Nalanda College

• Name — Nalanda College, Colombo • Religious Affiliation — Buddhist • Location — Siri Dhamma Mawatha • City — Colombo • Country — Sri Lanka • Postal Code — 01000 • Motto — Āpadāna Sobhinī Panñā • Motto Translation — Character Illumines Wisdom • Type — Public school • Category — National school • Principal — Iran Champika • Grades — 1–13 • Lower Age — 6 • Upper Age — 19 • Enrollment — 4000+ • System — National Education System • Gender — Boys • Hours In Day — 07:30–13:30 • Houses — * Soorya • Chandra • Maurya • Nanda • Colours — Maroon and silver maroonsilver • Song — bænda dhajā siri lakdiva mandira • Athletics — Yes • Sports — Yes • Affiliation — Ministry for Education • Alumni — Old Nalandians • Website — nalandacollege.lk

In 1922, a section of Ananda College was relocated to Campbell Place, Colombo, following a proposal from Kularatne. L. H. Mettananda was appointed principal of the institution, which became known as the Ananda branch. W. E. Fernando served as headmaster, and Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero became its first Buddhist teacher. In 1922, the Governor of Ceylon laid the school's foundation stone. In 1924, Kularatne spent Rs. 5,500 to purchase acre of land near the Campbell Place playground and built sixteen classrooms for the new school, including three for laboratory use and two containing the principal and staff offices. A total of 330 students from Ananda were transferred under the care of Mettananda in 1924. Kularatne helped register the institution as a separate school on 1 November 1925. The new school was given its motto, Apadana Sobhini Panna, while the school name Nalanda was proposed by Ananda Maitreya Thero. The English and Sinhala versions are "Character illumines Wisdom" and "Yahapath Charithayen Praggnawa Opanangwe", respectively. Ananda Maitreya Thero selected this motto from the Anguttara Nikaya, Tika Nipata, Bala Waggo Lakkhana Sutta. On 1 January 1926, Kularatne appointed Dr. Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera as the first registered principal of the newly formed Nalanda College, and transferred Mettananda back to Ananda College as vice principal. Malalasekara launched several projects, making plans for the collection of funds for the construction of buildings, and later commenced a bulletin titled Nalanda. He also arranged 15-minute talks on Buddhism at the daily students' assembly and took many steps to promote the Buddhist environment in the school. Kularatne laid the foundation stone for a second building on 30 March 1926. By the end of 1926, the number of students had increased to 550. Later, he borrowed money from Anagarika Dharmapala to purchase land for the primary section, which was then settled by Malalasekara. The student assembly hall, Malalasekara Theater, is named after him.

Students of Nalanda College have participated in national-level examinations, with some achieving high grades in O-Level and A-Level exams, as well as in various sports competitions.

• Illustration — Nalanda College Announcers Nalanda College Communication Unit (Sinhala: නාලන්දා විද්යාලයීය ජනසන්නිවේදන ඒකකය), also known as The Communication Unit of Nalanda College or NCCU Studios, is the official school communication society of Nalanda College. Established in 1986, Nalanda College Communication Unit has been working as a school communication society in Sri Lanka up to the present. Nalanda College began its media work on 24 May 1926, by launching a school newspaper Nalanda Pravurthi (Sinhala: නාලන්දා ප්රවෘත්ති, lit: Nalanda News) in accordance to the Nalanda Kusum Dina Campaign by professor Gunapala Malalasekara, principal at that time. In 1927, a school magazine Nalanda Sangarawa (Sinhala: නාලන්දා සඟරාව, lit: Nalanda Magazine) was launched. Nalanda College's communication network was founded in 1986 under the name Nalanda College Communication Unit, carrying the motto Muhukura Nagena Janasanniwedanaye Abhimanaya (Sinhala: මුහුකුරා නැගෙන ජනසන්නිවේදනයේ අභිමානය, lit: The Pride of Emerging Mass Communication). A pioneer in school-level media, the unit grew from its origins into a structured institution open to students from Grade 6 through Advanced Levels. Today, the unit upholds that legacy by producing some of Sri Lanka's most recognized school television and radio broadcasts, organizing All-Island Media Day Competitions, and extending its reach across digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.

• Illustration — Nalanda Magazine 'Nalanda' magazine started as a bimonthly magazine to bring forth the language skills of Nalanda young journalists, presumably with the foundation introduced with 'Nalanda Pravurthi' and 'Nalanda Sangarawa' in the early days of Nalanda College. The magazine continued until its final issue in 1978. It started again as a newspaper in 1998 June following the guidance of the principal at that time: Mr. Edward Ranasinghe. Under the motto 'Sin: විමර්ශනාත්මක මනසකින් යුතු මාධ්යවේදීන් බිහි වේවා.' (Let journalists with an investigative mind be born) this newspaper captured peer fame as writers from surrounding schools were also encouraged to write articles for the magazine. In October 2012, the first issue of 'Livseriya' (Sihhala: ලිව්සැරිය): a trimonthly newspaper, was published by Nalanda College Communication Unit under the directions of the principal Mr. J. H. M. W. Ranjith Jayasundara, only to be canceled after the first issue. Despite the previous setbacks, Nalanda College Communication Unit relaunched the 'Nalanda' trimonthly magazine in 2018, this time with a steady foundation to ensure a continuous publication. The magazine continues to publish until the present enabling the linguistic development of students, teachers, and past pupils of Nalanda College.

