Dharmapala Vidyalaya
Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, established in 1942 on land owned by Anagarika Dharmapala, is the largest mixed school in Sri Lanka with about 8000 students and 600 academic staff. It is a public school and provides primary and secondary education.
| Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya ධර්මපාල විද්යාලය පන්නිපිටිය தர்மபால வித்தியாலயம் பன்னிபிட்டிய | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
Sri Lanka | |
| Coordinates | 6°50′37″N 79°57′11″E |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto | Thumehi Kichchan Athappan (Buddhist quote from the Dhammapada). |
| Established | 8 December 1940 |
| Founder | Patrick de Silva Kularatne |
| Principal | R. A. Maheshika Rupasinghe |
| Teaching staff | 600 |
| Grades | 1–13 |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Enrollment | 8,000 |
| Color(s) | Maroon & purple |
| Affiliation | Buddhist |
| Alumni | Palians |
| Website | www |
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 has around 8,000 students and 600 teaching staff on a campus of 51.8 acres (210,000 m2), which is the second-largest school in the country by the land.
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.
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 late 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 10. 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.
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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
- - Shakya (ශාක්ය)
- - Maurya (මෞර්යය)
- - Nanda (නන්ද)
- - Soorya (සූර්ය)
Clubs and Societies
There are over 40 active student organisations at the college.
Principals
| Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| J. E. Jayasooriya | 1940 | 1943 |
| D. C. Lawris | 1943 | 1947 |
| G. C. Edirisinghe | 1947 | 1956 |
| R. M. Abeywardhana | 1959 | 1960 |
| G. B. Bannehaka | 1969 | 1971 |
| B. S. Gunesekara | 1971 | 1976 |
| N. B. Perera | 1976 | 1981 |
| D. C. Danapala | 1981 | 1983 |
| R. T. Direcksze | 1983 | 1985 |
| G. R. W. G. Gunawardana | 1985 | 1991 |
| S. H. Kumarasinghe | 1991 | 1994 |
| R. S. Rajapaksha | 1995 | 2004 |
| K. G. Wimalasena | 2004 | 2016 |
| Oshara Panditharathna | 2016 | 2020 |
| K. G. Wimalasena | 2020 | 2021 |
| R. A. Maheshika Rupasinghe | 2022 | present |
Nortable alumini
| 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) | |
| 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 | |
| Vajiranath Lakshman De Silva | founder of Saukyadana Movement of Sri Lanka | |
| W. D. L. Fernando | former Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Colombo | |
| Prasanna Gunasena | Neurosurgeon, Former Secretary of Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) | |
| S. D. Jayaratne | Professor of Medicine at University of Sri Jayewardenepura | |
| Wijaya Godakumbura | Consultant Surgeon and President of the Safe Bottle Lamp Foundation | |
| Rakitha Malewana | Medical Researcher and Social Activist | |
| Udaya Ranawaka | Consultant Neurologist, Former President Ceylon College of Physicians | |
| Sarath Samarage | Consultant Community Physician, National Consultant World Health Organization, former Deputy Director General of Health Services | |
| Hudson Silva | founder President of International Eye Bank, Tissue Bank and Eye Donation Society, Honorary Fellow of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka | |
| Narada Warnasuriya | Vice Chancellor University of Sri Jayewardenepura (2005-2008) | |
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.
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.
References
- "History". www.dharmapalavidyalaya.org. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- "Welcome to Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya". Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
- "Hon. (Dr.) Wickremasinghe, Govinnage Wimal Padmasiri, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- "Hon. Wadigamangawa, A. H. M. Ashoka Premalal, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- "Hon. Leelaratne, Hettiarachchige Don Lutus, M.P." Directory of Past Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 April 2017.