Ananda College

Ananda College
ආනන්ද විද්‍යාලය
Ananda College ; ආනන්ද විද්‍යාලය
Location
	Colombo; Sri Lanka
Coordinates	6°55′30″N 79°52′09″E / 6.92500°N 79.86917°E
Information
Type	Public
Motto	; Appamdho Amathapadhan; (Buddhist quote from the Apramadha
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.

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.

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.

Clubs and Societies

Ananda College Buddhist Association
English Literary Association
Ananda College Sinhala Literary Association
Ananda College Debaters' Council
Ananda College Olympiad Society
Ananda College Prefects Guild
Ananda College Scout Troop
Ananda Youth Club
Ananda College Radio Club
Ananda College Karate Club
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 Broadcasting Unit
English Drama circle
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
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 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 Rubik's Cube Club
Ananda College Robotic Technology Society
Ananda College Forest Conservation Society

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.

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

Sport clubs

Athletics
Rowing
Swimming
Cricket
Chess
Football
Basketball
Badminton
Tennis

Hockey
Kabaddi
Scouting
Squash
Baseball
Volleyball
Wushu
Karate
Gymnastics
Table Tennis

Rugby
Army Cadetting
Senior Cadet Band
Air Force Cadetting
Water polo
Handball
Navy Cadet Squadron

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

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

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).

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

Notable alumni

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 - .......)

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

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.

References

Ananda role in Buddhist education

External links