Ananda College

The annual Banquet/Dinner of the Old Boys’ Association of Ananda College was held on Saturday, the 24th November, 2012 at the Oak room of Hotel Cinnamond Grand attended by several distinguished personalities, including many an Old Anandians and other dignitaries. The annual OBA dinner that was a regular feature till 19.. was later given scant priority for reasons not known to anyone. However, the present Management Committee of the OBA, particularly the President, Thilak Karunaratne, deputy President Deva Rodrigo and other VPs took the initiative to impress upon Ananda alumni to make it a regular, social event and an Annual affair, where Anandians could gather with their families, reminisce about their time at Ananda, strengthen the fraternal network of Old Boys and stay connected with their Alma Mater.

This year it was decided to revive the tradition of inviting distinguished personalities from other schools for the OBA Banquet. So, the Principal of Wesley College, Dr. Shanthi Mc Lelland made the keynote address. Another distinguished Old Anandian and a prominent Lawyer, President’s Counsel, Gomin Dayasiri made a scholarly speech. The toast to Ananda was proposed by Mr. Devasiri Rodrigo the Deputy President of the OBA, made the welcome address

Mr.Kushil Gunasekera, an eminent Anandian who is today better known as the successful promoter of several community programmes including the Tsunami Trust established with Muttiah Muralitharan and the Muralitharan Cricket Trophy Tournament launched to promote Cricket in the northern and eastern provinces of the country, made a fantastic speech on behalf of Ananda, reminiscing the good values, discipline and universal brotherhood he learned at Ananda.

Having seen the success of this year’s event, many Old Anandians who were on attendance, commended the OBA and it’s organisers for the fantastic job done. So, our earnest wish is that future Ananda fraternity would continue this good tradition for many more years to come.

We must, at least briefly mention the names of key players in the dynamic Dinner organizing committee namely, Vice President, Chaminda Egodawatte , former Jt. Secretary Dushmantha Karannagoda, Pani Ranwala and Shashika Ranasinghe for a job well done.
Ananda College Colombo was crowned the winners of the The Debater, the All Island Televised English Language Debating Programme organised by MTV Sports.

The finale of The Debater was held at Stein Studios in Ratmalana on Thursday.

Ananda College and Lyceum International School, Nugegoda reached the finals after beating off stiff competition from twenty schools.

The topic of debate for the finals was "Whether or not a global body should or should not take over internet governance".

The two schools displayed their debating skills in front of a live audience of over 1200 and a bench consisting of seven judges from the legal and academic fields.

In addition to individual speeches the debaters faced a firing squad of questions from the opposing team.
Please download the electronic version of Anandaya Magazine September 2012 from the archival section of the web site.

http://www.anandacollege.net/Document_Archival-9.html
History was created when the inauguration of Ananda-Jaffna Hindu Cricket encounter for V.T.S. Sivagurunathan trophy got off to a fine tart, amidst rain, at Ananda Mawatha in Colombo, on 7th September, 2012, at 9.00am , with the participation of many distinguished Old Boys from both schools.

The Chief Guest of the occasion was the Senior Minister, Dr.Tissa Witharana who is an Old Anandian and a past colorsman in Cricket. Late Mr. Sivagurunathan was an Old Boy of Jaffna Hindu College and later served in the tutorial staff of Ananda for 25 years as a brilliant teacher, mostly during Kularatne era.

To mark the occasion, a grand dinner was held at the Upper Crystal Ballroom of Hotel Taj Samudra on Friday the 7th September. Invitations were extended to a few prominent Old Boys of Jaffna Hindu with the pride of place given to Justice K.Sripavan, a senior Supreme Court Judge and a fine product of Jaffna Hindu College. Justice Sripavan was the Chief Guest at the dinner. The other invitees were JHC Principal, Mr.V.Ganesharajah, the Principal of Ananda College, Mr.L.M.D.Dharmasena and the Coaches, Masters in charge of Cricket and cricketers from the two schools. A few Anandian National Cricketers, Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Thilina Kandamby and Sachitra Senanayake as well as former National player and Secretary Sri LankaCricket Nishantha Ranatunga graced the occasion, as special invitees.
The under-19 inter-schools tennis champions Ananda College team (Seated from left) Anupa Mattemegoda (Head Coach), Supun Pathirage (Vice Captain), Navindra Liyanarachchi (Captain), L. M. D. Dharmasena (Principal), Madusha Wijesuriya, Kumara Rodrigo (Deputy Principal), Ms. Ramya Samaradiwakara (Teacher-in-charge), Yasitha Rangana De Silva (Vice Captain); (Standing from left) Lakshitha Edirisinghe, Chamode Wijayasekara, Warna Geeshan, Anjana Rajaguru, Narain Weerasinghe

Ananda College tennis team emerged champions in the Under-19 Inter-schools Tennis Championship after a lapse of 16 years, when they beat St.Peter’s College 3-1. In the group stages they beat St.Sebestian's College 5-0, Trinity Kandy 5-0, Maliyadeva Kurunegala 5-0, Lyceum International School 4-1 and S Thomas’ Mt.Lavinia 4-1.