• Illustration — (Nalanda TV) NTV 2019 Source: • 2005 – Nalanda TV (Sri Lanka's first ever school TV broadcast) • 2008 – Nalanda TV (Sri Lanka’s first-ever school TV broadcast using Chroma Technology) • 2009 – Nalanda TV • 2012 – Nalanda TV (Sri Lanka’s first-ever school TV broadcast using IPTV Technology) • 2013 – Nalanda TV • 2019 – Nalanda TV • 2021 – Nalanda TV

Source: • 1996 – Ecstasy of Nalanda • 1997 – Nalandasara • 1998 – Nalandasara • 1999 – Nalandasara • 1999 – Broadcasting of a radio channel parallel to the 75th anniversary of Nalanda College • 2001 – Ecstasy of Nalanda • 2005 – Nalandasara • 2006 – Nalandasara • 2007 – Nalandasara (Sri Lanka’s first-ever school Web Radio broadcast) • 2008 – Nalandasara • 2010 – Nalandasara • 2011 – Nalandasara • 2012 – Nalandasara • 2025 – Nalandasara(Centenary Celebration of Nalanda College)

Source: • 2004 – Sambhasha • 2005 – Sambhasha • 2006 – Sambhasha • 2007 – Sambhasha • 2008 – Sambhasha • 2009 – Sambhasha • 2010 – Sambhasha • 2011 – Sambhasha • 2012 – Sambhasha Twenty'12 • 2013 – Sambhasha • 2014 – Sambhasha • 2015 – Sambhasha • 2016 – Sambhasha • 2017 – Sambhasha • 2023 – Sambhasha • 2024 – Sambhasha

The Board of Officials is responsible for the administration of the Nalanda College Communication Unit. Each year the old batch resigns after nourishing their successors with the customs and traditions of the supremacy since 1986.

Source: • Name — Year • Mahendra Padmakumara — 2004/2005 • Ruwan Kumanayaka — 2005/2006 • Dananjaya Weerasinghe — 2006/2007 • Tilan Liyanage — 2007/2008 • Thilina Disanayake — 2008/2009 • Shan Piyumal — 2009/2010 • Gihan Samarawickrama — 2010/2011 • Ranga Dunuwila — 2011/2012 • Eranda Sanchagodage — 2012/2013 • Yasas Vimukthi Gunawardana — 2013/2014 • Tharindu Ransika — 2014/2015 • Kanishka Nirmal — 2014/2015 • Ruchira Warnakulasooriya — 2015/2016 • Kasun Abeykoon — 2016/2017 • Sahan Vishwajith de Alwis — 2017/2018 • Chethiya Korala — 2018/2019 • Akila Arampath — 2019/2020 • Dasun Sankalpa — 2020/2021 • Hiruna Chathurya — 2022/2023 • Sasindu Dilshan — 2023/2024 • Shalin Piyumal — 2024/2025 • Kisara Vonal — 2026/2027

Source: • Position — Name • Principal — U.D.Iran Champika Silva • Chief Instructor — Ven. K.Sumedha Thero • Chief Teacher In Charge — Gayani Mirihagalla • Teachers In Charge — Wasana Payagala, Ayomi Kandegedara, Ramya Wanigasekara • President — Kisara Vonal • Secretary — Yehen Wijewarnakula • Treasurer — Nisith Gamage • Vice President — Dananja Mihiran • Chief Organizer — Tharusha Alwis • Organizers — Pabod Sanjuna Manohara,Senehas Dissanayake,Naditha Bimulaka,Thisuka Weerakoodi • Chief Co-ordinator — Nethula Dissanayake • Co-ordinators — Saviru Hemachandra,Sanija Damwin,Binuka Thennakoon,Tharul Bandara

Nalanda College has many gifted alumni and among them, there are many people associated with the industry of communication: • Name — Notability • Denzil — Editor of The Ceylon Observer (1961-1970) • Chitrananda — Poet, former Director of Sinhala Service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation • Karunaratne — Poet, songwriter, created history in the world of radio by being the first-ever Sinhala cricket commentator over airwaves of Radio CeylonÄ • Premasara Epasinghe — Cricket Commentator, Private Secretary and Media Consultant to Minister of Education, former Head of Public Relations Bank of Ceylon • Rajeewa — Newspaper Columnist • Srimath Indrajith — Television and radio presenter; actor • Palitha — Former Deputy Director General (Commercial) of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, former Director of Sinhala Service Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and a cricket commentator • Suwanda H. J. — Columnist of Toronto Star, Ontario, Canada • Nalaka — Theatre, television and cinema director • Siri — "Siri Aiya" of Radio Ceylon • Gunadasa — Writer, poet and a dental surgeon

• Illustration — Nalanda College Play Ground, Campbell Place The College's playground, Campbell Place, is named after Sir George William Campbell, the first Inspector General of Police of British Ceylon. The adjoining road, previously called Campbell Place, has been renamed Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, in recognition of Ananda Rajakaruna, a pioneer of Sinhala poetry.

