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Kalutara Vidyalaya

Coordinates: 6°34′27″N 79°57′53″E / 6.5742°N 79.9648°E / 6.5742; 79.9648
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Kalutara Vidyalaya
කළුතර විද්‍යාලය
Location
Map
Sri Lanka
Coordinates6°34′27″N 79°57′53″E / 6.5742°N 79.9648°E / 6.5742; 79.9648
Information
TypePublic
MottoSinhala: දෑ සමය සුරකිනු
(Save the Race & Creed)
Established13 January 1941; 84 years ago (1941-01-13)
FounderSir Cyril de Zoysa
PrincipalPabasara Bandara
GradesPrimary to G.C.E. (A/L)
GenderBoys
Age6 to 19
Enrollment3,500
ColoursDark green, light green, dark green
   
AlumniKevians
Websitekvns.lk
Main Building of Kalutara Vidyalaya
Sir Cyril de Zoysa Statue at Kalutara Vidyalaya

Kalutara Vidyalaya (Sinhala: කළුතර විද්‍යාලය) is a Buddhist boys' school in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The college was founded in 1941 by Sir Cyril de Zoysa.[1][2] It is a national school providing primary and secondary education.[1][3]

History

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In order to provide education to the Buddhist children of Kalutara district, the Kalutara Buddhist Society, led by Sir Cyril de Zoysa, tried to start a Buddhist school in Kalutara.[1][3]

As a result, Kalutara Vidyalaya was officially established on 13 January 1941, with 56 students and 11 teachers at the Martin Bungalow in Nagoda, Kalutara. In the beginning, the college was led by P. De S. Kularatne (principal of Ananda College), J. N. Jenendradasa (principal of Nalanda College), and E. W. Adikaram (principal of Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte). Later, D. D. P. Samaraweera became the first principal of the college.[1]

After only six months, the college became a senior secondary school. At the beginning, Kalutara Vidyalaya at the Martin Bungalow was a mixed school. On 7 January 1942, Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya was established in Clammily House by P. de S. Kularatne as the girls' school, with Kalutara Vidyalaya becoming a boys' school. On 18 March 1942, the Royal Air Force took over the school for their use during World War II.[1][4]

After a short break, Kalutara Vidyalaya recommenced at Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya. Sir Cyril de Zoysa noticed that it was hard to develop two schools and handed over his Brookline House to the Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya.[1][4] As a result, it was decided to maintain Kalutara Vidyalaya at Alwis Walawwa, located near Galle Road and facing both the Kalu Ganga and the Indian Ocean. This remains the present location of Kalutara Vidyalaya.[4]

In April 1946, the college began offering free education and was transferred across to the government. In 1998, the college became a national school.[1] Today[when?] the school has about 3,500 students and more than 120 teachers.

First staff

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  • D. D. P. Samaraweera – principal [1]
  • Al-Haj Badurdeen – vice principal (former Minister of Education)
  • A. Athukorala – first art teacher
  • Prasanna 'Perry' Perera – first student

Houses

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The boys are divided into four houses, led by house captains. The houses compete in inter-house games and house colours are awarded to winners.[1] The houses are:

  •   Sena (brown)
  •   Tissa (red)
  •   Tilaka (orange)
  •   Anura (white)

Principals

[edit]
  • 01. D. P. Samaraweera [1]
  • 02. H. M. Darmapriya
  • 03. C. D. S. Siriwardane
  • 04. Layanal Lokuliyane
  • 05. M. B. Rathnayake
  • 06. D. A. Weerasinghe
  • 07. Dencil A. Silva
  • 08. Upali Philip Senarathne
  • 09. Gamini Goonerathne
  • 10. A. G. de Silva
  • 11. A. G. Weththasinghe
  • 12. Thanthirige D. Ariyasena
  • 13. H. Sarathchndra Silva
  • 14. P. W. Nelson Perera
  • 15. Mithrasena Ratiyala
  • 16. K. A. D. Punyadasa
  • 17. I. D. Piyarathne
  • 18. Mahanama Siriwardena
  • 19. H. M. Gunarathne
  • 20. K. Rathnaweera Perera
  • 21. H. Sarathchndra Silva
  • 22. K. I. J. Peiris
  • 23. M. Harshana Peiris
  • 24. G.W.C.Pradeep Leelarathna
  • 25. Pabasara Bandara

Battle of the Mangosteen

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The annual cricket encounter between Kalutara Vidyalaya and Tissa Central College, known as the "Battle of the Mangosteen" (Kevian–Tissian cricket encounter), has been held since 1949. It is the second-oldest big match between two leading Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka and the 11th longest running big match in Sri Lanka.[5][6]

The name "Battle of the Mangosteen" is derived from Kalutara’s reputation for cultivating mangosteen fruit, reflecting the region's agricultural identity and adding a local cultural element to the rivalry.

Kalutara Vidyalaya Cricket Team in the 65th Battle of the Mangosteen

In 1949, Herbert de Silva for Kalutara Vidyalaya and Gamini Karunaratne for Tissa Central College made history as the captains of the Battle of the Mangosteen's debut match. With Kalutara Vidyalaya succeeding in recording the victory in that match, the name of Herbert de Silva is written as the first winning captain, and the name of Kalutara Vidyalaya is written as the first winning team. The first time Tissa Central College won the match in the history of the Battle of the Mangosteen was recorded in 1958. The team is led by A. K. D. Jayaweera.[5][7]

So far, 65 matches have been played. Kalutara Vidyalaya (Kevians) has won 23 matches, and Tissa Central College (Tissians) has won 6 matches. 36 matches have resulted in draws.

