ආනන්ද විදුහල
From Wikipedia
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Motto | Appamdho Amathapadhan (Buddhist quote from the Apramadha Vaggi in the Dhammapada. Which means "Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless.") |
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Established | 1886 |
Type | Public |
Principal | B. A. Abeyaratne |
Location | Colombo Mhttpedia:Example.ogg[://www.example.com link title]link title, Sri Lanka |
Website | [1] |
Ananda College, established November 1, 1886 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society, is one of Sri Lanka's oldest schools. Originally it was known as English Buddhist School, describing its stated intention of providing English instruction to Buddhist students who would otherwise have had to go to a missionary school in order to get an English education. The school opened on a modest scale with 37 students in a private house in Pettah. It was later relocated to Maradana and was named after Arahant Ananda, the most devoted disciple of the Buddha.
Today Ananda College stands to be one of the greatest Buddhist schools in Asia, with a student population exceeding 6000 in all 13 grades of secondary education on a campus of over 20 acres.The academic staff of 200 + is led by the Principal, Brigadier B.A. Abeyaratne. Over the years, Ananda has produced notable alumni and thus contributed immensely to Sri Lanka. These include statesman such as the current Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and United National Party deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya, and famous cricketers Arjuna Ranatunga and Marvan Atapattu.
One of the most memorable events in the annals of the college was the visit of Asia's first Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore on November 10, 1922, as chief guest at the annual prize giving. He declared on that occasion: "I acknowledge that the life of Ananda is its humility and unassuming nature." One of the greatest men ever born, Mahatma Gandhi visited Ananda in 1927.
Ananda College Old Boys’ Association is a body consisting of the past students of Ananda College. It has a membership in excess of 5000.
[edit] Distinguished Old Boys
- Dr N.M. Perera Freedom Fighter Founder Leader Of LSSP & Minister Of Finance
- Prof. W. S. Karunaratne Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States of America and Mexico, professor of Buddhist Philosophy and comparative religion, Dean Faculty of Arts and Member of the Board of Regents of the University of Sri Lanka, a mesmerizing public speaker known affectionately as "W. S., the conscience of the nation".
- Regi Siriwardena
- Lieutenent General Hamilton Wanasingha Commander of the Army (16th Aug. 1988 - 15th Nov. 1991)
- Lieutenent General Rohan De S Daluwatta Commander of the Army (01st May. 1996 - 15th Dec. 1998 )
- Lieutenent General Lional Balagalle Commander of the Army (25th Aug. 2000 - 30th Jun 2004)
- Lieutenent General Sarath Fonseka Commander of the Army
- Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda
- Phillip Gunawardana
- Ana Punchihewa CEO Pure Beverages Ceylon & Ex President of BCCSL
- Upali Dharmadasa CEO Nawaloka Group & Ex President of BCCSL
- Rohitha Bogollagama Hon.Minister Of Industries & Investment Promotion
- Imthiaz Bakir Markar Former Minister of Media
- Anande Tissa De Alwis Former Minister of Media
- Sam Wijesinghe Secretary General Of Parliament 1977
- Stanley Thilakaratne Former Speaker Of The National Assembly
- D.J. Wimalasurendra pioneer of hydro-electricity in Sri Lanka
- Thomas Amarasuriya Former President of the Senate
- Dharmasiri Senanayaka Former Minister of Tourism & Media
- Thilan Wijesingha Former Chief Of BOI
- A.S.Jayawardena Governor Of Central Bank
- Prof. D.A. Ranasinghe
- Arjuna Ranatunga Former Sri Lanka cricket captain
- Marvan Atapattu Former Sri Lanka cricket captain
[edit] විදුහල්පතිවරු
- 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)
- P. de S. Kularatne (1923 - 1932)
- Dr. G. P. Malalasekera (1932)
- L. H. Mettananda (1945 - 1953)
- B.Col. G.W. Rajapaksha (1971)