nalanda    college,   colombo       

history  

      According to the history, the idea of Nalanda was established at the end of the year 1922. At this time since of the number of students was increasing in Ananda College. The services and other physical requirements were not enough for the students. So the then principal of Ananda College, Mr. P. de S. Kularathne decided to place the primary section of Ananda College on the land that was given by the governor of Ceylon, Sir. Graham Thompson to Ananda College to use as the sports ground in Campbell Place. The head master of this section was Mr. W. E. Fernando. It stared education from 1st of January, 1923 in an old type clay house built in the place for the primary section. Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera was also included into this section.

Ven. Ananda Maithriya Thera

In 1922, they started to build a building with all facilities as they needed in a 4 acre land near by the primary which was bought for 55 000 LKR in cost. Twelve classes, an office, teachers' room, science labs and many other facilities were included in that building. That building was the present Kularathne Mandiraya. Money that was taken from Anagharika Dharmapala as a debt had included to build the primary section of Nalanda. That debt was payed by the principal of Nalanda College Prof. Malalasekara after sometimes.

The primary section of Ananda College had started as a new school in 1924. This new school was named as Nalanda remembering Nalanda University in Dambadiwa at the time of Buddha and the Pali sentence "Naalandadathi Nalanda" (The places which gives energy and strength). Pali sentence "Apadana Sobhini Pagna" (Wisdom Illuminates Character) in the Bala Waggaya of Thika Nipathaya of Anguththara Nikaya of Suthra Pitakaya (Buddhist's Book) selected as the motto of Nalanda College. Both the name and the motto of Nalanda College was given by Venerable Ananda Maithriya Thera. The first principal of Nalanda College was Mr. L.H. Meththananda.

  

past  principals                                     

• Mr. L. H. Meththananda (1924 - 1925)

When Nalanda registered as a separate school, Mr. L.H.Meththananda who at that time was the head master of Nalanda (unregistered) was appointed as as the first principal on the 1st November 1925. He was in office for two months.

     

• Professor Gunapala Malalasekara (1925 - 1927)

Prof. Gunapala Malalasekara took over his duties as the principal of Nalanda, on the 1st January 1926,when he returned to the country, after completing his Masters degree in England. He took a courageous effort in trying to raise money to build the necessary infrastructure and in the process initiated the project "Nalanda Kusumdhina". These noble efforts can be seen reflected in contemporary editions of the newspapers such as "Sinhala Boudhaya ", "Sarasavi Sadharasa ", "Sinhala Jathiya " etc.