Mahanama College

Mahanama College
මහානාම විද්‍යාලය
Location
R. A. D. Mel Mawatha
Colombo 03

Sri Lanka
Coordinates6°54′22″N 79°51′15″E / 6.90611°N 79.85417°E / 6.90611; 79.85417
Information
TypeGovernment 1AB national school
Mottoවිද්වතා සෑම තැනකදීම පැසසුම් ලබයි
Vidvān Sarvatra Pūjyate
(A scholar is respected everywhere)
Religious affiliationBuddhist
Established5 January 1954
FounderMaawiththara Rewatha Thero
PrincipalPrabath I. Withanage
Staff350
Grades1 to 13
GenderMale
Enrollment5,000+
LanguageEnglish, Sinhala
ColoursGold, silver and black
   
Songසිරි ලක වොරදන
"Sri Lanka Wardana"
SportsCricket, rugby, basketball, athletics, football, boxing,
AffiliationMinistry of Education
AlumniMahanamians, Golden Army
Websitemahanamacollege.lk

Mahanama College is a national Buddhist boys' school located in Colombo, Sri Lanka, established in 1954. As a public national school, it is controlled by the central government rather than a provincial council. It provides primary education and secondary education.

College

Location

Mahanama College is in Kollupitiya, Colombo. its main entrance is on R. A. D. Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3, and the southern campus adjoins C.M.S. Ladies' College.[1]

History

Mahanama College was founded on 5 January 1954 by Ven. Maawiththara Rewatha Thero at the Walukarama Temple in Kollupitiya, with an initial enrolment of five students. In 1956, the institution was officially registered as a government-assisted junior school. By 1960, enrollment had risen to 163 students, with a staff of four. J. D. A. Jayakodi was appointed the school's first principal. By 1969 the student population was 373, with fourteen staff members.

The school later relocated to a nearby site at Walukarama, with primary classes held at Thurstan College. In 1974, under the leadership of principal T. N. Silva, the junior school at Thurstan College moved to its present location. In 1975, 130 students sat for the National General Certificate of Education, with 107 passing the exam. The Sri Lankan government provided approximately 2.8 ha (7 acres) of land to facilitate the school's expansion. By 1976, the school had several two-story buildings. In the early 1970s, principal N. E. Fernando oversaw improvements including construction of a dental unit, additional classrooms and the first two-storey building on campus. Following the retirement of principal K. N. P. de Silva in February 1986, D.G. Sumanasekera[2] took over as principal. Sumanasekera was the first SLEAS Class-1 principal to head the college.

K. K. Rathnadasa became principal in 1990, and during his time at the college, several three-story buildings were constructed, a computer section was established, a children's park was created, and the annual carnival "Foot-Loose" was organised.[3]

In 1999, G. Liyanage was appointed principal. He added a three-storey building with an art gallery to the existing campus. During his tenure, the school laboratories and computer sections received improvements and buildings were renovated. The Battle of the Golds, known as the "Big Match" between Mahanama College and its friendly rival, D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo, was initiated.[4]

Administration and education

As it is a national school, the college therefore receives funds from the Ministry of Education. The ministry appoints the principal who leads an administration that consists of vice principals and academic staff. The school is divided into three levels of education: primary school, middle school, and upper school, which is common Sri Lanka. Each section has its own head. The school also appoints prefects to maintain discipline. Prefects are pupils with limited authority over other pupils in the school, similar to the authority given to a hall monitor or safety patrol member. Mahanama College only consists of Buddhist students. Sinhala is the language of instruction in the school. However, students may choose either Sinhala or English as their language of instruction for higher education.[5] The school's motto is Vidvān Sarvatra Pūjyate, which means the scholar is respected everywhere.

