Dharmapala Vidyalaya

Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya ධර්මපාල විද්‍යාලය පන්නිපිටිය தர்மபால வித்தியாலயம் பன்னிபிட்டிய
Location
Pannipitiya Sri Lanka
Coordinates	6°50′37″N 79°57′11″E
Information
Type	Public
Motto	Thumehi Kichchan Athappan (Buddhist quote from the Dhammapada).
Established	8 December 1940 (1940-12-08)
Founder	Patrick de Silva Kularatne
Principal	R. A. Maheshika Rupasinghe
Teaching staff	653
Grades	1–13
Gender	Co-educational
Enrollment	8,500+
Color(s)	Maroon and purple
Rivals	Rahula College
Affiliation	Buddhist
Alumni	Palians
Website	www.dharmapalavidyalaya.org

Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, established in 1942 on land owned by Anagarika Dharmapala. It is a mixed school in Sri Lanka, which provides primary and secondary education.

Donation of the land

The land of the current school was originally owned by Anagarika Dharmapala. Later it was donated by the Don Hewawitharana Family to Mahabodhi Society and was allocated to Dharmapala Vidyalaya in 1940.

Current facilities

Dharmapala Vidyalaya, occupies a 23.8 ha (58.7 acres) site and accommodates approximately 8,500 students and employs 650 teaching staff.

It provides education for students from grade 1 to G.C.E. advanced level with a range of facilities, including the largest international level cricket ground in Sri Lanka.

History

In 1940 an English secondary school was established at Pannipitiya as a branch of Ananda College Colombo. This new school was named Dharmapala Vidyalaya. On opening day two major events took place: the opening of Sri Devamitta Dharmapala Thero Memorial building by the Minister of Health, W. A. de Silva, and the ceremonial opening of Dharmapala Vidyalaya by the General Manager of Buddhist Schools, Walter Wijeynaike.

Dharmapala Vidyalaya was managed by the Buddhist Theosophical Society under the direct supervision of the principal of Ananda College, Colombo. It was a school for boys and girls and conducted classes from kindergarten to the matriculation form, in English. Dharmapala Vidyalaya began its work on 8 January 1941. Its founder was Patrick de Silva Kularatne and its principal was Dr. J. E. Jayasooriya.

Flag of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya

"ධර්මපාල විද්‍යාලය ආරම්භ වූ අවධියේ දී" සෝමබන්ධු විද්‍යාපති මහතාගේ රේඛා චිත්‍රයකි

Founder : Mr. P De S Kularathna

During World War II a section from Ananda College- Colombo, along with the teachers, shifted to the Dharmapala Vidyalaya premises due to fear of war. To accommodate these students more cadjan sheds were built. Later six permanent classrooms were built for the Primary Section. The then-principal of Ananda College, P. de S Kularathna, led this project. With the exit of Jayasooriya, D. C. Lawris took over as principal in 1943.

The school registered as an independent institute and a Class 1AB school for higher education. Up to H.S.C, many more students started entering Dharmapala. With the help of many donors and with the money collected by the students, another five classrooms were built for the Primary Section.

By February 1947 there were 1,420 students and H.S.C. classes were started. D.C. Lawris left Dharmapala Vidyalaya to take over as the principal of Ananda College, Colombo.

Houses

•   - Shakya (ශාක්‍ය)
•   - Maurya (මෞර්යය)
•   - Nanda (නන්ද)
•   - Soorya (සූර්ය)

Clubs and Societies

There are over 40 active student organisations at the college.

Principals

Name	From	To
J. E. Jayasooriya	1940	1943
D. C. Lawris	1943	1947
G. C. Edirisinghe	1947	1956
R. M. Abeywardhana	1959	1960
G. B. Bannehaka	1969	1971
B. S. Gunesekara	1971	1976
N. B. Perera	1976	1981
D. C. Danapala	1981	1983
R. T. Direcksze	1983	1985
G. R. W. G. Gunawardana	1985	1991
S. H. Kumarasinghe	1991	1994
R. S. Rajapaksha	1995	2004
K. G. Wimalasena	2004	2016
Oshara Panditharathna	2016	2020
K. G. Wimalasena	2020	2021
R. A. Maheshika Rupasinghe	2022	present

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Alumni of Dharmapala Vidyalaya

This article contains dynamic lists that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Name	Notability	Reference
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake	Prime Minister (2000–2001, 2005–2010), member parliament - Horana (1960–1977), Kalutara (1994–2010)
Kamal Gunaratne	Major General, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence (2019–present)
Oliver Ranasinghe	Commander of Sri Lankan Air Force (1994–1998)
Rohan Daluwatte	Commander of Sri Lankan Army (1996–1998)
M. P. Perera	Vice Chancellor University of Kelaniya (1973–1974, 1983–1985)
Soma Edirisinghe	Corporate Executive (chairman EAP Holdings), Film Producer, Philanthropist
Tissa Abeysekara	Filmwriter, Director, Producer
Eva Wansundera	Solicitor General (2011), Attorney General (2011–2012), Supreme Court Judge (2012–present)
Wimal Wickramasinghe	Member of Parliament - Ratnapura (1989–1994), Deputy Minister of Finance (1989–1994)
Asoka Wadigamangawa	Member of Parliament - Puttalam (1989–2000), Deputy Minister of Lands (1989–1994)
H. D. L. Leelaratne	Member of Parliament - Seruvila (1977–1989)
Chinthaka Jayasinghe	former Sri Lankan cricketer
Rohana Weerasinghe	Musician, Composer, Singer, Teacher
Thumindu Dodantenna	Actor, screenwriter, Lecturer
Narada Warnasuriya	Vice Chancellor University of Sri Jayewardenepura (2005-2008)

Sports

The annual big match, the Battle of Golden Lions (රුහුණු -මායා සටන), between Dharmapala Vidyalaya and Rahula College is the major sport event in the school.

The Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Cricket Tournament is an annual cricket tournament conducted among the past cricketers of eight premier Buddhist schools in honor of Col. Olcott, the founder of Buddhist education in Sri Lanka.