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Mahanama College මහානාම විද්යාලය | |
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Location | |
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R. A. D. Mel Mawatha Colombo 03 | |
Coordinates | 6°54′22″N79°51′15″E / 6.90611°N 79.85417°E |
Information | |
Type | Government 1AB National School |
Motto | විද්වතා සෑම තැනකදීම පැසසුම් ලබයි Vidhwan Sarvatra Poojyate (A scholar is reputed everywhere) |
Religious affiliation | Buddhist |
Established | 5 January 1954 |
Founder | Maawiththara Rewatha Thero |
Principal | Prabath I. Withanage |
Staff | 350 |
Grades | 1 to 13 |
Gender | Male |
Enrollment | 5,000+ |
Language | English, Sinhala |
Colours | Gold, silver and black |
Song | සිරි ලක වොරදන "Sri Lanka Wardana" |
Sports | Cricket, rugby, basketball, athletics, football, boxing, |
Affiliation | Ministry for Education |
Alumni | Mahanamians |
Website | mahanamacollege |
Mahanama College is a National Buddhist Boys' School located in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka, established in 1954. As a public national school, the school is controlled by the central government rather than a provincial council. It provides primary education as well as secondary education.
Mahanama College is located in Kollupitiya, Colombo. The College's main entrance is located on R. A. D. Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3 while the southern premises are adjacent to C.M.S. Ladies' College. [1]
Mahanama College was founded in 1954 by Ven. Maawiththara Rewatha Thero at the Walukarama Temple, Kollupitiya, with only five students. By 1956, the school was officially registered as a government-assisted junior school. The student body gradually expanded, reaching 163 students and four staff members by 1960, when J. D. A. Jayakodi was appointed the school's first principal.[ citation needed ] By 1969, the student population had grown to 373, with 14 staff members.[ citation needed ]
Due to the rapid increase in enrolment, the school relocated to a nearby site at Valukarama, with primary classes held at Thurstan College. In 1974, under the leadership of principal, T. N. Silva, the junior school at Thurstan College moved to its present location. In 1975, 130 students sat for the National General Certificate of Education, with 107 passing the exam.[ citation needed ] The Sri Lankan government provided approximately 28,000 square metres (7 acres) of land to facilitate the school's expansion. By 1976, the school had several two-storey buildings. In the early 1970s, N. E. Fernando oversaw several improvements, including the construction of a dental unit, additional classrooms, and the first two-storey building on campus.[ citation needed ] Following principal K. N. P. de Silva's retirement in February 1986, D.G. Sumanasekera [2] took over as principal. Sumanasekera was the first SLEAS Class-1 principal to head the college.[ citation needed ]
K. K. Rathnadasa became principal in 1990, and during his time at the college, several three-storey buildings were constructed, a computer section was established, a children's park was created, and the annual carnival "Foot-Loose" was organised. [3]
In 1999, G. Liyanage became principal. He added a three-storey building with an art gallery to the existing campus. During his tenure, the school laboratories and computer sections were improved, and buildings were renovated. The Battle of the Golds, known as the "Big Match" between Mahanama College and its friendly rival, D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo, was initiated. [4]
As a national school, the college receives funds from the Ministry of Education. The ministry appoints a principal, the head of the administration. Vice principals and academic staff assist the principal. Like other Sri Lankan colleges, the school is divided into three sections: primary, middle, and upper. Each section is under its sectional head, who controls the specific sector of the school. The school also appoints prefects to maintain discipline. Prefects are pupils with limited authority over other pupils in the school, similar to the authority given to a hall monitor or safety patrol member. Mahanama College only consists of Buddhist and Sinhala students. Sinhala is the official language used in the school. However, students can choose Sinhala or English for their higher education. [5]
The school's motto Vidvan Sarwathra Poojathe which means the scholar is reputed everywhere.[ citation needed ]
Students are divided into four houses, whose names are derived from Sanskrit language. [6]
House | Colour Code | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Mettha | Benevolence, friendliness, amity, friendship, goodwill, kindness. | |
Karuna | The Buddhist concept of compassion. | |
Muditha | Means joy. It is especially sympathetic or vicarious joy, taking pleasure in other people's well-being. | |
