Ranabima College silver jubilee: Stamp and first day cover issued
View(s):Ranabima Royal College celebrated its silver jubilee of twenty five years recently. The school was built on the Gannoruwa battleground and this battle was led by Rajasinghe II. It is here that the troops of General De Mello were routed by the forces of Rajasinghe II.
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella presents the first day cover to college co-founder Palitha Elkaduwa
On this ground, former Central Province Chief Minister W. P. B. Dissanayake and Central Province Education Secretary Palitha Elkaduwa laid the foundation for Ranabima Royal College to take in children from nearby villages, based on their performance at a written examination. At first 240 students were enrolled. There were only three subjects, at these exams, and the students enrolled were those were unable to gain admission to other Govt. schools in the country.
An annual examination is held by the Provincial Council’s Education Department and 160 students are enrolled after this examination, in the grade six classes. The students comprise of all ethnic groups. Currently, 1200 students are currently studying at the school with around 100 dedicated teachers.
There are nearly 200 medicine, engineering, mathematics, arts and commerce graduates who have studied here. The school was opened on March 02, 1996 to commemorate the Kandyan Convention, by the then Governor of the Central Province Stanley Tillekeratne.
To commemorate the event the Postal Department issued a postage stamp of Rs.15/- and a first day cover, which was presented to the Posts and Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella by Deputy Post Master General Champa de Silva. Minister Keheliya Rambukuwella was Chief Guest addressing those present at the event.
The Minister said it was a happy occasion to review the school’s progress over the past twenty five years with the present Principal Colonel Rajapakse at the helm.
The Minister said Ranabima Royal College has a unique history associated with Battle of Gannoruwa and it is a school that is an example to the entire country.
The written test is the only way to gain admission to Ranabima Royal College and it is a highly competitive examination, conducted by the Central Province Education department. Only students from the Central Province can participate. The school consists of classes from grades six through 13. There are two Sinhala medium classes, a Tamil medium class, and an English medium class in every grade until grade 11. Each class consists of 40 students.
The school has facilities for A/L physical science, commerce, and biology streams. It produces nationally high ranking students, evidenced by the all island positions received by students who sit for the G.C.E. O/L and A/L exams every year.
- L. B. Senaratne