A SEAT OF LEARNING THAT HAS EQUANIMITY, EMPATHY AND TOLERANCE CLOSE TO ITS HEART

Nalanda Vidyalaya Celebrates 99th Anniversary 

‘Apadana Sobhini Panna’- Character Illumines Wisdom was given as the motto to a school by the Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero way back in 1925 which was to be made an independent educational institute. This school was named ‘Nalanda’ also by the Most Venerable Thera in line with the oldest university in the world the ‘Nalanda ‘University India.

From the date of registration of this school by its founder P. de. S Kularatne as ‘Nalanda’ Vidyalaya’ it started to progress exponentially and soon became a force to be reckoned with among the country’s leading educational establishments.

Kularatne was born in Ambalangoda in the southern coast of Sri Lanka to a staunch Buddhist family. In early days Kularatne is said to have had a great influence of his grandfather who has been a practising Buddhist. This may have helped Kularatne to remain a practising Buddhist throughout his life. Kularatne had his primary education at the Patabendimulla village school and then he was admitted to Richmond College Galle which may have given him a good exposure.

He had progressed well in his studies and later joined Wesley College Colombo. Both these schools moulded him to be what he became later in life as one of the best educationists of the country in the 20th century. 

While in London he opted to study at University of London, and obtained B. A, B.Sc. and L.L.B (London) degrees and also became a Barrister of Law. In 1917 at the age of 24 Patrick de Silva Kularatne was offered the principalship of Ananda College which he accepted and assumed duties as its Principal in 1918. From there it was a different turn for this leading Buddhist educational institution, and with the increase in the number of students for enrollment Kularatne had to find alternative space to accommodate them. These Buddhist schools belonged to the Buddhist Theosophical Society which was formed after the arrival of Colonel Olcott to the country. Ananda was operating at Maradana when Kularatne took over as the head of the school, which was then 32 years old, having started at Maliban Street Pettah in 1886 as the ‘Buddhist English High School’. 

Premier Buddhist school 

Young P.de.S Kularatne was approached when he was in England, and was invited to take over the Principalship of Ananda College by the Buddhist Theosophical Society of Ceylon.  Kularatne accepted the offer and took over the reigns as Principal of Sri Lanka’s Premier Buddhist school Ananda in January1918.  Kularatne was a progressive educationist who looked at the possibility of expanding infrastructure to accommodate the increasing demand for education and was also looking to promote independent institutions sans interference. This educationist then saw the need for more independent education institutes to offer Western education in a Buddhist environment, instilling the students with good values to produce a disciplined patriotic citizenry. With the increase in demand for education he identified a different location in a tranquil setting at salubrious Campbell Place in Colombo. 

Hence, he first branched out Ananda to a place not even a kilometer away from Ananda to Campbell Place, Colombo 10, where the new branch called ‘Vidyalaya’ was opened in a makeshift building covered by a Cadjan roof. A few students were transferred from Ananda under the stewardship of Head Master W.E Fernando. He (Kularatne) immediately, with the assistance of those who were concerned, constructed a building and accommodated the students. He was a man with a foresight and had already identified a person to lead this institution as the principal and invited Dr. Gunapala Malalasekera to take over as the First Principal of this school which was registered as ‘Nalanda Vidyalaya’ in November 1925. 

Kularatne would have wanted a positive learning environment sans interference and disturbances. He would have preferred to produce balanced individuals teaching them Buddhist Values, from this seat of learning. His idea of producing a good citizen with values would have been strengthened by his exposure to the different communities of people during his young days. Nalanda could have been the model school that  Kularatne wanted to introduce to the country and Nalanda could be proud of achieving the objective he probably would have had in his mind. 

Kularatne was very keen in the progress of his creation the new born ‘Nalanda Vidyalaya. As per the Principals report of 1936 in the magazine ‘Reminiscence of Ananda’ published in 2005 by the Ananda College OBA, P.de.S Kularatne elaborates that he gave the best of the teachers and students to Nalanda to make a kick start. This Nalanda has achieved in style even surpassing its brother on certain occasions. 

Up to now Nalanda has had 17 heads stewarding the course of this renowned seat of learning, with the young Principal Iran Champika Silva driving the fortunes during the centenary year of the school. There have been well known religious dignitaries, scholars, educationists, teaching staff, artists, historians, social workers, platoon officers, sports coaches, prefects of games, masters in charge, administrators, and supporting staff helping those principals to bring the school to this level.