පරිශීලක:Sridevananda.lk

History of Sri Devananda College – Ambalangoda.

The First century (1887-1900)

Vidyalankara Native-language Buddhist boy’s school Middle of the 1800 Sri Lankan education was being dominated by Christianity. Non – Christians were worried about this. Buddhist, Muslims and Hindus had no choice but to study in Christian schools. This situation was no exception in the area of Ambalangoda. Devoted Buddhist families in Ambalangoda mostly had their education in Buddhist temples but they were discouraged a lot due to the fact that studied at a Christian school was a great qualification in getting a job. Because of government preference to Christian schools a lot of Buddhists converted to Christians all over the Island. 17th May 1880 disembarking at Galle port Sir Hendry Steal Olcotte was a pioneer to change this situation. “Bouddha Parama Vingnartha Samithiya” came forward with him to create a Buddhist renaissance in the Island. Though Sir Hendry Steal Olcotte came as a Christian after a few days he became a Buddhist. After converting to a Buddhist, on the way to Colombo he participated a Well-Come ceremony at Ambalangoda and he had discussed the necessity of a Buddhist school to the area but it was only a dream for years. To heal the situation of rapidly spreading Christian education in the area, with the participation of ven. Dodanduwe Piyarathana,ven. Katudampe Malalankara, ven.Ambalangoda Sri devananda and the cream in the area established “Ambalangoda Sugatha Sasanodaya society”. 19th January 1887 this society started “vidyalankara Native-Language Buddhist Boys’ School” with the participation of 19 children in a room for rent. Today we call it Sri Devananda Vidyalaya. The first principal was Mr. Ginige Mendias De Silva of Sri Devananda Vidyalaya. Ambagahawatta Pasala In a short period “Sugatha Sasanodaya Society faced a serious problem to meet the requirements of increasing admission of students due to lack of space where this school began. Then they assigned a land called “ambagahawatta” by a deed for 20 years. From there on this school continued in temporary made huts. In the course of time, “Sugatha Sasanodaya Society” established two separate schools for Buddhist girls and English language learning school respectively. This society again faced a financial problem in maintaining these 3 schools. The financial assistance given by the government to schools was not granted to “Sugatha Sasanodaya Society”, due to this in 1899 the 3 schools handed over to “Buddhist Sasanodaya company patronaged by Sir Hendry Olcotte. As this school situated in the land of Ambagahawatta people used to call it “Ambagahawatta Pasala”. The Second century (1900-2000) Patabandimulla Vidyalankara Junior Mix School. 1900 century begins with the greater expansion of the school ever had confirming the name “Patabandimulla Vidyalankara Junior Mix School” which had been introduced by various names before. Then there were 68 pupils in it. Until the 1911 it was continued as a junior school. Gradually this school was opened for higher classes to meet the demand of the pupils. Then after one and half decades 305 pupils and 11 teachers are said to have occupied in the school. In this period, the school had maintained its own customs unfamiliar to other schools. Full Moon Poya Day had been declared as a school holiday (then Full Moon Poya Day was not a public holiday). On the Poya Day Pupils used to be on a procession carrying flowers to Kariththakanda Vihara for worshipping the Buddha and also attended to preaching of Dhamma at Mahachathia Pirivena continuously. “Patabandimulla Vidyalankara Junior Mix School” then made history for being probably the best school in the Island to follow Sir. Hendry Olcotte’s Buddhist Observances. First quarter of the second century this school had to face a lot of difficulties in maintaining it. Fortunately Mudaliar Thomas De Silva came forward and offered his two mansions at Dombagahawatta to facilitate with pupils’ needs. Then the school runs in the buildings of the lands of Ambagahawatta and Dombagahawatta. In this era, 31st September 1928 the teacher O.G.Nanawathi has written and publicized a hand-bill by the name of “Sri Vaakvodaya” this hand-bill used to public every Monday and this is believed to be the first written media presentation in the history of Sri Devananda Vidyalaya. After becoming a Junior School H.K.M. De Silva was the first student to pass the teacher exam (School Leaving Exam). In due course O.J. Nanawathi, N. Aminona, P.H.Pugnagnawathi and G. Wansawathi have taken grade I pass and N.H. Asalin and P.K. Charlatha De Vas have taken grade ii passes respectively.

