Nalanda College Colombo, established with the aim of nurturing individuals rich in wisdom and virtue and dedicated to the propagation of Buddhism and the preservation of local culture, originated as a distinct institution for Buddhist children in the city. This endeavour was made possible through the unwavering determination of a group of devoted patriots.
Principal
U. D. I. Champika de Silva
Neighbouring Ananda College was established in 1886 during a period when Buddhist children were compelled to attend missionary schools. As Ananda College gained nationwide recognition for its commitment to preserving Buddhist culture and local heritage in its educational approach, it faced the challenge of limited space due to the high demand from students eager to enroll.
The inception of Nalanda College in 1924 was rooted in the vision of P.D.S. Kularatne, who was then the principal of Ananda Vidyalaya.
It was conceived as an extension of Ananda College itself. It was named after the famous and historic Nalanda University in India, one of the key places of Buddhist learning in Asia in ancient times.
The institution, which officially became an independent school on November 1, 1925, was named ‘Nalanda’ by Most Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera.
Its name continues to resonate with the significance of its motto “Wisdom beautifies the character,” and the school takes pride in its history of nurturing many valuable individuals for both the nation and the world. The school is on the cusp of its 100th anniversary as a separate institution.
Nalanda Vidyalaya currently boasts a teaching staff of 205 catering to the education of approximately 4,500 students. Additionally, there are 64 non-academic staff members contributing to the school’s operations.
Iraj Champika de Silva currently serves as the Principal of the school, having assumed this role three months ago. Prior to this appointment, he held the position of Principal at Gampaha Bandaranaike College, one of the biggest schools in that region, for an extended period.
Management Committee
The Management Committee, along with Deputy Principals H. Maheshika Wijayaratne and W.A.P. Ajith Wickrama, are dedicated to the crucial task of nurturing a future generation that possesses not only knowledge but also essential skills and virtues. They provide valuable support to the Principal in carrying out this noble mission.
Nalanda College provides education from Grade One to the Advanced Level. The Advanced Level Department of Nalanda College offers subjects in various streams, including Physics, Biology, Commerce, Arts, and Technology.
The school has placed emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. The school rapidly switched to the online mode during the pandemic, so that the students would not miss any important lessons. Extra classes are held for students who continue to lag behind in important subjects.
The school also boasts a vibrant extracurricular landscape with 33 sports and 58 societies, all aimed at fostering leadership and nurturing well-rounded personalities in students through a combination of academics, sports, and co-curricular activities.
Cricket holds a special place at Nalanda College, primarily due to its involvement in the historic “Battle of the Maroons” against traditional rival Ananda College. This important match is also nearing the century mark.
Nalanda has a proud tradition of producing numerous players who have gone on to represent the national cricket team, establishing the school as a prominent institution in the realm of cricket talent development. In fact, some of the key players of the cricket team which won the Willis World Cup in 1996 were from Nalanda College.
Bandula Warnapura, who had the honour of being the first captain of the Sri Lanka Test cricket team, is a notable alumnus of Nalanda College, Colombo. Throughout its history, Nalanda has nurtured and produced a multitude of accomplished individuals, including scholars, scientists, administrators, sportsmen, artists, journalists, lawyers, and many others, who have not only excelled in their fields but have also made significant contributions to both the nation and the wider world. Expatriate Nalandians continue to support their school at all times.
International fronts
Beyond cricket, Nalanda’s alumni have achieved notable success on both national and international fronts in a diverse array of sports including archery, Wushu, shooting, table tennis, tennis, badminton, swimming, athletics, boxing, squash, and chess.
Nalanda alumni have recently secured numerous victories at the national level while representing various associations, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to excellence in their fields.
At the SLIIT ROBOFEST 2023 competition, Isum Sathmira Silva from the College Robotics Society achieved first place. Additionally, Yenula Aditya Hewawasam emerged victorious in the junior category of photography, while Nethul Viswara secured victory in the senior category.
This was among the plethora of victories achieved by its students during the time. Nalanda College places utmost importance on discipline and wisdom as core values within the school community.
The Buddhist Association of the College plays a significant role in promoting these values. It organises monthly Poya programs and conducts other religious programs during Vesak and Poson festivals.
These initiatives reflect the school’s commitment to instilling ethical and spiritual values in its students. Nalada does have a significant number of students following other faiths and their needs are also catered to.
Nalanda College also celebrates Olcott Day annually. A cherished tradition of the school is the offering of alms to the Sri Dalada Maligawa on November 25 and 26 each year. These customs and practices signify Nalanda College’s enduring commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals with noble qualities, dedicated to serving the nation, both today and in the future.
Pix By Nissanka Wijeratne
