About Ananda National College

The 75-year history of Ananda National College, Chilaw, is a profound narrative of cultural reclamation and educational resilience that began in 1949 when Buddhist students were unjustly penalized by missionary school authorities for observing "sil" on Wesak Poya Day. Refusing to pay a one-rupee fine for their religious devotion, the local community, led by the Rt. Ven. Bolagala Seelalankara Thero and the Sri Vijayarama Temple Dayaka Sabha, established an English class for just three students that officially birthed Ananda College on May 12, 1950, with Rt. Ven. Dickwela Piyananda Thero as the first principal and 12 initial admissions. Through the collective financial support of the Chilaw Buddhist Association and the local elite, an eight-acre plot was purchased for Rs. 50,000 in 1952, later expanding to a 10-acre campus following a generous land donation by Mudliyar L.M.W. Senanayake. The school’s evolution saw the 1953 opening of its first hostel, the 1960 initiation of a primary section by Rt. Ven. Nattandiye Siri Nivasa Thero, and the 1976 introduction of the Advanced Level Science section under the patronage of Hon. S.D.R. Jayarathna, eventually culminating in its upgrade to National College status on January 8, 1999. Beyond academics, the college has pioneered social inclusivity through its Special Education Unit for the deaf founded in 1984, while maintaining rich traditions like the "Ananda Mela" carnival, the composition of its school song in 1979, and the 2018 "Ves" dancing ceremony for 70 students. Today, the institution remains a modern powerhouse of learning, supported by a proactive Past Pupils’ Association that has contributed millions for a school bus, digital laboratories, and a new open-air theatre, all while honoring its roots with the 2022 unveiling of its founder's statue and the commemorative plaque of its 72-year journey.