A Founders Day remembrance and the 135th Anniversary of Ananda College
View(s):Ananda College was founded on November 1, 1886, at No. 19, Prince Street, Pettah as a Buddhist School by the Buddhist Theosophical Society (BTS), as a result of the great efforts of the Buddhist revival movement pioneered by the Ven. Hikkaduwe
Sri Sumangala Thero , Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda and Col. Henry Steel Olcott and other Buddhist activists to give the Buddhist Children an opportunity to study Buddhist Cultural values and traditions in English medium, as an alternative to the missionary education available during the oppressive regime of the British Imperialist rule in the country. Rev. Fr. C. W. Leadbeater, was appointed as its first Principal. In 1888 the school was moved to No. 61, Maliban Street, Pettah.
Later, with the same intention of spreading the English education for the Buddhist children in the country, Dharmaraja College in Kandy, Mahinda College in Galle and Maliyadeva College in Kurunegala were established by the BTS with the support of philanthropists and well-wishers.
It is no doubt, since its inception it was a beacon for the Buddhist Community in the country while expanding its student numbers and gathering momentum of the Buddhist revival movement with the support of well-wishers, benefactors and philanthropists of that era, gaining a strong foothold in the country, moving it to the present location on August 17, 1895 at Paranawadiya in Maradana, on the land donated by the Mudliyar Tudor Rajapaksha, a great philanthropist from down south.
Soon, Ananda College with its educational achievements and admission of children of influential and wealthy Buddhist families in the country and the ordinary children from the rural areas, it grew by numbers becoming the epicentre of independent struggle producing intellectuals, academics and administrators under the leadership of the great educationist P. D. S. Kularatne as its principal, transforming the Ananda College into a nationally important education institute to serve the needs and demands of the nation while establishing several similar Buddhist schools in the country like Nalanda, Vidyartha, Dharmapala and Ananda Balika, with the help of his able tutorial staff and well-wishers.
Many bright students who were educated at Ananda during the Kularatne era excelled in their studies and sports and went into higher education at overseas universities, and after completing their studies returned to the country. The political leaders of that era like Dr. N. M. Perera, Dr. S. A. Wickremasinghe and Philip Gunawardena, who had their education at Ananda College, formed political parties creating a strong political movement against the British Imperialist rule in the country. They made a significant contribution in the freedom struggle by challenging the British Imperialist rule through protests and strikes, while preparing and educating the masses and the working class to stand against British rule through their political campaigns and trade union activities.
After Independence Ananda College and other Buddhist schools established by the BTS provided a greater contribution to the national economy by producing large number of academics, professionals, security forces personnel and administrators to strengthen the successive governments to change the colonial mindset left behind by the British rule. Also, these schools produced many security and Police personnel who served the successive governments with loyalty, dedication and protecting the territorial integrity of the country.
It is also very sad to mention that many service personnel from these schools and others laid down their lives in protecting the integrity of our nation and bringing the peace to our country, during the civil war. We remember their service, supreme sacrifice and gallantry with gratitude and utmost respect for establishing the peace and unity in our country, at this anniversary religious observances.
Further, in the past two years, since the start of this pandemic situation in the country, the Ananda College Old Boys Association and its affiliated groups in Sri Lanka and overseas, contributed generously towards the government health emergency fund to help front line health staff in several hospitals to fight against the COVID-19 virus with much needed funds and emergency medical care equipment worth several millions, treating it as a national duty and obligation of old Anandians, by shouldering a share of the burden of the National Health Services and helping the Sri Lankan people in this pandemic situation.
It is no doubt that today, people in this country face an unprecedented economic, financial and social difficulties and challenges, since Independence, due to rampant corruption, waste and political mismanagement of successive governments. It is no doubt our distinguished old Anandian politicians like Dr. N. M. Perera, Dr. S. A. Wickremasinghe and Philip Gunawardena set an excellent example to all our politicians, as honest and dedicated patriots who tirelessly worked for the political freedom and economic development of our country.
Hence, we take this important occasion to remind the leadership of this government, as a nationally important responsibility on behalf of the people, to take appropriate measures to ensure economic progress and prosperity of our nation with equality, harmony and co-existence of all communities and faiths by bringing in a suitable constitution acceptable to all citizens to create the peace and harmony in this country which is the cherished dream of our founders in establishing Ananda College and other Buddhist educational institutions through their untiring efforts, dedication and commitment for the nation.
May the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem be upon on our nation to achieve the prosperity, dispelling the darkness over it and to overcome the sufferings faced by our people now.
(Sarath Katangodage)