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Mahanama College is located in Kollupitiya, Colombo, with its main entrance on Richard Aluwihare de Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3. The southern boundary of the campus adjoins Church Missionary Society Ladies’ College.[1]
After initially operating from nearby locations, with primary classes temporarily held at Thurstan College, the school relocated to its present site at Walukarama. In the mid-1970s, the Sri Lankan government allocated approximately 2.8ha (6.9 acres) of land to support expansion.[citation needed] By 1976, the campus included several two-storey academic buildings, with facilities such as additional classrooms and a dental unit added during this period.[citation needed]
A three-storey building incorporating an art gallery was added in 1999. Laboratory facilities, computer sections, and existing buildings were subsequently upgraded and renovated.[citation needed]
History
Mahanama College was founded on 5 January 1954 by Ven. Maawiththara Rewatha Thero at the Walukarama Temple in Kollupitiya, with an initial enrolment of five students.[citation needed]
In 1956, the school was registered as a government-assisted junior school. By 1960, enrolment had increased to 163 students, with four staff members, and by 1969 the student population had grown to 373, supported by fourteen staff.[citation needed]
In 1975, 130 students sat the National General Certificate of Education examination, with 107 students passing.[citation needed]
During the 1990s, the school expanded its extracurricular and inter-school activities. The annual school carnival, Foot-Loose, was introduced,[2] and the Battle of the Golds, the annual cricket match between Mahanama College and D. S. Senanayake College, was initiated in 1999.[3]
Administration and education
As it is a national school, the college therefore receives funds from the Ministry of Education. The ministry appoints the principal who leads an administration that consists of vice principals and academic staff. The school is divided into three levels of education: primary school, middle school, and upper school, which is common in Sri Lanka. Each section has its own head. 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 students. Sinhala is the language of instruction in the school. However, students may choose either Sinhala or English as their language of instruction for higher education.[4] The school's motto is Vidvān Sarvatra Pūjyate, which means the scholar is respected everywhere.[citation needed]
Principals
Ven. Vahalle Dhammananda Thero (1954–1960)
J. D. A. Jayakody (1960–1968)
N. E. Fernando (1968–1974)
T. S. Silva (1974–1976)
K. N. P. de Silva (1976–1986)
D. G. Sumanasekara (1986–1990)
K. K. Ratnadasa (1990–1999)
G. Liyanage (1999–2003)
W. H. Premalal Kumarasiri (2003–2012)
U. M. Prasanna Upashantha (2013–2016)
L. M. D. Dharmasena (2016–2020)
R. A. R. M. Rathnayake (2020–2021)
A. M. A. A. C. Perera (2021–2023)
Prabath Vithanage (2023–present)
School houses
Students are divided into four houses, whose names are derived from Sanskrit language.[5]
Means joy. It is especially sympathetic or vicarious joy, taking pleasure in other people's well-being.
Upekha
The Buddhist concept of equanimity.
Sports and extracurricular activities
Eighteen sports are played at Mahanama College.[6]
Cricket
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]
Achievements and milestones
Champions of Singer U17 Division I Schools Cricket Tournament in 2019.[7][8]
Champions in the U13 Division II Schools Cricket Tournament in 2024.[9]
Runners up in Sri Lanka U17 Division I Schools Cricket Tournament 2025.[10][11]
Champions of Sri Lanka U19 Division 1 Schools Cricket Tournament 2025.[12][13]
Battle of the Golds
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.[14] Below are listed the results to date:
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]
Key Historical Milestones
Runners up of The Division One Tournament 1994/1995
Second Runners up in the ALL-Island Division One Category.
Runners Up of The Premier Trophy 2008/2009
Runners Up in Division 01 – Segment "B" in 2008/2009
Champions of The Premier Trophy 2024
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.
Runners Up of The Bowl Segment of Division One Group "A" Category 2025
Secured their first victory in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025.[25]
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.[26][27]
Basketball
In the 2019, 2nd semi-final of the Boys' U17 All Island "B" Division Basketball Championship, the team was awarded 3rd place.[28]
The Battle of the Golds basketball encounter takes place every year where Mahanama College compete with D. S. Senanayake College.[29]
Boxing
The Boxing Committee was founded on 2014. Mahanamian Boxers had shown their boxing skills throughout the years, and their achievements are as follows.[30][31]
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?][39]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.
Athletics
The college's athletics program is rooted in its tradition of holistic education, where physical fitness is given equal importance alongside intellectual development.[40][41]
Achievements
John Tarbet Athletic Meet
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.[41]
The Media Unit of Mahanama College was started in 1987.[43] 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.[44] The Media Unit has achieved:
The first school radio to transmit through short-wave amateur radio technology.[citation needed]
The first school television to transmit a live big match one day encounter on Facebook Live[citation needed]
Sri Lanka's first school media website to be awarded in Sri Lanka's only web designing competition BestWeb.lk in the year 2020.[45]
The Media Unit of Mahanama College has achieved numerous awards in Zonal, Provincial and National Levels.[46] CHATHURMANA is the Annual Media Day of Mahanama College which is Organized by school's Media Unit.[47][48]
The Leo Club of Mahanama College
Founded in 1987, the Leo Club of Mahanama College is one of Sri Lanka's most prestigious and time-honoured 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.[49][50]
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]
Notable events
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2014)
Arrival of Mahinda Rajapaksha
In 2014, Mahanama College's 60th anniversary and annual prize-giving was held under the patronage of PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa and Bandula Gunawardena. The president awarded students and teachers who had excelled in various fields.[51]
Golden Parade
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.[52] 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.[53][54]
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