Upekha | The Buddhist concept of equanimity. | |
Eighteen sports are played at Mahanama College. [7]
Mahanama College has a significant, albeit young, cricket history, establishing its first U11 team in 1979, with the help of coach Vernon Perera and principal K. N. P. de Silva.[ citation needed ]
Mahanama College has achieved significant success in school cricket, including being crowned the best team of the Western Province in Division One - Tier "A" for the 2023/24 season,[ citation needed ] winning the SLSCA Under-13 Division II Cricket Tournament,[ citation needed ] and reaching the U19 Division 1 Limited Over tournament.[ citation needed ]
Mahanama College were crowned as the champions of Singer U17 Schools Cricket Tournament in 2019. [8] [9]
Mahanama College U13 Cricket Team won the championship in U13 Division II Schools Cricket Tournament in 2024. [10]
Mahanama College U17 Cricket Team were runners up in Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Tournament 2025. [11] [12]
The Battle of the Golds is the annual cricket contest between D. S. Senanayake College and Mahanama College. It began in 2007 and is known as the big match. The Golden Parade of Mahanama College is a parade of vehicles running through the streets of Colombo, organised by the Old Boys Association. Every year, large crowds from both schools gather at the SSC Cricket Ground to witness the encounter. [13] Below are listed the results to date:
Year | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|
2007 | Lost | — |
2008 | Won | — |
2009 | Lost | — |
2010 | Won | — |
2011 | Lost | — |
2012 | Won | [14] |
2013 | Won | [15] |
2014 | — | — |
2015 | Lost | [16] |
2016 | Won | [16] |
2017 | Won | [17] |
2018 | Won | [18] |
2019 | Won | [19] |
2020 | Postponed due to COVID-19 | — |
2021 | — | |
2022 | Won | [20] |
2023 | Won | — |
2024 | Won | — |
2025 | Won | [21] |
Mahanama College began its rugby journey in 1986, with significant recent successes including winning the Premier Trophy and the championship in Division 1 Segment B of the Dialog Schools Rugby League in 2024, earning them a spot in the top-tier league for 2025. In the 2025 season, the team achieved a major milestone by finishing as Bowl runners-up in the Dialog Schools Rugby League.[ citation needed ]
Second Runners up in the ALL-Island Division One Category.
Runners Up in Division 01 – Segment “B” in 2008/2009
Crowned as the Champions of Premier Trophy by defeating Ananda College.
Secured the championship title in Division 1 Segment B of the Dialog Schools Rugby League.
Finished as the Bowl Runners-up in the Dialog Schools Rugby League. [22] [23]
Secured their first victory in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025. [24]
The college has produced national-level players, such as Kapila Knowlton (1994), Mithun Hapugoda and Darshana Dabare (2019), who have represented Sri Lanka national rugby union team. [25] [26]
Mahanama College has a strong basketball team. [27]
The Battle of the Golds basketball encounter takes place every year where Mahanama College compete with D. S. Senanayake College [28]
Mahanama Boxing is known for its strong and energetic boxers who showed their colours in National and International Tournaments.[ citation needed ] Mahanama is always on top among the most powerful school boxing teams of Sri Lanka. [29] The Boxing Committee was founded on 2014. Mahanamian Boxers had shown their boxing skills throughout the years, and their achievements are as follows. [30]
Champions of the 46th L.V. Jayaweera Interschool meet in 2022. [31] [32] [33]
Champions of the 43rd L.V. Jayaweera Interschool meet in 2016. [34]
Kasun Fernandoe was awarded best boxer at the 2016 L.V. Jayaweera championship. [35]
The college's boxing coach, Y. M. Anura Yapa, was awarded best coach at the LV Jayaweera Memorial Championship 2022. [36]
In 2019, the team achieved a 3rd place overall, bringing home a gold, silver, and bronze medal. [37]
W. T. L. M. Abeysekera, R. I. R. Perera, K. A. V. S. Karavita, and H. S. Nambuwasam were among the college's winning boxers in the Junior and Youth Boys categories.[ when? ] [38] St. Sylvester's College was ultimately the winner, securing their fourth consecutive title. The tournament was a significant inter-school event, with nearly 500 boxers from 132 schools competing.
The college's athletics program is rooted in its tradition of holistic education, where physical fitness is given equal importance alongside intellectual development. [39] [40]
The athletes of Mahanama College have excelled in the John Tarbet Junior Athletic Meet held in October 2016 at Embilipitiya. The athletic competing in four age groups, under 12, 13, 14 and 15 were able to achieve a remarkable win reaching the standard of merit certificate awards. [40]
The college has its own cadet platoon and cadet band.
