Ananda Sastralaya
History
As the awakening of Buddhist education system in Ceylon during the 19th century, some of the leaders in the Kotte area set up a new school, Kotte Bauddha Mishra Vidyalaya - කෝට්ටේ බෞද්ධ මිශ්ර විද්යාලය (Kotte Buddhist Boys' School), on 4 November 1880. Initially, the school was operated on a small scale with very few facilities. On 1 January 1890 the Ven. Emulgama Wimalatissa Thera with Dayaka Sabha of Kotte Raja Maha Vihara proceeded to enhance the facilities of the school and changed the school's name to Kotte Bauddha (Buddhist) English Mixed School.
The first principal of the school was C. Ranasingha (1890–1903), who was followed by D. B. Jayatilaka (1903–1905). In 1910 the name of the school was changed to Jayawardena Shasthra Shalava, whilst D. J. Jayatunga (1905–1922) was appointed as the school's third principal.
After the establishment of Buddhist Theosophical Society, Jayawardena Shasthra Shalava took over the administration of the school. The administration renamed the school, Ananda Sastralaya, and appointed the former principal of Ananda College, S. P. Perera, as the school's principal.
In 1934, Dr. E. W. Adikaram, renowned educator, writer and social activist took on the duties of the principal of Ananda Sastralaya and his period was known as the golden age of the school. He made a vital contribution to the renaissance of Buddhist education. With the help of many donours and a large number of social workers, hee bought another 13 acre land from the Pagoda area and built the hostel and sports ground of Ananda Sastralaya. Later, he used the resources used to mark the beginning of another Buddhist school in Kotte at that time. Later, this school was named as "Ananda Sastralaya Junior School (No. 02)".
During the second World War the school premises was taken over by the Ceylon Army for the use as an army camp. After the war, the school was re-established. Under the 1961 Parliamentary Act passed by the Government, all the educational institutes were taken under to one national system of education, whereby all the schools that were managed by the Buddhist Theosophical Society were transferred across to the Government.
In the 1960s, Stanley Thilakarathne, a former MP from Kotte (who was selected as the speaker of the parliament later) pointed out the need for a girls' college in Kotte and reserved an unused land plot in the 13 acre land in the Pagoda Ananda Sastralaya Junior School No. 2. New Girls' School was established on 11 January 1971 as "Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte."
Sports
Houses
The students of the Ananda Sastralaya are divided into four houses. These are:
- Paravi - Colour - Red
- Kokila - Colour - Green
- Thisara - Colour - Red
- Mayura - Colour - Blue
An athletic tournament among these houses is held once a year at the beginning of the first term.
Past principals
| Name of the principal | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C. Ranasinghe | 1890–1903 | Inaugural headmaster |
| D. B. Jayathilaka | 1903–1905 | |
| D. J Jayathunga | 1905–1922 | |
| S. P. Perera | 1922–1934 | |
| E. W. Adikaram | 1934–1946 | |
| Bernard Wickramasinghe | 1945–1954 | |
| N. W. de Costa | 1953–1956 | |
| Mahinda Palihawadana] | 1956–1960 | |
| Gunapala Wickramarathna | 1961–1964 | |
| M. C. Ariyarathna | 1965–1966 | |
| Ananda Pasqual | 1966–1970 | |
| W. T. P. Thilakarathne | 1971–1988 | |
| H. Thilakananda | 1988–1989 | |
| P. A. Lokugamage | 1989–1990 | |
| Palitha Weerasooriya | 1990–1991 | |
| E. M. Ranasinghe | 1992–1995 | |
| W. A. S. Ranasinghe | 1995–1998 | |
| W. S. Dharmasiri | 1998–2001 | |
| D. Jayaweera | 2001–2002 | |
| Ven. Abeysekara Gunarathana Thero | 2002–2006 | |
| E. J. A. P. Karunadasa | 2007–2009 | |
| M. H. N. G. Thisera | 2009–2010 | |
| Malani Samarakoon | 2010–2013 | First female principal |
| G. P. B. Liyangaskumbura | 2013–2019 | |
| Upul Jayarathne | 2019–2021 | |
| M. K. Priyashantha Maddumarala | 2021–present |
Notable alumni
| Name | Notability | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero | Buddhist Monk | |
| Milton Mallawarachchi | A popular Sri Lankan singer and a musician | |
| Jayalal Rohana | Actor, Director, Scriptwriter | |
| Gamini Lokuge | Member of parliament - Colombo (1989–present) | |
| Dayasena Pasqual | Member of parliament - Matugama (1956–1977) | |
| Reggie Ranatunga | Member of parliament - Gampaha (1989–2008) | |
| S. de Silva Jayasinghe | Member of parliament - Wellawatte-Galkissa (1952–1977) | |
| K. M. P. Rajaratne | Member of parliament - Welimada (1956–1957, 1960–1965) | |
| Kusuma Rajaratne | Member of parliament - Welimada (1957–1960), Uva Paranagama (1960–1965) | |
| Isura Devapriya | Chief Minister of Western Province (2015–present) |
See also
References
- ^ "Ananda Sastralaya - moving on". The Sunday Leader. 6 August 2006. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ "Gazette". The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 10418. 27 June 1952.
- ^ "Archaeological Ruins at Kotte Ananda Sastralaya". Lanka Pradeepa. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "The History of Ananda Sastralaya". Ananda Sastralaya. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ "Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte - 115 years". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 1 January 2005. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
- ^ http://www.anandabalikaoga.com/?page_id=11
- ^ "Gangodawila Soma Thera who made a great contribution to the Buddhist society". roar.media (in Sinhala). 26 September 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "manoj01". www.divaina.com. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ Abeynaike, H. B. W.; Ameratunga, H. P. (1970). Parliament of Ceylon. Colombo: Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. p. 66.
- ^ "ජන හදවත්වල තුන් කල්හිම රැඳුණු ඇස්. ද ඇස්. ජයසිංහ - Mawbima.lk". mawbima.lk (in Sinhala). 26 September 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Web, Rivira (5 August 2016). "Isura Devapriya - Chief Minister of the Western Province - Isura Devapriya's Political Life 25 Years Anniversary". Rivira Online (in Sinhala). Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.