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In 1924, Kularatne spent Rs. 5,500 to purchase 0.10ha (0.25 acres) of land near the Campbell Place playground and built 16 classrooms for the new school. Governor Gregory Thompson laid the foundation stone. Out of 16 classrooms, two were allocated for the principal's office and staff, another two for the laboratories, and the remaining 12 for classrooms. A total of 330 students from Ananda were transferred under the care of L. H. Mettananda in 1924. [6]
Kularatne helped register the institution as a separate school on 1 November 1925. The new school was given its motto, Apadana Sobhini Panna, while the school name Nalanda was proposed by Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero. The English and the Sinhala versions are "Character illumines Wisdom" and "Yahapath Charithayen Praggnawa Opanangwe", respectively. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera selected this motto from the Anguttara Nikaya, Tika Nipatha, Bala Waggo Lakkana Sutta. [7]
On 1 January 1926, Kularatne appointed Dr. Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera as the first registered principal of the newly formed Nalanda College [8] and transferred L. H. Metthanada back to Ananda College as vice principal. Malasekara launched several projects, making plans for the collection of funds for the construction of buildings, and later commenced a bulletin titled Nalanda. He also arranged 15-minute Buddhist talks at the daily student's assembly and took many steps to promote the Buddhist environment in the school.[citation needed]
Kularatne laid the foundation stone for the second building on 30 March 1926. By the end of 1926, the number of students had increased to 550. Later, he borrowed money from Anagarika Dharmapala to purchase land for the primary section, which was then settled by Malalasekara, the student assembly hall is named Malalasekara Theater, for him.[9][10]
In 2011, Nalanda students won first place in the world at the Oracle Thinkquest Application Development. They also won first place in the International Students Biotechnology Competition and the 14th International Convention on Students Quality Control Circles, held in Lucknow, India.[23][24][25][26][27] Students of Nalanda College, Colombo, have also participated in research activities.[28][29][30][31][32] In 2017, a student of the Research Forum won a silver medal for his research, "Deposition of air pollutants on pollen grains and occurrence of respiratory allergies among humans at the International Conference of Young Scientists in Germany". It was the first time Sri Lanka participated in an event as a competitive country.[33][34]
The school presents students with various awards recognising achievements in academics, sports, and extracurricular activities. Merit ceremonies are conducted each year [35][36][37] and include:
Annual Prize Giving - All students who gained special academic achievements in education are felicitated.
Annual Colours Awarding Ceremony - felicitates students who performed and achieved national and international victories during the year.
International Awarding Ceremony - awards students who gain high recognition on the international stage.
Nalanda Puthra Abhinandana Award – Service to the nation, awarded to M. J. Perera in 1992.
Nalanda Keerthi Sri (Sinhala: නාලන්දා කීර්තී ශ්රී සම්මානය) - Jayaweerage Samantha was the founder of the Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award Festival. As the media Secretary of the Nalanda College Old Scouts' Association (2003–2004), the first edition occurred on 27 September 2003. The award recognises alumni for their contributions in various professional fields, serving as an inspiration for current students.[38][39][40][41][42]
Nalanda College occupies a playground at Campbell Place,[70][71][72] a sports complex,[73][74] a squash court,[75][76] a swimming pool,[77] a shooting range,[78] boxing ring,[79] and other sports facilities[80] including;
The encounter was first played in 1924, and the match is played as a three-day [113] encounter starting from this year 2025 (the 95th in the series - the match was not played in 1943, 1944, and 1945 due to World War II and in 1948) at the Singhalese Sports Club grounds. Nalanda are the current holders of the trophy, having won it in 2022 under the leadership of Dineth Samaraweera.[114][115] The first Battle of the Maroons was played in 1925, and Nalandians were led by B.S. Perera[116] while N M Perera led Anandians. Nalanda won the inaugural contest.[117] Sri Lanka's first Test cricket captain, Bandula Warnapura, an alumni of the college,[118][119] while Arjuna Ranatunga, who captained the Sri Lankans in the World Cup victory in 1996, was also an alumni.[120] This year's 95th encounter ended in a draw.[121] The Battle of the Maroons 48th one day encounter that was played this year, was abandoned due to rain.[122] In 1951, Stanley Jayasinghe became the first Nalandian [123] to represent the All Ceylon Cricket Team while still being a schoolboy playing against Pakistan in Pakistan.[124]
The annual cricket match between Nalanda College, Colombo, and Trinity College, Kandy, was played for the Mahela-Sanga Trophy.
Water polo
Nalanda plays its annual water polo encounter[127] with Royal College, Colombo for the Royal-Nalanda Challenge Shield.[128] The inaugural encounter was played in 2017.[129][130][131][132]
First Officially Registered Principal under new independent institution named Nalanda[137] Academic, scholar and diplomat known for his Malalasekara English-Sinhala Dictionary[138]
Past students who have studied at Nalanda College Colombo are referred to as Old Nalandians.
War Memorial and remembrance
Nalanda College War Memorial Statue
Each year, students and alumni commemorate the loss of 41 alumni who died in the Sri Lankan civil war.[161][162][163][164] A war memorial is situated between the main oldest buildings of the college.[165]
The association serves the alumni of the college. Its objective is to promote the interests of the college and its past and present students by fostering relationships among alumni and with their alma mater. Each year, the union organises events such as Future Minds, Nalanda Walk, the Olcott Memorial Old Boys' Cricket Tourney, and the Ranaviru Upahara.[166][167]
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