Kularatne’s Nalanda Completes 98

The school that came into being in the last year of the first quarter of the last century is completing 98 years of committed service of imparting knowledge and instilling values to the fortunate set of youth who had the privilege of having their education at this hallowed centre of learning. ‘Nalanda Vidyalaya’
Nalanda celebrated her 98 years of existence on the 1st of November 2023 having been registered as a separate school in November 1925.
It was Mr. P.de. S Kularatne who had a great vision to increase opportunities for students to learn in a Buddhist environment. He has held the reins of Ananda College since 1918(the school that was managed by the Buddhist Theosophical Society). He had been far-sighted and backed by the values ingrained in Buddhism, and being a practising Buddhist was keen on expanding Ananda to provide opportunities for more students to learn in a Buddhist environment. A new land was found in a more salubrious environment at Campbell Place and a part of the students were shifted to a makeshift ‘Cadjan’ roofed building in the year 1922.

A foundation stone was laid in the same year for a new building, which was completed and opened in 1923. More students were accommodated and Mr.Kularatne the visionary educationist then had other ideas. An independent institution that can be modelled with an ancient Asian Centre of Learning which has Asiatic values was the need of the hour. Accordingly, on the advice of the Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maithree Thero, this institution was to be modelled in line with one of the world’s pioneering Asian Universities ‘Nalanda University’. Hence, Mr Kularatne decided, once again on the advice of the Most Venerable Thero that the name of the school should be ‘Nalanda Vidyalaya’.
The motto of the school as suggested by the Most Venerable Thero is ‘Apadana Sobhini Panna’ meaning ‘Character illumines wisdom’. The prime mover of the separation, Mr. Kularatne then registered the school as Nalanda Vidyalaya in November 1925, thus ensuring the birth of a new independent institution. Mr. Kularatne the Founder of Nalanda had head-hunted and earmarked a distinguished scholar Dr. Gunapala Malalasekera to lead the institution as its first principal. Dr. Gunapala Malalasekera thus became the first Principal of Nalanda.
What was the need for a separate school in the proximity of a growing school? Is a question that needs to find answers. Mr. P. de. S Kularatne was a Southerner born and bred in Ambalangoda. He was moulded with Buddhist values. His education was mainly at the Wesleyan Mission schools in the country - the Richmond College Galle and Wesley College Colombo. He was a hosteller at both these schools. There he was exposed to good mannerisms, etiquette and values. The discipline instilled in him by the two schools

remained with him till he passed away. He became a man of principles. His knowledge of mathematics and his creative ways to solve mathematical problems gave him the advantage and he obtained an Honours degree in Mathematics and a degree in Arts. Later he decided to study Law and took oaths as a Barrister. He was invited to head Ananda College as its Principal in 1918.
A few years into his principalship he was pressed to find opportunities to accommodate the growing demand for education at Ananda College which was functioning at Maradana and was growing in numbers. At that time many visitors were patronizing Ananda for various meetings, discussions and lectures. There was a hype of activity at the school and staff and students too would have been involved in such activities.
With the idea of moving a part of the student base to a soothing environment for studies, he decided to construct a makeshift building to house a few students along with several staff members at Campbell Place without utilizing the available space in the existing environs of Ananda. Construction of a building took place and gradually more and more students were transferred. Then he mooted the idea of separation, maybe to give the new institution the freedom and independence to operate as a distinctive institution imparting the morals and values. Hence marked the birth of ‘Nalanda Vidyalaya’.
Nalanda was formed not only to give a quality education but also to instill in students with values, morals and etiquette taught in Buddhism. Nalanda has since then been accepted as a school that produces well-balanced personalities ready to take up any responsibility and challenges thrown at them. Nalanda carried his vision from day one of her existence. The school became a force to be reckoned with in the National educational circles, achieving honours in many spheres and her international achievements became even more significant.
The first Principal, Dr. Gunapala Malalsekera expanded the stakeholding of Nalanda to the rich and the poor, the same way by accepting every contribution made by them through his famous ‘Nalanda Kusum Dina’ project. Nalanda constructed their second iconic building out of the proceeds collected through this project. Hence, the common man became a proud stakeholder of this growing institution. Thus, Nalanda belongs to everyone.
Nalanda too had its testing times, when during world war two, the school was split into two and one was taken to Minuwangoda and the other part to Maharagama. Soon after the end of the war Nalanda came back to its original location and was restarted and continued to mould exceptional students. The branch that was shifted to Minuwangoda was subsequently registered as a separate school.
This revered place of learning has so far had 17 Principals guiding the students up to now, including the incumbent Principal, Mr. Iran Champika de Silva.

Nalanda commemorates its founders on the 1st of November every year and Nalanda owes much to its founding father Mr. Patrick de Silva Kularatne. The present generation of Nalandians should be educated about the vision of Mr. Kularatne and the sacrifices he made. Nalanda should have a day dedicated to him as ‘Kularatne Day’ probably the date of his birth/death anniversary to felicitate and remember him.
Mr Kularatne’s last visit to Nalanda was in 1976 to witness the growth of the school he created, where he addressed the students. Mr. Sugunadasa Athukorale the then Principal of Nalanda who too had been a student of Mr Kularatne, paid a glowing tribute to him at the school assembly.

It is a rare achievement for a school to complete over nine and a half decades at the same location where it started, Nalanda had the distinction of being in service at Campbell Place for 98 years now. We as students of Nalanda wish the school will continue to serve Sri Lanka for many more years to come.
(The writer is a Past President of Nalanda Junior Old Boys’ Association)