Ananda College
| Ananda College ආනන්ද විද්යාලය |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Appamdho Amathapadhan (Buddhist quote from the Apramadha |
|
| Location | |
Colombo, Sri Lanka  |
|
| Coordinates | 6°55′30″N 79°52′09″E / 6.925°N 79.86917°ECoordinates: 6°55′30″N 79°52′09″E / 6.925°N 79.86917°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1886 |
| Founder | Colonel Henry Steel Olcott |
| Principal | L.M.D. Dharmasena |
| Grades | Class 1 - 13 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Enrollment | 8000
|
| Color(s) | Maroon and Gold |
| Affiliation | Buddhist |
| Website | http://www.ananda.sch.lk/ |
Ananda College, Colombo (Sinhala: කොළඹ ආනන්ද විද්යාලය), was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. Ananda College is a National School, which provides primary and secondary education. Ananda College is considered as the leading National school in Sri Lanka.
[edit] Ananda College today
The school has a student population exceeding 8,000 across 13 grades from primary to secondary classes. The campus resides in a 20 acres (81,000 m2) land in Maradana. The academic staff of more than 250 is led by Principal L.M.D. Dharmasena. Ananda has produced notable alumni, including statesmen such as Former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and United National Party deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya, and cricketers Arjuna Ranatunga, Marvan Atapattu and Thilan Samaraweera.Over the years, Ananda College has gained renown as a great college not only in Sri Lanka, but also internationally. The college is noted for the exemplary discipline that is maintained by its students in comparison to other educational institutions. It is considered the best Buddhist school in Sri Lanka, with a reputation for excellence in sports and extra-curricular activities as well as academic success. Ananda College has been awarded the Best school in sports award many times including 2010.
[edit] History
1881 January 1: The inheritance of the Sinhalese Buddhist "Sarasavi Sandaresa"
1881 February 8: The arrival of Col. Olcott at Dharmopakari Society Maradana Colombo.
1885 May 29: The arrival of C. W. Leadbeater at "Sarasavi Sandaresa".
1886 October 22: An English-Buddhist hall is established.
1886 October 23: A meeting of the Buddhist public was held at Pettah under the patronage of Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera.
1886 November 1: An English-Buddhist school was inaugurated at No. 61 Maliban Street. •C. W. Leadbeater becomes the first principal of "Ananda today". •37 students attended the first session •Mr. C.W. Leadbeater inaugurated Sunday schools for the teaching of Buddhism to the schoolteachers.
1889 January 16: The first prize giving was conducted by Olcott. Submitting school registration applications initiates.
1889 March: The registration of the English-Buddhist school, where there were 120 students. Bath and Oliver Jams graduate from the Madras University and join the teaching staff.
1889 May 27: The first examination is held. The proceeds of the examination amounted to Rs. 359.50.
1889 August: The shifting of the English-Buddhist school from No. 61 Maliban Street to a more spacious premises at No. 19 Prince Street.
1889 December: The first Anandian to pass the Cambridge junior examination was J.P.R. Weerasuriya.
1890: A.E. Buultjens assigned as principal. D.A. Wittachi was the acting principal until Buultjens accepted the position.
1890 March 1: Due to the agitation of a Catholic school's principal saying the transfer was against the educational constitution, the English-Buddhist school shifts its position from No. 19 Prince Street to No. 54 Maliban Street.
1890 October: The second prize giving is conducted by Olcott at No. 54 Maliban Street.
1891 November: C.C. Jayatissa, who was Anandian, was the first Sri Lankan to pass the Cambridge junior examination in the German language.
1892 September: Student enrollment reaches 200.
1893 November: A building fund is inaugurated.
1892-1895: Sri Sumangala Thera held the post of manager.
1894: The student population rose to 270.
