Ananda College
Encyclopedia
Ananda College (Sinhala: ආනන්ද විද්යාලය), Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
which is considered as the leading National school in Sri Lanka, was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
Henry Steel Olcott
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott was an American military officer, journalist, lawyer and the co-founder and first President of the Theosophical Society....
. Ananda College is a National School, which provides primary and secondary education.
Ananda College today
The school has a student population exceeding 8,000 across 13 grades from primary to secondary classes. The campus resides in a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) land in Maradana. The academic staff of more than 200 is led by Principal L.M.D. Dharmasena. Ananda has produced notable alumni, including statesmen such as Former Prime Minister Ratnasiri WickremanayakeRatnasiri Wickremanayake
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake MP is a Sri Lankan politician who was Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2010. He is currently a National List member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka....
and United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya
Karu Jayasuriya
Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya is the current deputy Leader of the United National Party , the main Opposition party of Sri Lanka and Ex Cabinet Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs. He is also a Member of Parliament representing the Gampaha District...
, and cricketers Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga is a retired Sri Lankan cricketer and politician. He was the captain of Sri Lankan cricket team, and led them to an unbeaten title-winning campaign at the 1996 Cricket World Cup...
, Marvan Atapattu
Marvan Atapattu
Marvan Samson Atapattu is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and former Sri Lankan captain. Towards the end of his career he joined the Indian Cricket League and captained the Delhi Giants...
and Thilan Samaraweera
Thilan Samaraweera
Thilan Thusara Samaraweera is a Sri Lankan cricketer, born September 22, 1976 in Colombo. Samaraweera plays international cricket for Sri Lanka and is in the side primarily for his solid right-handed batting but is also a capable Off spinner.-Personal life:...
.Over the years, Ananda College has gained renown as a great college not only in Sri Lanka, but also internationally. The college is noted for the exemplary discipline that is maintained by its students in comparison to other educational institutions. It is considered the best school in Sri Lanka [disputed, citation required] , with a reputation for excellence in sports and extra-curricular activities as well as academic success. [citation required] Ananda was awarded as the Best school in sports many times including 2010. [ not an accurate report of the school]
History
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
Charles Webster Leadbeater
Charles Webster Leadbeater was an influential member of the Theosophical Society, author on occult subjects and co-initiator with J. I. Wedgwood of the Liberal Catholic Church...
at "Sarasavi Sandaresa".
1886 October 22: An 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 3.2 acres (12,950 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
- Ananda College Buddhist Association
- Prefects Guild
- Radio Club
- Ananda College Scout Troop
- Information and Communication Technology Society
- Adventure Club
- Aeronautical Society
- Anandians Astronomical Association
- Archaeological Society
- Architects' Society
- Astronomical Society
- Automotive Engineering Association
- Aviation Society
- Broadcasting Unit
- Chemistry Club
- Commerce Society
- Debaters' Council
- Discussion Forum
- English Drama circle
- English Literary Association
- Environment Conservation Society
- Film Society
- Historical Society
- Helasisu Haula
- Interact Club
- Junior Sinahala Literary Association
- Junior Western Band
- Leo Club
- Mathematics Society
- Music circle
- National Savings Bank
- Oriental Music Society
- Photographic Art Society
- Political Science Society
- Quiz Club
- Red Cross Society
- Saukyadana Unit
- Science Union
- Scrabble Club
- Senior Brass Band
- Sinhala Literary Association
- Social Services League
- Traffic Unit
- Unesco Society
- United Nations Club
- Western Music Association
- Wildlife Protection Society
- Young Biologist's Society
- Young Inventor's Society
- Young Zoologists Association
- Youth Services Association
- Drug Prevention Club
- Ananda College Army Cadet Contingent
- Ananda college Young Inventors Society
- Ananda College Drama Circle
- Ananda College Air Force Cadet Wing
- Ananda College Naval Cadet Squadron
Houses
The studentse are divided among four houses:- Parakrama
Colour - Red
- Vijaya
Colour - Dark Green
- Asoka
Colour - Dark Purple
- Gamunu
Colour- Navy Blue
The houses are named after the four main ancient Sinhala
Sinhala Kingdom
Sinhala was a kingdom in the island Lanka, modern day Sri Lanka, mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. From 'Sinhala Diva' are derived the Tamil 'Eelam', Persian/Arabic Serendipor Sarandib, and the European 'Ceilao', 'Zeylan' and 'Ceylon'....
kings of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.An annual Track and Field tournament among these houses is held at the beginning of the first term.
Battle of the Maroons (Ananda vs Nalanda)
Battle of the Maroons Ananda-NalandaAnanda-Nalanda
Ananda - Nalanda is a cricket match played between Ananda College Colombo, and Nalanda College Colombo. It was first played in 1924. Over the years both schools has produced many world famous cricketers....
(Ananda versus Nalanda cricket match) is the annual cricket contest which is commonly referred to as the "Big Match" between Ananda College and Nalanda College Colombo which revives their age old cricketing tradition which first began in 1924.
