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Public school, national college in Galle, Sri Lanka

Mahinda College
The Crest of Mahinda College
Location

Galle Sri Lanka
Coordinates	6°03′00.5″N 80°12′55.2″E / 6.050139°N 80.215333°E / 6.050139; 80.215333
Information
Type	Public School, National College
Motto	Khippam Vāyama Pandito Bhava (Strive hard and be wise)
Founded	1 March 1892
Founder	Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
Principal	Janaka Peduruhewa
Staff	200
Grades	1 to G.C.E. (A/L)
Gender	Boys
Age	6 to 19
Enrollment	5300
Color(s)	Black and gold
Publication	Sahasa Magazine
Affiliation	Buddhist
Alumni	Old Mahindians
Website	www.mahindacollege.lk

Mahinda College is a Buddhist boys' school in Galle, Sri Lanka. The school was established on 1 March 1892 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. As of today it is a national school which provides primary and secondary education across 13 grades to a student population of over 5300.

History

Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, a retired United States army officer, came across a report of a religious debate between Buddhist monks and Christian clergy. He began to correspond with the Buddhist monks of Ceylon, eventually leading him to visit Ceylon.

Olcott arrived on 17 May 1880 with Helena Blavatsky in Galle, where they converted to Buddhism at the Wijeyananda temple. They founded the Buddhist Theosophical Society and set about opening up Buddhist schools such as Dharmaraja College in Kandy, Ananda College in Colombo, and Maliyadeva College in Kurunegala. With the help of John Bowles Daly, an Irish clergyman and a theosophist, Mahinda College was opened on 1 March 1892 in Galle Fort. The school was named after Arahat Mahinda, the monk who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka.

Daly left after one year, followed by a number of principals serving for short periods. With the arrival of Frank Lee Woodward as principal in 1903, the average attendance of the school rose to 142 from 89. Also in 1903, students took the Cambridge examination, and in July 1904, G. W. Perera won a scholarship to Cambridge. By 1905 there were 246 students attending.

Woodward had plans to relocate the college, and purchased land called “Dawatagahawatta” with a view of the Sripada (Adam's peak). On 15 January 1908 the foundation stone of the Olcott hall was laid. On 1 August 1912 the new building was ceremonially opened and became the main hall of the college. With the new location, the number of students rose to 300.

In 1919, Woodward left for Tasmania to edit and translate Buddhist texts for the Pali Text Society, London.

For the 60th anniversary of Mahinda College in 1952, a new physics laboratory was opened by the Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake on 12 September.

As of August 2024 the college provides education to 3,750 students from grades 1 to 13. Students are divided into five groups: primary, junior, secondary, senior secondary and collegiate. The current principal of Mahinda College is Janaka Peduruhewa. The college employs 175 teachers and 30 non academic staff.

Frank Lee Woodward, the principal of Mahinda College from 1903 to 1919

Past principals

1892–1893: John Bowles Daly
1894: Lovegrove
1895–1896: O. A. Jayasekara (Acting)
1897–1898: M. Balasubramaniya Mudlier
1898: Gordon Douglas
1899: O. A. Jayasekara (Acting)
1900: M. J. Fernando
1901: O. A Jayasekara
1902: McDougal
1903–1919: F. L. Woodward
1919–1920: Kalidas Nag
1920: S. de S. Jayarathna (Acting)
1921–1923: F. G. Pearce
1923–1926: W. A. Troup
1926–1932: P. R. Gunasekara
1932–1962: E. A. Wijesuriya
1962–1974: J.H. Gunasekara
1974–1975: C. K. Waidyarathnae (Acting)
1975–1978: B.K Silva
1978–1983: W. A. D. S. Gunathilake
1983–1987: C. K. Waidyarathnae
1987–1991: D. D. Jayasundara
1992–1994: M. Wickramasinha
1994–1996: D. C. N. de Silva
1996–2004: D. K. Athukorala
2004–2007: K. A. Susil Premanath
2007–2008: L. C. Karunasena (Acting)
2008–2011: R. M. Werahera
2011–2012: M. A. Jinadasa (Acting)
2012–2014: W. M. Wasantha Siriwardhane
2014–2021: P. M. G. Gamini Jayawardhane (Acting)
2021–2023: Athula Wijayawardhana
2023–2024: R. S. N. Maddhumahewage (Acting)
2024-present: Janaka Peduruhewa

Houses

Students are divided into four houses.

Pandukabhaya -
Gamunu -
Thissa -
Parakrama -

The houses are named after four ancient kings of Sri Lanka. Annual sporting events are held among the houses.

Lovers' Quarrel

Main article: Richmond–Mahinda Cricket Encounter

The Lovers' Quarrel or Battle of the Lovers is an annual cricket match played between the cricket teams of Mahinda College and Richmond College, Galle. The contest was started in 1905 under the principal of Richmond College, Rev. James Horne Darrel, and the principal of Mahinda College, Frank Lee Woodward.

As of 2024, Mahinda College has won 23 times, while Richmond College has won 24 times. The Lover's Quarrel was last won by Mahinda College in 2008, breaking a 30-year-long deadlock of draws which was started in 1978 the year Mahindians recorded their previous win in the big match.

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Mahinda College alumni

Notable teachers

References

A Story of Buddhist Determination: Mahinda College, Galle; Buddhist Annual of Ceylon, Vol I (1920), No. 2, p. 29-3

"Historical Context". Embassy of Sri Lanka, USA. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
"Sri Lankan Olcott Schools Alumni - UAE". Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
http://archives.dailynews.lk/2005/06/06/spo03.htm , Daily News Online
Agarwal, Prof. C.V. (18 February 2010). "Revival of Buddhism and theosophists". Daily News. Archived from the original on 23 February 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
Oliveira, Pedro. "BIO". CWL World. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010.
^ "College Profile". Mahinda Club. 2003. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
^ Heyward, Nigel (1990). "Frank Lee Woodward (1871–1952)". Woodward, Frank Lee (1871 - 1952). Australian Dictionary of Biography Online. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
^ "School Profile". Mahinda College. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
Richmond looks to break Mahinda stranglehold
Mahadura, Gamini (14 March 2010). "Richmond looks to break Mahinda stranglehold". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
Tissera, Charit (24 March 2011). "Southern Sri Lanka awaits action at 106th Lover's Quarrel". ThePapare. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
Saparamadu, Sumana (2006). "Ananda Samarakoon - The composer of our national anthem". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2010.

External links

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