Dharmapala Vidyalaya

Last updated

Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya
ධර්මපාල විද්‍යාලය පන්නිපිටිය
தர்மபால வித்தியாலயம் பன்னிபிட்டிய
LOGO DVP - D1.svg
Location
Dharmapala Vidyalaya
Pannipitiya

Sri Lanka
Coordinates 6°50′37″N79°57′11″E / 6.84361°N 79.95306°E / 6.84361; 79.95306
Information
Type Public
MottoThumehi Kichchan Athappan (Buddhist quote from the Dhammapada).
Established8 December 1940;83 years ago (1940-12-08)
Founder Patrick de Silva Kularatne
PrincipalR. A. Maheshika Rupasinghe
Teaching staff653
Grades1–13
Gender Co-educational
Enrollment4,500+
Color(s)Maroon and purple
  
Rivals Rahula College
Affiliation Buddhist
AlumniPalians
Website www.dharmapalavidyalaya.org

Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, established in 1942 on land owned by Anagarika Dharmapala. It is a mixed public school in Sri Lanka, which provides primary and secondary education, with more than 8,500 students and 650 academic staff.

Contents

Donation of the land

The land of the current school was originally owned by Anagarika Dharmapala. Later it was donated by the Don Hewawitharana Family to Mahabodhi Society and was allocated to Dharmapala Vidyalaya in 1940. [1]

Current facilities

Dharmapala Vidyalaya, occupies a 23.8 ha (58.7 acres) site and accommodates approximately 8,500 students and employs 650 teaching staff.[ citation needed ]

It provides education for students from grade 1 to G.C.E. advanced level with a range of facilities, including the largest international level cricket ground in Sri Lanka.[ citation needed ]

History

In 1940 an English secondary school was established at Pannipitiya as a branch of Ananda College Colombo. This new school was named Dharmapala Vidyalaya. On opening day two major events took place: the opening of Sri Devamitta Dharmapala Thero Memorial building by the Minister of Health, W. A. de Silva, and the ceremonial opening of Dharmapala Vidyalaya by the General Manager of Buddhist Schools, Walter Wijeynaike. [1]

Dharmapala Vidyalaya was managed by the Buddhist Theosophical Society under the direct supervision of the principal of Ananda College, Colombo. It was a school for boys and girls and conducted classes from kindergarten to the matriculation form, in English. Dharmapala Vidyalaya began its work on 8 January 1941. Its founder was Patrick de Silva Kularatne and its principal was Dr. J. E. Jayasooriya.

Flag of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya Flag DVP - D1.svg
Flag of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya
"dhrmpaal vidyaaly aarmbh vuu avdhiyee dii" soombndhu vidyaapti mhtaagee reekhaa citryki Drawing of Somabandu Vidyapathi.png
"ධර්මපාල විද්‍යාලය ආරම්භ වූ අවධියේ දී" සෝමබන්ධු විද්‍යාපති මහතාගේ රේඛා චිත්‍රයකි
Founder : Mr. P De S Kularathna Mr. P De S Kularathna.jpg
Founder : Mr. P De S Kularathna

During World War II a section from Ananda College- Colombo, along with the teachers, shifted to the Dharmapala Vidyalaya premises due to fear of war. To accommodate these students more cadjan sheds were built. Later six permanent classrooms were built for the Primary Section. The then-principal of Ananda College, P. de S Kularathna, led this project. With the exit of Jayasooriya, D. C. Lawris took over as principal in 1943.

The school registered as an independent institute and a Class 1AB school for higher education. Up to H.S.C, many more students started entering Dharmapala. With the help of many donors and with the money collected by the students, another five classrooms were built for the Primary Section.