Principals

  • Ven. Vahalle Dhammananda Thero (1954–1960)
  • J. D. A. Jayakody (1960–1968)
  • N. E. Fernando (1968–1974)
  • T. S. Silva (1974–1976)
  • K. N. P. de Silva (1976–1986)
  • D. G. Sumanasekara (1986–1990)
  • K. K. Ratnadasa (1990–1999)
  • G. Liyanage (1999–2003)
  • W. H. Premalal Kumarasiri (2003–2012)
  • U. M. Prasanna Upashantha (2013–2016)
  • L. M. D. Dharmasena (2016–2020)
  • R. A. R. M. Rathnayake (2020–2021)
  • A. M. A. A. C. Perera (2021–2023)
  • Prabath Vithanage (2023–present)

School houses

Students are divided into four houses, whose names are derived from Sanskrit language.[6]

House Colour Code Meaning
Mettha
 
 Benevolence, friendliness, amity, friendship, goodwill, kindness.
Karuna
 
 The Buddhist concept of compassion.
Muditha
 
 Means joy. It is especially sympathetic or vicarious joy, taking pleasure in other people's well-being.
Upekha
 
 The Buddhist concept of equanimity.

Sports and extracurricular activities

Eighteen sports are played at Mahanama College.[7]

Cricket

Mahanama College has a significant, albeit young, cricket history, establishing its first U11 team in 1979, with the help of coach Vernon Perera and principal K. N. P. de Silva.

Mahanama College has achieved significant success in school cricket, including being crowned the best team of the Western Province in Division One - Tier "A" for the 2023/24 season, winning the SLSCA Under-13 Division II Cricket Tournament, and reaching the U19 Division 1 Limited Over tournament.

Achievements and milestones

  • Champions of Singer U17 Division I Schools Cricket Tournament in 2019.[8][9]
  • Champions in the U13 Division II Schools Cricket Tournament in 2024.[10]
  • Runners up in Sri Lanka U17 Division I Schools Cricket Tournament 2025.[11][12]
  • Champions of Sri Lanka U19 Division 1 Schools Cricket Tournament 2025.[13][14]
Battle of the Golds

The Battle of the Golds is the annual cricket contest between D. S. Senanayake College and Mahanama College. It began in 2007 and is known as the big match. The Golden Parade of Mahanama College is a parade of vehicles running through the streets of Colombo, organised by the Old Boys Association. Every year, large crowds from both schools gather at the SSC Cricket Ground to witness the encounter.[15] Below are listed the results to date:

Year Result Ref.
2007 Lost —
2008 Won —
2009 Lost —
2010 Won —
2011 Lost —
2012 Won [16]
2013 Won [17]
2014 — —
2015 Lost [18]
2016 Won [18]
2017 Won [19]
2018 Won [20]
2019 Won [21]
2020 Postponed due to COVID-19 —
2021 —
2022 Won [22]
2023 Won —
2024 Won —
2025 Won [23]

Rugby

Mahanama College began its rugby journey in 1986, with significant recent successes including winning the Premier Trophy and the championship in Division 1 Segment B of the Dialog Schools Rugby League in 2024, earning them a spot in the top-tier league for 2025. In the 2025 season, the team achieved a major milestone by finishing as Bowl runners-up in the Dialog Schools Rugby League.

Key Historical Milestones

Runners up of The Division One Tournament 1994/1995

Second Runners up in the ALL-Island Division One Category.

Runners Up of The Premier Trophy 2008/2009

Runners Up in Division 01 – Segment "B" in 2008/2009

Champions of The Premier Trophy 2024

Crowned as the Champions of Premier Trophy by defeating Ananda College.

Secured the championship title in Division 1 Segment B of the Dialog Schools Rugby League.

Runners Up of The Bowl Segment of Division One Group "A" Category 2025

Finished as the Bowl Runners-up in the Dialog Schools Rugby League.[24][25]

Secured their first victory in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025.[26]

The college has produced national-level players, such as Kapila Knowlton (1994), Mithun Hapugoda and Darshana Dabare (2019), who have represented Sri Lanka national rugby union team.[27][28]

Basketball

In the 2019, 2nd semi-final of the Boys' U17 All Island "B" Division Basketball Championship, the team was awarded 3rd place.[29]

The Battle of the Golds basketball encounter takes place every year where Mahanama College compete with D. S. Senanayake College.[30]

Boxing

The Boxing Committee was founded on 2014. Mahanamian Boxers had shown their boxing skills throughout the years, and their achievements are as follows.[31][32]

