held under the patronage of Col. Olcott at No. 54 Maliban Street.

1891 November: C. C. Jayatissa was the first Sri Lankan to pass the Cambridge junior examination in the German language who was an Anandian.

1892 September: Student enrollment reaches 200.

1893 November: A Building fund was inaugurated.

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

1894 - The student population rose up to 270.

1894 January 1st: Mudliyar Tudor Rajapaksha donated 3.2/1 acres of land from Paranawadiya to the college.

1895 August 17th: The school known as the Pettah English buddhist school was renamed Ananda College at Paranawadiya permanently.

[edit] Sports

[edit] Houses

All the students of the Ananda College are divided into four houses. These are:

  • Vijaya
  • Parakrama
  • Asoka
  • Gamunu

These houses are named after well-admired ancient Sinhala kings of Sri Lanka. An annual athletic tournament among these houses is held once a year in the beginning of the first term.

[edit] 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"[1]

[edit] Sport clubs

  • Athletics
  • Rowing
  • Swimming
  • Cricket
  • Chess
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Badminton
  • Tennis
  • Hockey
  • Squash
  • Baseball
  • Volleyball
  • Wushu
  • Karate
  • Gymnastics
  • Chess
  • Table Tennis
  • Rugby
  • Scouting

[edit] 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//

[edit] Distinguished Old Boys

  • Hon. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, MP 14th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (November 21, 2005 - Present)
  • Professor 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, a mesmerizing public speaker known affectionately as "W. S., the conscience of the nation". Adored by the masses and teacher to the Maha Sangha.
  • Dr. N.M. Perera Freedom Fighter, Founder & Leader of LSSP & Minister Of Finance
  • Tudor Gunasekara, Ex 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 Esq., Former Speaker of The National Assembly
  • Regi Siriwardena Sri Lankan academic, journalist, poet, writer, playwright and writer of screenplays
  • Lieutenant General Hamilton Wanasingha Commander of the Army (16th Aug. 1988 - 15th Nov. 1991)
  • Lieutenant General Rohan De S Daluwatta Commander of the Army (1st May 1996 - 15th Dec. 1998 )
  • General Lional Balagalle Commander of the Army (25th Aug. 2000 - 30th Jun 2004)
  • Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka Commander of the Army
  • Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda Commander of the Navy
  • Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Defence Secretary
  • Phillip Gunawardana Freedom Fighter
  • Ana Punchihewa Former CEO Pure Beverages Ceylon & Ex President of BCCSL
  • Upali Dharmadasa Jt. Deputy Chairman, Nawaloka Group & Ex President of BCCSL
  • Rohitha Bogollagama Hon. Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
  • Imthiaz Bakir Markar Former Minister of Media
  • Anura Pradeep Hapangama Former Member of Parliament
  • Anande Tissa De Alwis Former 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 pioneer of hydro-electricity in Sri Lanka
  • Col. G. W Rajapakse Former Principal of Ananda College, Colombo 10.
  • L. H. Meththananda 1st Principal of Nalanda College, Colombo 10.
  • Thilan Wijesingha Former Chief Of BOI & CEO of Forbes & Walkers.
  • A.S.Jayawardena Governor Of Central Bank
  • Prof. 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 & well respected banker
  • D.G Sumanasekera SLEAS Class 1, Educationist, Former Principal of Nalanda College, Mahanama College, Colombo.
  • JJ Amabani Chairman, Metropolitan Group
  • Ashok Pathirage Chairman/CEO,Softlogic Holdings
  • Dr. Gamini Wickremasinghe Chairman, Informatics Group
  • Dr. H.T. Wickramasinghe Former Head of Paediatrics, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital
  • Bandula Padmakumara Chairman Lake House & veteran 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

[edit] Past Principal's of Ananda College

C. W. Leadbeater (1886 - 1890)
A. E. Buultjens (1890 - 1898)
Sir D.B. Jayathilaka (1898 - 1908)
J.T. Davis (1908 - 1909)
M. C. Moore (1910 - 1913)
Fritz Kunz (1914 - 1917)
Mr. C. V. Ranawake (1917 - 1918)
P. de S. Kularatne (1923 - 1932)
Dr. G. P. Malalasekera (1932 - 1943)
Mr. A. B. Perera (1943 - 1945)
L. H. Mettananda (1945 - 1953)
Mr. S. A. Wijetillake (1953 - 1960)
Mr. M. W. Karunananda (1961 - 1964)
Lt. Col. E. A. Perusinghe (1964 - 1969)
Colonel. G.W. Rajapaksha (1971 - 1981)
Mr. S. K. Nettananda (1981 - 1982)
Col. V. S. Kudaligama (1982 - 1988)
Mr. A. P. Guneratne
T.B. Damunupola (1995-2001)

[2]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mr. Sidath Vetthamuni, a former leader of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team on an interview on Channel One MTV
  2. ^ Ananda College World Wide Network