Over the years Ananda College has produced many world famous cricketers:
Sidath Wettimuny
Sidath Wettimuny
Sidath Wettimuny is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, who played Test cricket and One Day Internationals as an opening batsman from 1982 to 1987...
,
Ajit de Silva
Ajit de Silva
Ginigalgodage Ramba Ajit de Silva is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He played four Test matches and six ODIs for Sri Lanka, bowling accurate slow left arm spin bowling to little effect...
,
Sunil Wettimuny
Sunil Wettimuny
Sunil Ramsay de Silva Wettimuny is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played three ODIs between 1975 to 1979. Sunil is the oldest of the two other Sri Lankan cricketers, Mithra and Sidath.-External links:*...
,
Mithra Wettimuny
Mithra Wettimuny
Mithra de Silva Wettimuny is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 2 Tests and one ODI in 1983. His brothers Sunil and Sidath have also played cricket at international level....
,
Brendon Kuruppu
Brendon Kuruppu
Don Sardha Brendon Priyantha Kuruppu is a former Sri Lankan wicket-keeper and opening batsman. He was often used in ODIs, as he played 54 from 1983 to 1990, but his Test career was largely unremarkable but for one productive innings in Colombo....
,
Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga is a retired Sri Lankan cricketer and politician. He was the captain of Sri Lankan cricket team, and led them to an unbeaten title-winning campaign at the 1996 Cricket World Cup...
,
Marvan Atapattu
Marvan Atapattu
Marvan Samson Atapattu is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and former Sri Lankan captain. Towards the end of his career he joined the Indian Cricket League and captained the Delhi Giants...
,
Dulip Samaraweera
Dulip Samaraweera
Dulip Prasanna Samaraweera is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 7 Tests and 5 ODIs for his country from 1993 to 1995. He was a right-handed opening batsmen and occasional right arm off-spinner...
,
Sanjeeva Ranatunga
Sanjeeva Ranatunga
Sanjeeva Ranatunga is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 9 Tests and 13 ODIs from 1994 to 1997. He is the brother of former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Dammika Ranatunga and Nishantha Ranatunga....
,
Dammika Ranatunga
Dammika Ranatunga
Dammika Ranatunga is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 2 Tests and 4 ODIs in 1989. He is the brother of former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanjeeva Ranatunga and Nishantha Ranatunga....
,
Hemantha Wickramaratne
Hemantha Wickramaratne
Ranasinghe Pattikirikoralalage Aruna Hemantha Wickramaratne is a Sri Lankan cricketer who played three ODIs in 1993.- External links :*...
,
Thilan Samaraweera
Thilan Samaraweera
Thilan Thusara Samaraweera is a Sri Lankan cricketer, born September 22, 1976 in Colombo. Samaraweera plays international cricket for Sri Lanka and is in the side primarily for his solid right-handed batting but is also a capable Off spinner.-Personal life:...
,
Charith Senanayake
Charith Senanayake
Charith Panduka Senanayake is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in 3 Tests and 7 ODIs from 1990 to 1991....
,
Thilina Kandamby
Thilina Kandamby
Sahan Hewa Thilina Kandamby is a Sri Lankan international cricketer who is a specialist middle-order batsman. Kandamby was marked out as a talent early, playing for the Sri Lanka Under 19s from 1998 to 2001, and he has also played ten first class games for Sri Lanka A cricket team.Kandamby made...
,
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara is a Sri Lankan international cricketer. A left-handed batsman and right-arm off break bowler, he made his One Day International debut in late 2009.-External links:...
,
Mahela Udawatte
Mahela Udawatte
Mahela Lakmal Udawtte known as Mahela Udawatte is a Sri Lankan opening batsman who made his first class debut in 2004-05 in Sri Lanka and he was also named in the thirty-man provincial squad for the 2007 World Cup but failed to make it to the final fifteen...
,
Chandika Hathurusingha
Chandika Hathurusingha
Upul Chandika Hathurusingha is a former Sri Lankan cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler....
,
Avishka Gunawardene
Avishka Gunawardene
Dihan Avishka Gunawardene is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He is an explosive left-handed batsman who first came into the public eye during the 1998 Commonwealth Games, when he scored a century and achieved the highest score in the South African defeat.Despite a few centuries, avoidable dismissals...
,
Nishantha Ranatunga
Nishantha Ranatunga
Nishantha Ranatunga is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played two ODIs in 1993. He is the brother of former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanjeeva Ranatunga and Dammika Ranatunga.-External links:*...
,
Akalanka Ganegama
Akalanka Ganegama
Akalanka Ganegama is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played in two One Day Internationals for Sri Lanka and has also played Twenty20 and List A cricket. He plays domestic cricket for Nondescripts...
,
Dinuka Hettiarachchi
Dinuka Hettiarachchi
Dinuka Hettiarachchi is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a slow left-arm bowler.Hettiarachchi began playing cricket in 1995 for Tamil Union. He represented clubs at every level from under-13s to under-19s and beyond to senior level...
,
Sanjeewa Weerasinghe
Sanjeewa Weerasinghe
Colombage Don Udesh Sanjeewa Weerasinghe is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in one Test in 1985. He was the youngest test player to represent Sri Lanka at an age of 17 years and 269 days....