The Cadet Band of Mahanama College were crowned as the Champions of Hermann Loos Trophy in 2010 [41]
The Media Unit of Mahanama College was started in 1987. [42] As one of Sri Lanka's oldest school media units with over 33 years of history and experience, the Media Unit runs its own YouTube channel with 95 videos and over 7000 subscribers.[ citation needed ] [43] The Media Unit has achieved:
The Media Unit of Mahanama College has achieved numerous awards in Zonal, Provincial and National Levels. [45] .CHATHURMANA is the Annual Media Day of Mahanama College which is Organized by school's Media Unit. [46] [47]
Founded in 1987, the Leo Club of Mahanama College is one of Sri Lanka's most prestigious and time-honored school-based Leo Clubs, operating proudly under Leo District 306 D7. With nearly four decades of continuous service and a legacy shaped by 40 visionary presidents, our club has become a beacon of youth leadership, purpose-driven action, and community impact. [48] [49]
In 2024/2025, the club was recognised as the most outstanding school-based Leo Club in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, while also securing the title of most outstanding Leo Club in Leo District 306 C2.[ citation needed ]
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2014) |
In 2014, Mahanama College's 60th anniversary and annual prize-giving was held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bandula Gunawardena. The president awarded students and teachers who had excelled in various fields. [50]
The Golden Parade is the annual vehicle parade organised by the Old Boys' Association of Mahanama College, held in the lead-up to the Battle of the Golds cricket encounter against D. S. Senanayake College. [51] This vibrant event transforms the streets of Colombo into a lively display of school pride, featuring a grand vehicle parade with decorated Double-decker bus,Trucks,Cars, SUV's Motorbikes, and Techno Trucks accompanied by music, dancing, and cheering crowds. [52] [53]
Name | Notability | Ref |
---|---|---|
Danushka Gunathilaka | International cricketer | |
Dhananjaya de Silva | International cricketer | |
Chathura Randunu | International cricketer | |
Pavan Rathnayake | International cricketer | |
Sonal Dinusha | International cricketer | |
Dilesh Gunaratne | International cricketer | |
Duvindu Ranatunga | Cricketer | [54] [55] |
Chamika Heenatigala | Cricketer | [56] [57] |
Dulnith Sigera | Cricketer | [58] [59] |
Anjala Bandara | Cricketer | [60] [61] |
Mithun Hapugoda | International Rugby Player | [62] |
Malindu Maduranga | Cricketer | |
Heshan Hettiarchchi | Cricketer | |
Name | Notability | Ref |
---|---|---|
Shasheendra Rajapaksa | Politician , 6th Chief Minister of Uva | |
Eranga Weeraratne | Politician, Engineer, Business Executive, National List Member of Parliament | |
Name | Notability | Ref |
---|---|---|
Chandana Wickramasinghe | Traditional Choreographer | [63] [64] |
Darshana Pramod | Musician, Third Runners-Up in Sirasa Super Star Season 01, Lecturer at University of the Visual and Performing Arts | [65] [66] |
Mahiru Senarathne | Singer,Musician,Music Composer | [67] |
Prof.Kolitha Bhanu Dissanayake | Musician, Professor, Faculty of Music, Department of Musicology, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of the Visual and Performing Arts | [68] |
Prof.Pradeep Rathnayake | Musician, Internationally Acclaimed Sitarist, Dean, Department of Languages,Cultural Studies and Performing Arts at University of Sri Jayawardenepura | [69] [70] |
Siyum Sandeep | Singer | [71] |
Thisara Imbulana | Film Director | [72] , [73] |
Susara Dinal | Film Producer | [74] |
Thishan Shanulka | Singer, Guitarist | [75] |
Name | Notability | Ref |
---|---|---|
Prof.Kolitha Bhanu Dissanayake | Professor, Faculty of Music, Department of Musicology, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of the Visual and Performing Arts | [68] |
Prof.Darshana Sedera | Professor, Author, Associate Dean School of Business and Tourism at Southern Cross University,Australia | [83] [84] [85] |
Prof.Pradeep Rathnayake | Dean, Department of Languages,Cultural Studies and Performing Arts at University of Sri Jayawardenepura | [69] [70] |
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