By February 1947 there were 1,420 students and H.S.C. classes were started. D.C. Lawris left Dharmapala Vidyalaya to take over as the principal of Ananda College, Colombo. [2]

Houses

Clubs and Societies

There are over 40 active student organisations at the college.[ citation needed ]

Principals

NameFromTo
J. E. Jayasooriya19401943
D. C. Lawris19431947
G. C. Edirisinghe19471956
R. M. Abeywardhana19591960
G. B. Bannehaka19691971
B. S. Gunesekara19711976
N. B. Perera19761981
D. C. Danapala19811983
R. T. Direcksze19831985
G. R. W. G. Gunawardana19851991
S. H. Kumarasinghe19911994
R. S. Rajapaksha19952004
K. G. Wimalasena20042016
Oshara Panditharathna20162020
K. G. Wimalasena20202021
R. A. Maheshika Rupasinghe2022present

Notable alumni

This article contains dynamic lists that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Notability Reference
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Prime Minister (2000–2001, 2005–2010), member parliament - Horana (1960–1977), Kalutara (1994–2010)
Kamal Gunaratne Major General, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence (2019–present)
Oliver Ranasinghe Commander of Sri Lankan Air Force (1994–1998)
Rohan Daluwatte Commander of Sri Lankan Army (1996–1998)
M. P. Perera Vice Chancellor University of Kelaniya (1973–1974, 1983–1985)[ citation needed ]
Soma Edirisinghe Corporate Executive (chairman EAP Holdings), Film Producer, Philanthropist
Tissa Abeysekara Filmwriter, Director, Producer
Eva Wansundera Solicitor General (2011), Attorney General (2011–2012), Supreme Court Judge (2012–present)
Wimal Wickramasinghe Member of Parliament - Ratnapura (1989–1994), Deputy Minister of Finance (1989–1994) [3]
Asoka Wadigamangawa Member of Parliament - Puttalam (1989–2000), Deputy Minister of Lands (1989–1994) [4]
H. D. L. Leelaratne Member of Parliament - Seruvila (1977–1989) [5]
Rohana Weerasinghe Musician, Composer, Singer, Teacher
Thumindu Dodantenna Actor, screenwriter, Lecturer[ citation needed ]
Narada Warnasuriya Vice Chancellor University of Sri Jayewardenepura (2005-2008)[ citation needed ]

Sports

The annual big match, the Battle of Golden Lions (රුහුණු -මායා සටන), between Dharmapala Vidyalaya and Rahula College is the major sport event in the school.[ citation needed ]

The Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Cricket Tournament is an annual cricket tournament conducted among the past cricketers of eight premier Buddhist schools in honor of Col. Olcott, the founder of Buddhist education in Sri Lanka. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Steel Olcott</span> American Buddhist and Theosophist (1832–1907)

Colonel Henry Steel Olcott was an American military officer, journalist, lawyer, Freemason and the co-founder and first president of the Theosophical Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anagarika Dharmapala</span> Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist and writer (1864-1933)

Anagārika Dharmapāla was a Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist and a writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero</span> Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and scholar

Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who was one of the most distinguished scholars and expositors of Theravada Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was highly respected by Sri Lankan Buddhists, who believed that he had achieved a higher level of spiritual development. Sri Lankan Buddhists also considered Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero as a Bodhisattva, who will attain Buddhahood in a future life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ananda College</span> National school in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Ananda College is a prestigious Buddhist school in Maradana, Colombo. It was established as the English Buddhist School by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott in 1886. In the present day, it provides primary and secondary education on a campus of 15 acres (61,000 m2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya</span> Public school in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, Sri Lanka

CMS Sri Jayawardenepura College is a government school in Kotte, Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhism and Theosophy</span> Relation between Buddhism and Theosophy

Theosophical teachings have borrowed some concepts and terms from Buddhism. Some theosophists like Helena Blavatsky, Helena Roerich and Henry Steel Olcott also became Buddhists. Henry Steel Olcott helped shape the design of the Buddhist flag. Tibetan Buddhism was popularised in the West at first mainly by Theosophists including Evans-Wentz and Alexandra David-Neel.