,
Dinesh Chandimal
Dinesh Chandimal
Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal is a Sri Lankan international cricketer who has played first class cricket for Ruhuna and Nondescripts Cricket Club. A right-hand batsman and wicket-keeper, he scored 64, four and 109 in his first three innings for the Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI...
,
- Main article : Ananda-NalandaAnanda-NalandaAnanda - Nalanda is a cricket match played between Ananda College Colombo, and Nalanda College Colombo. It was first played in 1924. Over the years both schools has produced many world famous cricketers....
Sport clubs
- Athletics
- Rowing
- Swimming
- Cricket
- Chess
- Football
- Basketball
- Badminton
- Tennis
- Hockey
- Scouting
- Squash
- Baseball
- Volleyball
- Wushu
- Karate
- Gymnastics
- Table Tennis
- Rugby
- Army Cadeting
- Senior Cadet Band
- Air Force Cadeting
- Water polo
- Handball
- Navy Cadet Squadron
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 anandaiSamma sambudu sugatha thatgatha sambudu pilimaya abiyasadee
Kelesun Duruwee Athyugalesadee
Anandai anandai anande ada anandai
Silgath thani sudu nelum kusum lesa,
pehedi, pibidi pirisindu wee
Munidun namadimu ath yuga hisadee
Anandai Anandai Anande ada anandai
Medals and Trophies
Fritz Kunz Memorial Trophy - This is the school's most prestigious lifetime achievement award given to the "Most Outstanding Anandian" passing out from the school each year.Dr. Keerthi Rajapakse Memorial Troophy for the Prefect with most Outstanding Academic Performance
Most Outstanding Sportsman(MOS)
Ananda Padma - Presented for outstanding achievement in Sports as a student
Ananda Pradeepa - Presented for outstanding Academic achievements in GCE(A/L).
Groups of Ananda College Old Boys Association
- Association of Old Anandians in United Kingdom
- Old Anandians 91 Group
- Ananda College Old Boy's Association in Italy( OBA AC in Italy)
- Ananda College Old Boy's Association of East Coast-USA
- Old Anandians Association of Victoria, Australia (OAAV)
- Old Anandians' Association in Japan (OAAJ)
- Old Anandians 2005 Group
- Old Anandians 2008 Group
- Old Anandians 70-75 Group
- Old Anandians 75-80 Group
- Old Anandians 80 Group
- Millennia Group of Ananda College (98, 99, 2000, 2001)
- Old Anandians Radio Club
- Old Anandians 94 Group
- Old Anandians 98 Group
- Old Anandians 99 Group
- Ananda College - Group 91
- Ananda Business Group
- Ananda College Old Hostellers Guild
- Ananda College OBA - Southern Province
- Gampaha Branch of the Ananda College OBA
- Kegalle Branch of the Ananda College OBA
- Kalutara District Branch of the Ananda College OBA
- Old Anandians 90 Group
- Old Anandians' Buddhist Association
- Old Anandians Centenary Group
- Old Anandians Kelani Valley Association
- Old Anandians Media Circle
- Old Anandians Scout Association
- Old Anandians Sports Club
- Rathnapura Branch of the Ananda College OBA
- Senior Old Anandians
- Old Anandians Broadcasting Unit
Past Principals
| 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 | (1945–1954) |
| Mr. S. A. Wijetillake | (1954–1960) |
| 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) |
| A. P. Guneratne | (1988–1995) |
| T.B. Damunupola | (1995–2001) |
| B. A. Abeyrathne | (2001–2008) |
| Lal Dissanayake | (2008–2009) |
| L.M.D. Dharmasena | (2009 - .......) |
Notable Teachers
- Dr. T B JayahTuan Burhanudeen JayahDr.Tuan Burhanuddin Jayah was born in Galagedara on 01st of January 1890. was a Sri Lankan educationalist, politician, and diplomat. He studied at St. Paul's College, Kandy and St Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia and received his degree from the University of London in 1913 and joined Dharmaraja...
- C. Suntharalingam
- Lionel RanwalaLionel RanwalaLionel Ranwala was a prominent Sri Lankan musician.Ranwala's main interest was Sinhala folk music of Sri Lankan...
- Prof. G P MalalasekaraGunapala Piyasena MalalasekeraGunapala Piyasena Malalasekera was a Sri Lankan professor, scholar and diplomat. He was the first Ceylon Ambassador to the Soviet Union,Ceylon High Commissioner in Canada, Ceylon High Commissioner to United Kingdom and Ceylon Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.-Early life...
- R. S. S. Gunawardena
- Lionel Ranaweera
- Rev. Kotagama Vachissara
- R.M. Abeyawardene
- M.K.N. Panikkar
- V. Thanabalasingham
- W.H. Botheju
Trivia
- First school to introduce basketball in Sri Lanka
- First to start a Navy Cadet platoon in Sri Lanka
- Produced most number of cricketers in Sri Lanka.
- Produced highest number of Military officers in Sri lanka