19th May 1931 log book of the school is clearly stated the arrival of the first Premier of free India hon. Jawahallar Neru and the first lady Kamala Kaul.  At the same time it is believed to be initiated the classes for the final teaching exam and G. Pugnagnawathi and D.C. Narangoda have passed the exam.

Patabandimulla Vidyalankara State Senior Mix School In this period, Bouddha Parama Vingnartha Samithiya which was maintaining the school then faced financial problems providing with salaries of teachers and expenses for school equipments, due to this situation Patabandimulla Vidyalankara Buddhist Junior Mix School was badly affected. The school had to under- go this situation about five years. Though the school had promoted as a senior mix school on 1st May 1934 it was difficult to move forward due to lack of facilities. Finally changing this situation January 1935 “Patabandimulla Vidyalankara Senior Mix School was accepted as a government school. Mr. D.T. Fernando was the principal of the school then. In 1937 G.L.D. Jinadasa and M.W. Babinona have passed in the first exam after becoming a senior school. There had been a lot of changes in the school during Mr. Fernando’s tenure composing a School Anthem in particular. And also lyrics and tune of the song were too by Mr. Fernando. Introducing a tie for the girls with the colours of brownish red and creating a school flag with the same colours are great work done under the guidance of Mr. Fernando, The first prize giving ceremonyof the school was held on the 16th September 1939 during Mr. Fernando’s tenure. This ceremony was presided over by Mr. Thomas Amarasuriya and his wife has given away the prizes. The first mayor of urban council - Ambalangoda Mr.T.P.C.Fernando and Mr. H. De. S. Kularatna have made valuable speeches. Ven. Ambalangoda Dammakusala and Ven.Walagedara Somalokatissa have given guidance on this grand occasion. After becoming a government school, about a decade the school did not have a good time maintained with difficulties having not adequate class rooms for the students. The school held classes in the mornings and the afternoons as well. Some properties of the school have been stolen in this period. The students had to under- go all these difficulties and some have left the school.

3rd March 1948 the school brings to one land as it was situated in two lands before.  It is the land Dodangahawatta where the Sri Devananda College is situated today.  The first April 1948 government takes full authority of the school.  Mr. D.T. Fernando had to play a great role for getting the school back to normal from its dilapidated state.  6th July 1953 the school provided with a new building which is the visible oldest building even today.  Principal Mr. D.T. Fernando left the school after completing 20 years of his great service and he was able to uplift the school to a higher standard in his tenure.  It is stated that there were 818 pupils in the school when he left.  

In 1953 government introduced (G.C.E.) Ordinary Level Examination for Senior School Certificate of Examination previously existed. Though 43 pupils represented for this exam by the college only 7 pupils passed it. They were E. Bandupala, W. Danapala, Tukka Wadu Gunawathi, Sisilatha Jayaweera, Peththayaman Saddawathi, Kanka Thanthiri Siriyawathi and Hithanadura Yaslin De Silva. How Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya Gets Its Name. 1st January 1959 the school got promoted as Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya after being a Government’s Senior Mix School for 25 years with a warm welcome of the people in the area. Then the school had approval to hold classes for Senior School Certificate for university entrance. So advanced level art class begins in the same year as a result. From there on the school got its name as Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya. The Principal Mr. Agodage Piyatissa De Silva assumes duties when Vidyalaya becomes Maha Vidyalaya. In 1960 4 pupils qualify for university entrance in Art stream. They are A. Premadasa Priyankara, W. T. D. De Silva, J. L. Roopasiri and Nobert Nandana and had opportunity to enter University of Peradeniya for their higher studies. Government decision of appointing separate principals to primary schools in the Island Mr. K.M.G. Darmadasa assumed duties as the first principal to the primary school of Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya on the23rd January 1962. Once again the following year some pupils of the school published a news paper called “Darshana” fortnightly. The editor of this news paper was Mr. Ginendrawansa who became a popular writer later on and also he is the writer of the book “Vikasitha Siyapatha” included history of the school published at the 125th anniversary commemoration of the school. The school cricket begins in the year 1963 headed by a teacher of the school Ms. T.Udula De Silva. And also the badge and the flag of the school are created in the same year. In the year 1966 at the annual cricket encounter between Devananda Maha Vidyalaya Vs. Dharmasoka Vidyalaya, Devananda Vidyalaya won the match by an innings making a great sign in the history. The team captain was Burgher National student M.S.J. Weerabansa. The National School Concept. Commerce subjects began of the school in 1966 and 47 pupils are said to have qualified as the first batch. Though the school got approval for science classes by mid-1977 it failed due to lack of trained teachers. Science classes began with 20 students after two years. W.M.Sumith was the first student to enter university in science stream in 1982. He entered to the dental faculty. He is said to have used the laboratory of Dharmasoka College as then Devananda College didn’t have one. In 1984 K.W. Thamara was the first student to pass G.C.E. (O/L) exam with 8D’s for the whole eight subjects. And also she enters to engineering faculty of the university in 1988. M.S.Prasanna Udayakumara in Bio-science, K.Sunil vet.surgeon and the first pupils to enter for university in physics were H.Nihal and S.H.Neelkantha to mark their names in school history. Under the government ‘’national school concept” Devananda Vidyalaya became a national school on the 15th March 1994 under the principal Mr, Darmasiri Ginige’s tenure. The Third Century (from 2000..) The third century begins with empowering the possession of the land to Sri Devananda Vidyalaya as it was previously in the hands of individuals. And also in the same year the first group of students sat for the G.C.E. (O/L) examination in Agriculture. The 125th anniversary commemoration of the school was the biggest occasion dawn of the third century. This was well organized by its committee. An educational exhibition and a trade exhibition were held in the school premises and at u.c. grounds Ambalangoda to mark this grand occasion.

