The ‘new kid’ who soon stood tall Nalanda College- 95th anniversary
Education in Sri Lanka dates back to the 3rd Century BC, or even before. The Mahavihara was said to be the first ancient seat of learning and later the Abayagiriya Chapter too served as another seat of learning. Lankan education was a temple-based education, but after the arrival of the colonial powers, the system of education moved to school-based education.
The revival of Buddhist education came after the famous Panadura Vadaya (debate). A school for Buddhists opened as the ‘Buddhist English High School’ in Pettah in 1886, later became Ananda College when it shifted to Paranavadiya in 1895.
P. De S. Kularatne who assumed duties in 1918 as Principal of Ananda College, armed with three degrees was the right choice to guide Ananda’s future. He not only changed the course of Ananda but the course of education of Buddhists schools too.
When Mr. Kularatne became Principal of Ananda College in 1918, he undertook much needed improvements. With the construction of a playground for Ananda in 1921 at Campbell Place and the removal of the elementary section of the school in 1922 to this location, Mr Kularatne envisaged another school for Buddhists. The Governor laid the foundation for a 16-classroom building and 330 students of Ananda were transferred to this complex under L.H. Mettananda and W.E. Fernando.
This was registered as a separate school on 1st November 1925, coinciding with the 39th anniversary of Ananda College. And so Nalanda Vidyalaya was born with part of students and teachers from Ananda moving to the new school to give it a head start.
In his report presented at the prizegiving of Ananda College in 1936, Mr. Kularatne stated that when Nalanda was started it was given the first choice of students in each class and the best staff from Ananda. Mr. Kularatne in this report reiterated ‘When Nalanda was separated and registered as an independent school in 1925, I gave that school not only a set of boys and teachers, but equipped it with Physics and Chemistry laboratories and 14 other classrooms each 500 square feet in area’.
Mr. Kularatne also used his influence to purchase and acquire lands for the new institution.
Dr. Gunapala Malalasekera was appointed as the first Principal of Nalanda and made a phenomenal success of this new school.
The name Nalanda and the motto for the school ‘Apadana Sobhini Panna’, – ‘the Character illumines Wisdom’ was given by Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera.
16 great Principals have guided Nalanda during these 95 years and among the early staff were Ven. Heentiyana Dhammaloka Thera, Ven. Kalalle Ananda Sagara Thera, Ven.Kothmale Amarawansa Thera and Tibet nationalist Ven. Mahinda Thera. Popular personalities like Panibharatha, U.S.S. Perera (Siri Ayya), A. T. Ariyaratne, Oruwala Bandu and Somalatha Subasinghe also taught at Nalanda. Mr. Ariyaratne, in fact, started the world renowned Sarvodaya movement at Nalanda.
During the days when this writer was a student at Nalanda, most of the masters were immaculately dressed in spotless white shirts and trousers or the Arya Sinhala dress. Somasiri Devendra writing abut the school recalls the services of Mr. Kandasamy, a strict disciplinarian who was in charge of sports. Another tough master Abdul Bhari taught Sinhalese Language for Grade 5 students in the late ’60s. The selfless dedication to Nalanda by the principals, academic and nonacademic staff right throughout its long history is commendable.
The right infrastructure for an educational institution is necessary for high performance. Nalanda has a well-planned infrastructure for a complete education. The beautiful environment is complemented by a well-maintained playground. Nalanda has produced many academics, intellectuals and professionals over the years, the most outstanding so far being Dr. Sarath Gunapala of NASA fame.
In 1975, when Nalanda celebrated its Golden Jubilee a new baby was born – the Nalanda Junior Old Boys’ Association which is one of the largest and most dynamic old boys’ associations in the country. The Nalanda Old Boys’ Association, Old Nalandians’ Sports Club and Nalanda Past Cricketers’ Association are the other main old boys’ associations contributing to the school’s progress.
Today with a young, energetic intellectual in Thilak Wattuhewa as its current Principal, Nalanda stands out as a premier educational institute imparting to its students not only a wealth of knowledge but also the right values to become good citizens and better human beings.