1894 January 1: Mudliyar Tudor Rajapaksha donated 3.2 acres (13,000 m2) of land from Paranawadiya to the college.
1895 August 17: The school known as the Pettah English-Buddhist school was renamed Ananda College at Paranawadiya.
[edit] Clubs and Societies
- Ananda College Broadcasting Unit
- Ananda College Buddhist Association
- Ananda College Prefects Guild
- Ananda Youth Club
- Ananda CollegeRadio Club
- Ananda College Karate Club
- Ananda College Scout Troop
- Ananda College Information and Communication Technology Society
- Ananda College Adventure Club
- Ananda College Aeronautical academy
- Ananda College Astronomical Association
- Ananda College Archaeological Society
- Ananda College Architects' Society
- Ananda College Automotive Engineering Association
- Ananda College Aviation Academy
- Ananda College Chemistry Club
- Ananda College Commerce Society
- Ananda College Debaters' Council
- Discussion Forum
- English Drama circle
- English Literary Association
- Ananda College Environment Conservation Society
- Ananda College Film Society
- Ananda College Historical Society
- Helasisu Haula
- Ananda College Interact Club
- Ananda College Junior Sinahala Literary Association
- Ananda College Junior Western Band
- Ananda College Leo Club
- Ananda College Mathematical Society
- Ananda College Music circle
- National Savings Bank
- Ananda College Oriental Music Society
- Ananda College Photographic Art Society
- Ananda College Political Science Society
- Ananda College Quiz Club
- Ananda College Red Cross Society
- Ananda College Saukyadana Unit
- Ananda College Science Union
- Ananda College Scrabble Club
- Ananda College Senior Brass Band
- Ananda College Sinhala Literary Association
- Ananda College Social Services League
- Ananda College Tennis Club
- Ananda College Traffic Unit
- Ananda College Unesco Society
- Ananda College United Nations Club
- Ananda College Western Music Association
- Ananda College Wildlife Protection Society
- Ananda College Young Biologist's Society
- Ananda College Young Inventor's Society
- Ananda College Young Zoologists Association
- Ananda College Youth Services Association
- Ananda College Drug Prevention Club
- Ananda College Army Cadet Contingent
- Ananda college Young Inventors Society
- Ananda College Drama Circle
- Ananda College Air Force Cadet Wing
- Ananda College Naval Cadet Squadron
- Ananda College Tamil Union
- Ananda College Arts Circle
- Ananda College Olympiad Society
- Ananda College Rubik's Cube Club
- Ananda College Robotic Technology Society
- Ananda College Forest Conservation Society
[edit] Houses
The studentse are divided among four houses:
- Parakrama
Colour - Red
- Vijaya
Colour - Dark Green
- Asoka
Colour - Dark Purple
- Gamunu
Colour- Navy Blue
The houses are named after the four main ancient Sinhala kings of Sri Lanka.An annual Track and Field tournament among these houses is held at the beginning of the first term.
[edit] Battle of the Maroons (Ananda vs Nalanda)
Battle of the Maroons Ananda-Nalanda (Ananda versus Nalanda cricket match) is the annual cricket contest which is commonly referred to as the "Big Match" between Ananda College and Nalanda College Colombo which revives their age old cricketing tradition which first began in 1924.
Over the years Ananda College has produced many world famous cricketers:
Sidath Wettimuny, Ajit de Silva, Sunil Wettimuny, Mithra Wettimuny, Brendon Kuruppu, Arjuna Ranatunga, Marvan Atapattu, Dulip Samaraweera, Sanjeeva Ranatunga, Dammika Ranatunga, Hemantha Wickramaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, Charith Senanayake, Thilina Kandamby, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Mahela Udawatte, Chandika Hathurusingha, Avishka Gunawardene, Nishantha Ranatunga, Akalanka Ganegama, Dinuka Hettiarachchi, Sanjeewa Weerasinghe, Dinesh Chandimal, Sachithra Senanayake
- Main article : Ananda-Nalanda
[edit] Sport clubs
|
|
|
- Navy Cadet Squadron
[edit] School Anthem
Dina dina kitu gosa boovii - Vaejambenu ananda pa maataa
Sudilii - Jayavii - Lovehii
Saadaa diilaa Sipsata haa - Kala da vinee da pahadaa
Editara Sinhala daru kela sadalaa
Dina dina kitu gosa boovii - Vaejambenu ananda pa maataa
Lakehii boo anandee paturaa
Anada terun see loo vaeda salasaa
Peevii seevee nisaa veseevaa
Pamaada novemuu tiloona desusee
Dina dina kitu gosa boovii - Vaejambenu ananda pa maataa
[edit] School song
Anandai anandai anande ada anandai
Samma sambudu sugatha thatgatha sambudu pilimaya abiyasadee Kelesun Duruwee Athyugalesadee
Anandai anandai anande ada anandai
Silgath thani sudu nelum kusum lesa, pehedi, pibidi pirisindu wee Munidun namadimu ath yuga hisadee
Anandai Anandai Anande ada anandai
[edit] Medals and Trophies
Fritz Kunz Memorial Trophy - This is the school's most prestigious lifetime achievement award given to the "Most Outstanding Anandian" passing out from the school each year.