Nalanda College has a playground at Campbell Place, a sports complex, a squash court, a swimming pool, a shooting range, a boxing ring, and other sports facilities including: • Athletics • Archery • Badminton • Baseball • Basketball • Boxing • Cadet Platoon • Cadet Band • Chess • Gymnastics • Hockey • Martial Arts – Karate, Wushu • Rugby Football • Rowing • Rifle Shooting • Soccer (Football) • Squash • Swimming • Tennis • Volleyball • Water Polo

The encounter was first played in 1924, and is since played as a three-day encounter, starting from 2025 (the 95th in the series - the match was not played in 1943, 1944,1945, and 1948 due to World War II, with matches being held at the Singhalese Sports Club grounds). Nalanda is the current holder of the trophy, having won it in 2022 under the leadership of Dineth Samaraweera. The first Battle of the Maroons was played in 1925, and B.S. Perera led Nalandians while N M Perera led Anandians. Nalanda won the inaugural contest. Sri Lanka's first Test cricket captain, Bandula Warnapura, an alumnus of the college, while Arjuna Ranatunga, who captained the Sri Lankans in the World Cup victory in 1996, was also an alumnus. In 2025, the 95th encounter ended in a draw. The Battle of the Maroons 48th one-day encounter was played in 2025, and was abandoned due to rain. In 1951, Stanley Jayasinghe became the first Nalandian to represent the All Ceylon Cricket Team while still being a schoolboy playing against Pakistan in Pakistan. The match is contested for the Dr. N. M. Perera Memorial Trophy. The one-day 50-over match is played for the P de S Kularatne trophy.

The annual cricket match between Nalanda College, Colombo, and Trinity College, Kandy, was played for the Mahela-Sanga Trophy.

Nalanda plays its annual water polo encounter with Royal College, Colombo for the Royal-Nalanda Challenge Shield. The inaugural encounter was played in 2017.

Nalanda College plays its annual Golf tourney with Ananda College Colombo at Royal Colombo Golf Club.

• Aeronautical Society • Buddhist Association • Communication Unit • Computer Society • Commerce Society • Dancing Circle • Commerce Society • English Debating Society • English Drama Circle • Interact Club • Leo Club • Life Saving Club • Prefects Guild • Photographic & Art Society • Science Society • Scouts Troop • Western Music Association

The college principals are appointed by the Ministry of Education Sri Lanka. • Name — Assumed office — Left office — Notes • L. H. Mettananda — Ananda Principal Patrick de Silva Kularatne's unofficial appointment as Principal of Ananda's Branch • Gunapala Malalasekara — First Officially Registered Principal under new independent institution named Nalanda Academic, scholar and diplomat known for his Malalasekara English-Sinhala Dictionary • G. K. W. Perera — Ceylonese lawyer, educator, politician and diplomat • J. N. Jinendradasa • D. C. Lowris • M. de S. Jayarathne • M. W. Karunananda • K. M. W. Kuruppu • D. J. Edirisinghe • Gunapala Wickramaratne — Later became Commissioner of Examinations • Sugunadasa Athukorala • Dharma Gunasinghe • D. G. Sumanasekera — Later became first Principal of Vidura College Colombo • Edward Ranasinghe • Hemantha Premathilaka — Later became Additional Secretary Ministry of Education • Ranjith Jayasundara • Thilak Waththuhewa • H. Maheshika Wijerathne (acting Principal) • Thilak Waththuhewa — Later became Principal of Royal College, Colombo • Iran Champika de Silva — Present

• Illustration — Statue of Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero • Name — Notes • Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayake Thero — Vice Chancellor of Vidyodaya University, Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka • Polwatte Buddhadatta Mahanayake Thero — Professor of Buddhist philosophy at Vidyalankara University • S. Mahinda Thero — Poet, author, and participated in the Sri Lankan independence movement • Dr A. T. Ariyaratne — Founder of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement • Sagara Palansuriya — Poet, teacher and Member of Parliament • Edward Jayakody — Musician, singer, composer, and occasional actor • Premasara Epasinghe — Cricket commentator and journalist • S. Panibharatha — Dancer and choreographer • Siri Perera — Criminal lawyer, former Sri Lanka High Commissioner • Somalatha Subasinghe — Actress, playwright, theatre director

Past students who have studied at Nalanda College Colombo are referred to as Old Nalandians.

The association serves the alumni of the college. Its objective is to promote the interests of the college and its past and present students by fostering relationships among alumni and with their alma mater. Each year, the union organises events such as Future Minds, Nalanda Walk, the Olcott Memorial Old Boys' Cricket Tourney, and the Ranaviru Upahara.