Parade of the Greens

[edit]
Parade of the Greens (POG) in Kalutara City

Parade of the Greens is an annual vehicle parade organised by the community of Kalutara Vidyalaya, held prior to the cricket encounter against Tissa Central College. The event features a procession of decorated vehicles—including Cars, SUV's Motorbikes, Double-decker bus, and Trucks—accompanied by music, dancing, and cheering crowds.[8]

Notable alumni

[edit]

Sports

[edit]
Name Notability Ref
Tillakaratne Dilshan Sri Lankan cricketer (former captain of the Sri Lanka national cricket team) [9][6][10]
Dulip Liyanage former Sri Lankan cricketer [6]
Shelley Wickramasinghe former Sri Lankan cricketer, Chairman of the National Sports Council, vice-president of Sri Lanka Cricket [6][11]
Manilal Fernando former international football official [6]
Lalith Kaluperuma former Sri Lankan cricketer [6]
Malinga Bandara former Sri Lankan cricketer [6]
Sujeewa de Silva former Sri Lankan cricketer [6]
Chinthaka Jayasinghe former Sri Lankan cricketer
Hettikamkanamge Perera Sri Lankan professional football referee
Ravindra Kottahachchi Sri Lankan cricket umpire
Rohitha Kottahachchi Sri Lankan cricket umpire
Pathmanath Perera former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer
Amila Weththasinghe former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer
Nadeera Nawela former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer
Tillakaratne Sampath Sri Lankan first-class cricketer
Himasha Eashan Sri Lankan sprint athlete specializing in the 100 and 200 meters [12]
Milinda Siriwardana Sri Lankan cricketer [13]
Pathum Nissanka Sri Lankan cricketer (2021– present) [14][15][16]

Arts and Media

[edit]
Name Notability Ref
W. D. Amaradeva Sri Lankan vocalist, musician, violinist and musical composer (Maestro of Sri Lankan Music) [17][18]
Narada Disasekara Sri Lankan classical singer [19]
Daya Alwis actor in Sri Lankan cinema
Wilson Gunaratne actor in Sri Lankan cinema

Politics

[edit]
Name Notability Ref
Somawansa Amarasinghe former leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (1990 – 2014) [20]
Stanley Tillekeratne Sri Lankan politician, former Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Governor of the Central Province of Sri Lanka from 1998 to 2000

Academics

[edit]
Name Notability Ref
Channa Jayasumana Medical Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Former Minister of Health Sri Lanka, First and only cabinet minister produced by the school [21]
Raj Somadeva Senior Professor in Archaeology, University of Kelaniya [22]
Rangika Halwatura youngest professor in Civil Engineering Science in Sri Lanka, University of Moratuwa [23]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Miranda, Sujitha (14 July 2013). "Kalutara Vidyalaya moves forward to produce balanced personalities | The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka". The Sunday Times.
  2. ^ "Sir Cyril de Zoysa Philanthropist with great foresight - News Features | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk.
  3. ^ a b Amunugama, Sarath (2 January 2011). "Sir Cyril did much for Buddhists of Kalutara". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Miranda, Sujitha. "Kalutara BV's vision: To produce wise and confident ladies to the nation | The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka". The Sunday Times.
  5. ^ a b Premachandra, Jagath (28 March 2019). "History of Battle of the Mangosteen - KV vs TCC". ThePapare.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Kalutara Vidyalaya a fine cricket nursery". www.sundaytimes.lk.
  7. ^ malinga (28 May 2025). "65th 'Battle of Mangosteens' ends in draw". DailyNews.
  8. ^ "Parade of the Greens 2018 - Photo Gallery - Hiru Gossip". gossip.hirufm.lk (in Sinhala).
  9. ^ "The Dilshan I know - Sunil Saluwadana". sundaytimes.lk.
  10. ^ "Dilshan bids adieu to shirt No 79 | The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka".
  11. ^ "Former Bloomfield President Shelley Wickremasinghe is no more". www.sundaytimes.lk.
  12. ^ "Army 'bullet' Himasha Eshan predicts new dawn for SL athletics | Product of Kalutara Vidyalaya National School". www.dailymirror.lk.
  13. ^ Admin (6 May 2015). ""I want to be a genuine spin-bowling all-rounder" – Milinda Siriwardana". ThePapare.
  14. ^ Weerasinghe, Damith (15 September 2016). "U19 Schools' Cricketer of the Week – Pathum Nissanka". ThePapare. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  15. ^ Admin (27 March 2021). "Pathum Nissanka story brings tears to your eyes". ThePapare. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  16. ^ Weerasooriya, Sahan (2 January 2022). "The Year of Debutants".
  17. ^ "Pandit Amaradeva strikes a note from the past | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka".
  18. ^ Lanka, Team Next Travel Sri (26 October 2021). "W D Amaradeva, the Maestro of Sri Lankan Music | Biography". Travel Destination Sri Lanka.
  19. ^ Charana TV (4 December 2020). 70Lankare | 70 ලංකාරේ | නාරද දිසාසේකර | Narada Disasekara – via YouTube.
  20. ^ ""Siri Aiya" the Great Survivor: Saga of JVP Stalwart Somawansa Amarasinghe – dbsjeyaraj.com". 18 April 2015.
  21. ^ ITN Sri Lanka (21 April 2018). Mahacharya Yauvanaya | Episode 11 - (2018-04-21) | ITN – via YouTube.
  22. ^ "The Prof who brings our past to present day audiences". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  23. ^ ITN Plus (7 July 2018). Mahacharya Yauvanaya | Episode 22 - (2018-07-07) | ITN – via YouTube.
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