Dr. Keerthi Rajapakse Memorial Troophy for the Prefect with most Outstanding Academic Performance
Most Outstanding Sportsman(MOS)
Ananda Padma - Presented for outstanding achievement in Sports as a student
Ananda Pradeepa - Presented for outstanding Academic achievements in GCE(A/L).
[edit] Groups of Ananda College Old Boys Association
- Old Anandians 'Group 82'
- Association of Old Anandians in United Kingdom
- Old Anandians 91 Group
- Ananda College Old Boy's Association in Italy( OBA AC in Italy)
- Ananda College Old Boy's Association of East Coast-USA
- Old Anandians Association of Victoria, Australia (OAAV)
- Old Anandians' Association in Japan (OAAJ)
- Old Anandians 2005 Group
- Old Anandians 2008 Group
- Old Anandians 70-75 Group
- Old Anandians 75-80 Group
- Old Anandians 80 Group
- Millennia Group of Ananda College (98, 99, 2000, 2001)
- Old Anandians Radio Club
- Old Anandians 94 Group
- Old Anandians 95 Group
- Old Anandians 98 Group
- Old Anandians 99 Group
- Ananda College - Group 91
- Ananda Business Group
- Ananda College Old Hostellers Guild
- Ananda College OBA - Southern Province
- Gampaha Branch of the Ananda College OBA
- Kegalle Branch of the Ananda College OBA
- Kalutara District Branch of the Ananda College OBA
- Old Anandians 90 Group
- Old Anandians' Buddhist Association
- Old Anandians Centenary Group
- Old Anandians Kelani Valley Association
- Old Anandians Media Circle
- Old Anandians Scout Association
- Old Anandians Sports Club
- Rathnapura Branch of the Ananda College OBA
- Senior Old Anandians
- Old Anandians Broadcasting Unit
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] Past Principals
| C. W. Leadbeater | (1886–1890) |
| A. E. Buultjens] | (1890–1898) |
| Sir D.B. Jayathilaka] | (1898–1908) |
| J.T. Davis | (1908–1909) |
| M. C. Moore | (1910–1913) |
| Fritz Kunz | (1914–1917) |
| Mr. C. V. Ranawake | (1917–1918) |
| P. De S. Kularatne | (1923–1932) |
| Dr. G. P. Malalasekera | (1932–1943) |
| Mr. A. B. Perera | (1943–1945) |
| L. H. Mettananda | (1945–1954) |
| Mr. S. A. Wijetillake | (1954–1960) |
| Mr. M. W. Karunananda | (1961–1964) |
| Lt. Col. E. A. Perusinghe | (1964–1969) |
| Colonel. G.W. Rajapaksha | (1971–1981) |
| Mr. S. K. Nettananda | (1981–1982) |
| Col. V. S. Kudaligama | (1982–1988) |
| A. P. Guneratne | (1988–1995) |
| T.B. Damunupola | (1995–2001) |
| B. A. Abeyrathne | (2001–2008) |
| Lal Dissanayake | (2008–2009) |
| L.M.D. Dharmasena | (2009 - .......) |
[edit] Notable Teachers
- Dr. T B Jayah
- C. Suntharalingam
- Lionel Ranwala
- Prof. G P Malalasekara
- Premasiri Khemadasa
- R. S. S. Gunawardena
- Lionel Ranaweera
- Rev. Kotagama Vachissara
- R.M. Abeyawardene
- M.K.N. Panikkar
- V. Thanabalasingham
- W.H. Botheju
[edit] Trivia
- First school to introduce Karate [Kyo Kushin Kai Kan the original style + meny other styles] in Sri Lanka
- First school to introduce basketball in Sri Lanka[citation needed]
- First to start a Navy Cadet platoon in Sri Lanka[citation needed]
- Produced most number of cricketers in Sri Lanka.
- Produced highest number of Military officers in Sri lanka
- The Statue of Ananda Viharaya is the most worshiped statue in the world considering number of worshipers per day, which exceeds over 6000.