They beat D.S. Senanayake College 3-0 in the semis to reach the final. In the final, Madusha Wijesuriya beat Chinthaka Shaveen 6/3, 7/6 in the first singles match which was the decider of the final. Continuing the winning journey Navindra Liyanarachchi and Supun Pathirage won the first doubles match 6/3, 6/3 making the tie 2-0.

Chamode Wijayasekara gave a good fight but unfortunately lost the second singles 6/2, 6/3.

In the second doubles, Yasitha Rangana De Silva and Narain Weerasinghe won the match being 3/6 down in the first set.

They played very well in the second and the third sets winning the match 6/4 6/1. The team is trained under the watchful eye of the head coach Anupa Mattemegoda, under-19 coach Dinusha Wijesuriy and Teacher-in-charge Ms. Ramya Samaradiwakara.
Wait.....for video song release

Lyrics: Nuwan Kumara Katugampola (91)

Music: Sahan Ranwala (97)

Vocals:

Jagath Wickramasingha (85), Madu Madhawa Aravinda(92), Bhathiya Jayakodi(95), Jananath Warakagoda(96), Nimantha Heshan (97), Isuru Jayarathna(97), Kasun Kalhara(2000) Akalanka Ganegama(2000), Dumal Warnakulasooriya(2002), Harshana Disanayaka(2010), Sachith Anuththara(2010)

Producded by Old Anandians’ 97 group

Download your Ringing tones from all the mobile operators.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) issues commemorative coins and notes with the approval of the Hon. Minister of Finance in terms of Section 52A (1) (a) and (b) of the Monetary Law Act (Amendment) No. 6 of 1998. The CBSL has issued 54 commemorative coins to mark important events and persons since 1957.

Ananda College, established in 1886 completed 125 years on 01.11. 2011. To mark the 125th Anniversary celebrations, a commemorative coin with a face value of Rs. 2000 will be issued and it is a frosted proof crown size silver coin. This is the 55th commemorative coin issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The obverse of the coin depicts the images of Venerable Mohottiwatte Gunananda Thero, Venerable Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thero and Colonel Henry Steele Olcott as the founders of Ananda College. A replica of Ananda Viharaya (Shrine with Buddha Statue) appears as a backdrop with the rays depicting impact of knowledge and education. The words “Ananda College” in Sinhala appears at the bottom centre with the years 1886 -2011 above it. “Ananda College” in Tamil and English appear on the left and right sides of the coin.

The reverse of the coin depicts the crest of Ananda College with the denomination “2000” in the centre. The word “Rupees” in Sinhala, English and Tamil appears above the numerals 2000. The words “Sri Lanka” in Sinhala appears at the top centre and in Tamil and English on theperiphery of the coin.

This frosted proof silver coin is round in shape and the diameter is 38.61 mm with a weight of 28.28

grams. The coin will be issued in an attractive presentation case accompanied by a certificate of

authenticity from the Royal Mint Ltd, UK.

The coin will be officially handed over to Hon. Minister of Finance, H.E the President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Mr. K G D D Dheerasinghe, the Senior Deputy Governor of the CBSL, in Colombo on 29.11.2011.

This is a limited issue of 1,500 coins and a coin will be sold at a price of Rs. 8,500. Coins will be available for sale at the cash counters at the Head Office of the CBSL, 30, Janadhipathi Mawatha Colombo 1, Money Museum at No.58, Sri Jayewardenepura Mawatha, Rajagiriya, CBSL Provincial Offices at Anuradhapura, Matara, Matale, Jaffna and Trincomalee from 15th December 2011.
Ananda College's 125th Commemoration was held Tuesday (Nov 29) morning, in the distinguished presence of H.E President Mahinda Rajapksa at the Ananda College kularathne Hall.

The event was organized by the Anada Collge Old Boys Association, themed 'Generation of Ananda 125'.

President Rajapaksa was greeted by the College Principal Mr. L.M. D Dharmasena and the event proceeding were underway following religious observation.

The key note address was delivered by an old Anandian Prof. J. B Dissanayake. A commemorative silver coin issued for the 125 college anniversary was also presented to H.E Mahinda Rajapaksa by Central Bank Deputy Governor Mr. K.G.P.P Deerasinghe.

Addressing the gathering Hon. Minister for Education Bandula Gunawardena stated the Ananda College had been the alma-mater for many great personalities over the years.

Parliamentarians'- past students of Ananda College, Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chairperson of the College Old Boys Association Mr. Thilak Karunarathne, OBA members, college teachers and students were also present at the occasion.

Pictures;

1. Chief invitee, the President being received by the Ananda College Principal, L.M.D. Darmasena.

2. Guests entering the ceremonial hall

3. Guests, including the President, Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena, Defense Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Principal, Prof. J.B. Disanayaka and Thilak Karunarathne

4. & 5. Teachers and Students

6. A set of books written by an old Anandian, Prof. J.B. Disanayaka being presented to the President

7. A silver coin issued by the Central Bank to mark the 125th Anniversary of Ananda College being presented to the President by the Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, K.G.D.D. Deerasinghe.

(Pix by: Sudath Silva)