Rahula College is a boys' school in Sri Lanka, located in Matara district. Though it was originally a private Buddhist school, now it is run by the Government of Sri Lanka as a National School. Rahula College has two sections - the Primary section, which serves students from Grade 1 to Grade 5, and the Secondary section, which serves students from Grade 6 to Grade 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dharmaraja College</span> National / public school in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Dharmaraja College, founded in 1887, is a boys' school in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist school with around 300+ teaching staff and over 5,000 students. The school has many notable alumni including the first President of Sri Lanka William Gopallawa, A. E. Goonesinha, T.B Kehelgamuwa, Chamara Kapugedera, Sudarshana Pathirana and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nalanda College, Colombo</span> National school in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Nalanda College is a leading Buddhist school in Sri Lanka where provides primary and secondary education for Sri Lankan boys. The school was established by P. de S. Kularatne as an offshoot of Ananda College Colombo and was registered as a separate school on 1 November 1924.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahinda College</span> Public school , independent school in Galle, Sri Lanka

Mahinda College is a Buddhist boys' school in Galle, Sri Lanka. The school was established on 1 March 1892 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. As of May 2022 it is a national school providing primary and secondary education across 13 grades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick de Silva Kularatne</span> Sri Lankan (Sinhala Buddhist) educationist and politician

Patrick de Silva Kularatne was a Sri Lankan educationist and politician. He was a Member of the State Council of Ceylon (1942-1947) and Member of Parliament (1960-1965). He served as Principal of Ananda College and Dharmaraja College and established Nalanda College Colombo, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Moratuwa Vidyalaya and Dharmapala Vidyalaya. As a member of the executive committee on Education, he played an instrumental role in the realisation of free education from kindergarten to university.

Mahamaya Girls’ College is a public girls' school in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Located in the centre of Kandy, overlooking the Kandy Lake, the school is named after Queen Mahamaya, the mother of Prince Siddhartha, the Buddha.

The Henry Steel Olcott Memorial Cricket Tournament is conducted annually among the past cricketers of eight premier Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka in honour of Col. Olcott, the founder of Buddhist education in Sri Lanka. The organising function in each year is rotated among each the participating Old Boy Associations

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ananda Central College</span> National school in Elpitiya, Sri Lanka

Ananda Central College-Elpitiya, is a co-educational National school in the Elpitiya division, Galle district, Sri Lanka. It provides education for around 4000 students in grades 1 to 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kegalu Vidyalaya</span> National school in Kegalle, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka

Kegalu Vidyalaya is a boys' school in Kegalle, Sri Lanka. It was founded on 14 February 1942 and is a Government national school, providing primary and secondary education through 13 grades. It is the largest boys' School in Kegalle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walisinghe Harischandra</span>

Brahmachari Walisinghe Harischandra was a social reformer, historian, author and revivalist of Sri Lankan Buddhism. He was a follower of Anagarika Dharmapala, who gave leadership to the Buddhist revivalist movement, after the lead given by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. Walisinghe Harischandra is also regarded as the saviour of the citadel of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Devananda College</span> National school in Ambalangoda, Southern Province, Sri Lanka

Sri Devananda College is a co-educational school in Ambalangoda in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The current principal is Janaka Peduruheva.

Ananda Balika Vidyalaya is a public girls school located in Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. It was established in 1925 by Anagarika Dharmapala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Piyaratana Tissa Mahanayake Thero</span> Sri Lankan Buddhist Monk

Sri Piyaratana Tissa Mahanayake Thero, also known as Dodanduwa Piyaratne Thero, was the Mahanayaka Thero of the Amarapura Nikaya, and the Sanganayake of the Southern Province. He popularised the 'Poruwa' ceremony at Buddhist weddings.

References

  1. 1 2 "History". www.dharmapalavidyalaya.org. Retrieved 7 February 2022.[ non-primary source needed ]
  2. ↑ "Welcome to Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya". Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2008.[ non-primary source needed ]
  3. ↑ "Hon. (Dr.) Wickremasinghe, Govinnage Wimal Padmasiri, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "Hon. Wadigamangawa, A. H. M. Ashoka Premalal, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "Hon. Leelaratne, Hettiarachchige Don Lutus, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Rahula host Dharmapala for 12th Battle of the Golden Lions today
  7. ↑ https://stats.thepapare.com/cricket/match/rahula-college-vs-dharmapala-college-7th-battle-of-the-golden-lions rahula college vs-dharmapala college 7th-battle of the golden lions]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.