Ceylon in the 1800s was a turbulent time. Buddhism was consistently undermined and deprived of its rightful place. Buddhist students were destitute of an education. It was at such a tumultuous time that Col. Henry Steel Olcott together with Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera and Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera established what would eventually turn out to be Sri Lanka’s biggest Buddhist school, housing a student populace of over 6000; the then-English Buddhist Academy at No. 61, Maliban Street, Pettah – Ananda College.

ANANDA COLLEGE

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Ananda’s first Sinhalese Buddhist Principal and Minister of Home Affairs in the then-Ceylon established the Old Boys’ Association in 1908. With over a century of alumni, the organisation looks into the administrative work of these old Anandians and extends a substantial service to the school in providing its students with a quality education and state-of-the-art amenities in terms of sports and extra-curricular activities.

Ananda College
Old Boys’ Association

Principal of Ananda College

The incumbent Principal, Mr. D. M. Lal Dissanayake who happens to be the 27th amongst the elite list of Principals of Ananda, assumed duties in January 2022.

President of the ACOBA

Samitha Seneviratne completed primary/secondary education at Ananda College from 1971-1983 .

Entered the University of Colombo (Faculty of Science) & graduated with a BSc in natural sciences & later obtained MBA from the University of Warnborough (Ireland) specializing in Management.

Anandaya Newsletter

‘Anandaya’ is the by-annual magazine published by the Old Boys’ Association of Ananda College. A detailed record of activities of ACOBA, of Affiliated Groups, of a selected overseas group and of the school are reported in this magazine in order to acquaint past students, parents and well-wishers.

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Principal of Ananda College

President of the ACOBA

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Olcott Oration 2025

OLCOTT ORATION 2025

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