C. W. W. Kannangara , Mathugama, the first Central College in the Island
View(s):C.W.W.Kannangara Central College has the honour of being called the first Central College in the island set up by the father of free
The College Entrance.
education Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara. The school has produced many outstanding personalities in the field of Engineering, Medicine, Business and Entrepreneurship locally and internationally.
C. W. W. Kannangara Central College Mathugama was founded in 1873 as a vernacular school during the colonial era. Later it was transformed into a government bilingual school. In 1941 under the concept of Free Education the school was established as a Central School.
Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara succeeded and obtained the sanction of the State Council of Ceylon for a scheme of free education, providing all children of the country equal opportunities to climb the highest rung of the education ladder. C.W.W. Kannagara Central College, Matugama is the first central school which was established as a result of free education. Thus the way was paved for clever children in the district of Kalutara to reap the benefits of higher education. C.W.W. Kannangara Central College has been promoted as a National School. Every year the students of this school have obtained excellent results in the O/Level and A/Level examinations.
Principal K.A.Somapala.
Having started with just a handful of students in 1873, with the able guidance of dedicated and committed principals and teachers C.W.W.Kannangara CC has blossomed into a school which accommodates over 5000 students which is the highest student population for a school in the Kalutara District. More than 200 academic staff guided by the present principal Mr.K.A.Somapala, who is an experienced and dedicated leader of the college. Due to the high standards maintained by the school there is a big demand from the parents to admit their children to the school.
The College Logo
The school offers four streams of studies: Science, Commerce, Arts and a new Stream – Technological studies. Annually more than 200 students enter the University and it is considered to be the highest number in the Kalutara District. The percentage of the Ordinary Level result exceeds 95%. Even in the Grade Five scholarship examination, nearly 90 students pass annually.
In addition to the curricular activities C.W.W.Kannangara provides many opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities in the fields of fine arts such as music, drama, art and literary fields. An extensive range of sports comprising athletics, football, netball, cricket, table tennis, badminton and chess are provided to the students. Some of the highlights of the school calendar are the Inter-house sports meet, Poson Bathi gee recital and a whole lot of other activities.
The students have shown a keen interest to complete at Inter school competitions such as English Day, Sinhala Day competitions and sports. With the able guidance of dedicated teachers and the present principal K.A. Somapala, the students get the experience and exposure to face challenges with students from other schools from various parts of the country.
The Senior Brass Band
The Scout Association which was initiated in 1952 holds a unique place. The founder of the scout troop was Hilary Silva. Most of the teachers dedicated their valuable time on behalf of the scout troop. After Kalutara District was divided as Kalutara Division and Horana – Panadura Division, the second district rally was held in this college. In 1981 an interesting Cub Scout wood badge programme took place at this college. During that period, Neyomal Kannangara, a senior scout won the first President’s Award for the school and more than 35 senior scouts have won the prestigious President’s Award since then. Representing the Rover Scout side, Namal
The Primary Band
Priyantha Gurusinghe was the first Wood Badge receiver. There is also a Senior Cadet Platoon which participates in battalion camps annually.
Apart from scouting, the students have done well in cricket and athletics. They emerged champions at several zonal, provincial and all-island contests. Kannangara College owns five bands including two Western junior bands, one senior girls’ Western band and the newly formed boys’ Western brass band.
Genuine qualities of truth, courage and discipline have been inculcated into the students of C.W.W. Kannangara Central College since its inception. The administrators believe that with the help of the college, their students will be able to overcome any problems that they may encounter later in their adult lives.
-Sujitha Miranda
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