The principals of the school from the beginning 1887.01.19 - 1887.03.30 Mr. Ginige Mendias De Silva. 1887.04.25 - 1887.08.31 Mr. H.A.M. Jayawardana. 1887.09.01 - 1903 Mr. Ginige Mendias De Silva. 1903 - 1910 Mr. H.A.M. Jayawardana. 1910 - 1914 Mr. A.G.Arnolis Perera. 1914 - 1916 - 1916 - 1924 Mr. A.C.Narangoda. 1924.08.01 - 1930.08.31 Mr. H.K.M. De Silva. 1930.09.01 - 1934.04.31 Mr. Alan Peter De Zoysa. 1934.05.01 - 1954.03.01 Mr. Danister Thomas Fernando. 1954.04.01 - 1958.12.31 Mr. H.L. Fonseka. 1959.01.01 - 1964.12.31 Mr. E.P. De Silva. 1965.01.01 - 1969.03.09 Mr. K.H. Vilmat O. De Silva.

                                              Ms. T.U. De Silva. (Acting )

Mr. M.M. Sirisena.

                                              Mr. n.h. Gunadasa De Silva.

1977.07.26 - 1977.08.25 Ven. Kurunduwatte Rathanananda. (Acting) 1977.08.26 - 1979.01.15 Mr. H.S. Laxman De Silva. 1979.01.16 - 1979.07.10 Mr. S.M. Somadasa. (Acting) 1979.07.11 - 1988.03.31 Mr. W.T.D. De Silva. 1988.04.01 - 1988.04.10 Mr. T.H.V.W.Silva. (Acting) 1988.04.11 - 1990.01.25 Mr. W.H. Percy Noel. 1990.01.26 - 1990.03.14 Mr. T.H.V.W. Silva. (Acting) 1990.03.15 - 1990.03.22 Mr. P.H. Jayasena. 1990.03.23 - 1990.04.09 Mr. D.J.K.Siriwardana. 1990.04.10 - 1991.07.09 Mr. M.W.S. Sugathapala. 1991.07.10 - 2000.03.20 Mr. Darmasiri Ginige. 2000.03.21 - 2000.07.17 Mr. W. Buddadasa. (Acting) 2000.07.18 - 2000.12.31 Mr. P.H. Rupananda. (Acting) 2001.01.01 - 2002.05.12 Mr. T. Ajantha Ranaweera. 2002.05.13 - 2002.08.27 Mr. P.H. Rupananda. (Acting) 2002.08.28 - 2011.07.24 Mr. H.M. Sumathipala. 2011.07.25 - Mr. Indrarathna Kaluarachchi.