Panadura Sri Sumangala College turns 101

by Walter WIJENAYAKE

There was a crying need for a Sinhala Buddhist school at Panadura by the people in the early part of the first decade of the last century.

The need for this school was first stressed by the late Ven. Panadure Gnavimalatissa Thera, the then chief incumbent of the Panadura Rankoth Vihara, who was instrumental in founding a school on March 3, 1909 at the Vihara premises.

The school set up with 77 students was named Sri Sumangala College after the late Ven. Sasanavansalankara Kavidhaja Vinayachariya Weligama Sri Sumangala Maha Thera, the chief of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya. It turned 101 years on March 3.

The old buildings beside the Rankoth Vihara, which housed this college until it was shifted to the Nalluruwa premises were erected on the initiative and generosity of the late Messrs. M. Mathhes Salgado and Lowis Dias with the cooperation of Messrs M. C. Perera, P. Domingo Dias, P.C.H. Dias and Mudliyar Thomas Rodrigo.

The first principal was Thomas E. Gooneratne. When the college was registered as an assisted school on May 16, 1911, the number of students increased to 325. Thomas E. Gooneratne succeeded by Charles de Silva the following year.

A pioneer in Buddhist education P. de S. Kularatne was its manager in 1943. This was the golden era of the college. The school nurtured and moulded thousands of citizens such as Prof. S. A. Kulasuriya, Prof. P. A. de Silva, Sir Leo Fernando, Messrs Noel T. Mendis, D. W. J. Perera, Linton WIjenayake, A. P. Jayasuriya, Alec Robertson, Walter Salgado, Richard Salgado, Selvyn de Fonseka, Meryl Kariyawasam, T. Jason Peiris, Jagath Angage, N. Q. Dias, Padma Sri Pandit W. D. Amaradeva, Dick H. Dias, Jayantha Kolivansa, Sir U.A. Jayasundera, Dr. Linton Salgado, Dr. Neville Fernando, Dr. Malinga Fernando, Prof. P.E.E. Fernando, Prof. Raja de Fonseka, Prof. Ranjith Ruperu, Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa and Sarath Rodrigo among others.

On March 24, 1940, P. de S. Kularatne laid the foundation stone on the block of land at Nalluruwa, presented by Walter Salgado and Mudliyar Thomas Rodrigo, for a new building for the college. In addition, to these two acres, Mrs. Sisiliya Perera presented two-and-a-half acres of land. Sir Leo Fernando, the then Chairman of the Panadura Urban Council and the owner of the Panadura Motor Transit Bus Company, an old boy of the college erected the assembly hall at his own expense. Mrs. P.C.H. Dias presented a well equipped laboratory in memory of her son. In addition Rs. 16,000 was collected from the old boys and well-wishers.

The adjoining land of two-and-a-half acres which was donated by M. D. Fernando has been turned into the playground of the college. Residents of the area, especially in Panadura contributed towards the construction of the buildings.

On August 7, 1942, students from the seventh standard up to the H.S.C. class were shifted to the buildings constructed at Nalluruwa. M.B. Nihill, the Legal Secretary to the then Governor Sir Andrew Caldecott graced the occasion on behalf of the Governor.

The students of Sri Sumangala Girls School used the laboratory of the college for their higher studies in the H.S.C. classes at the initial stage.

At the time P. J. Fernando was the principal. A. C. Morawaka, a strict disciplinarian was the Head Master of the primary classes from the kindergarten up to the sixth standard which has been retained at the town branch adjoining Rankoth Vihara.

P. de S. Kularatne was appointed principal, succeeding P. J. Fernando on July 15, 1944, and he was succeeded by M. W. Karunananda on January 16, 1945. From January 1, 1955 Sri Sumangala College was elevated to Grade I class.

On boxing-day, December 26 2004 the tsunami struck, the main building of the college at Nalluruwa and it was submerged in sea water over four feet. All the buildings and the equipment were badly damaged.

However, two years later on September 27, the college was opened at the building erected at Wekada on the Panadura - Ratnapura Road with funds donated by Japan. The Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Akaki, the Principal of the college L.W. Somathilaka, Minister of Education,the Chief Minister of Western Province and Sarath Rodrigo, President of the Old Boys' Association were present.

The old boys, members of the tutorial staff, present students counting approximately 3,650 marched from their old school at Rankoth Viharaya to the new building site for the opening ceremony.

The first to enrol as students were the two brothers Walter Salgado and Richard Salgado, the sons of Mathes Salgado, one of the six founders of the college. The children of the other founders also followed suit.

The late W.S.M. Wijenayake (Village Headman of Pohaddaramulla, Wadduwa) was also a student with Walter and Richard Salgado, Sir U.A. Jayasundera, Sir Leo Fernando and Cyril de Silva, when Thomas E. Gooneratne was the principal succeeded by W. Charles de Silva. His sons, the writer - Walter, Sylvester, Llevellyn and Linton Wijenayake were also students when A.C. Morawaka was the Head Master and A. J. Fernando was the principal, succeeded by K.L.V. Alagiyawanna.

Geethma Wijenayake, my grandson was also admitted to the college - Grade I last month.

The college is a National Institution - a part of our national heritage. It has a dynamic Old Boys Association presided over by Sarath Rodrigo for thirty consecutive years.

Messrs. D.W.J. Perera D.L. Fernando, Arthur Ranasinghe, J.D. David, I.D.S. Weerawardena, P.S.N. Kaimal, K.V.P. Jayathilaka, C.A. Alexander, Raja de Fonseka, D.G.O. Vajirapani, Ramachandra and R. A. Mathos were some of the dedicated teachers.

Eminent past teachers included Thomas E. Gooneratne, R.S.S. Gunawardena, P. de S. Kularatne, M. W. Karunananda, A.J. Fernando, Abhayaseela Ginige and K.L.V. Alagiyawanna.

The present principal is L.W. Somathilaka.