Achievements

L.V. Jayaweera Interschool Boxing Meet

Champions of the 46th L.V. Jayaweera Interschool meet in 2022.[33][34][35]

Champions of the 43rd L.V. Jayaweera Interschool meet in 2016.[36]

Kasun Fernandoe was awarded best boxer at the 2016 L.V. Jayaweera championship.[37]

The college's boxing coach, Y. M. Anura Yapa, was awarded best coach at the LV Jayaweera Memorial Championship 2022.[38]

All Island Junior Boxing Championship

In 2019, the team achieved a 3rd place overall, bringing home a gold, silver, and bronze medal.[39]

Stubbs Shield Boxing Championship

W. T. L. M. Abeysekera, R. I. R. Perera, K. A. V. S. Karavita, and H. S. Nambuwasam were among the college's winning boxers in the Junior and Youth Boys categories.[40] St. Sylvester's College was ultimately the winner, securing their fourth consecutive title. The tournament was a significant inter-school event, with nearly 500 boxers from 132 schools competing.

Athletics

The college's athletics program is rooted in its tradition of holistic education, where physical fitness is given equal importance alongside intellectual development.[41][42]

Achievements

John Tarbet Athletic Meet

The athletes of Mahanama College have excelled in the John Tarbet Junior Athletic Meet held in October 2016 at Embilipitiya. The athletic competing in four age groups, under 12, 13, 14 and 15 were able to achieve a remarkable win reaching the standard of merit certificate awards.[42]

Cadet

The Cadet Band of Mahanama College were crowned as the Champions of Hermann Loos Trophy in 2010.[43]

Co-curricular activities

Societies

Mahanama College Media Unit (MCMU)

The Media Unit of Mahanama College was started in 1987.[44] As one of Sri Lanka's oldest school media units with over 33 years of history and experience, the Media Unit runs its own YouTube channel with 95 videos and over 7000 subscribers.[45] The Media Unit has achieved:

  • The first school radio to transmit through short-wave amateur radio technology.
  • The first school television to transmit a live big match one day encounter on Facebook Live
  • Sri Lanka's first school media website to be awarded in Sri Lanka's only web designing competition BestWeb.lk in the year 2020.[46]

The Media Unit of Mahanama College has achieved numerous awards in Zonal, Provincial and National Levels.[47] CHATHURMANA is the Annual Media Day of Mahanama College which is Organized by school's Media Unit.[48][49]

The Leo Club of Mahanama College

Founded in 1987, the Leo Club of Mahanama College is one of Sri Lanka's most prestigious and time-honoured school-based Leo Clubs, operating proudly under Leo District 306 D7. With nearly four decades of continuous service and a legacy shaped by 40 visionary presidents, our club has become a beacon of youth leadership, purpose-driven action, and community impact.[50][51]

In 2024/2025, the club was recognised as the most outstanding school-based Leo Club in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, while also securing the title of most outstanding Leo Club in Leo District 306 C2.

Notable events

Arrival of Mahinda Rajapaksha

In 2014, Mahanama College's 60th anniversary and annual prize-giving was held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bandula Gunawardena. The president awarded students and teachers who had excelled in various fields.[52]

Golden Parade

The Golden Parade is the annual vehicle parade organised by the Old Boys' Association of Mahanama College, held in the lead-up to the Battle of the Golds cricket encounter against D. S. Senanayake College.[53] This vibrant event transforms the streets of Colombo into a lively display of school pride, featuring a grand vehicle parade with decorated Double-decker bus, Trucks, Cars, SUV's Motorbikes, and Techno Trucks accompanied by music, dancing, and cheering crowds.[54][55]

Notable alumni

Sports

Name Notability Ref
Danushka Gunathilaka International cricketer
Dhananjaya de Silva International cricketer
Chathura Randunu International cricketer
Pavan Rathnayake International cricketer
Sonal Dinusha International cricketer
Dilesh Gunaratne International cricketer
Malindu Maduranga Cricketer
Heshan Hettiarchchi Cricketer

Politics

Name Notability Ref
Shasheendra Rajapaksa Politician , 6th Chief Minister of Uva
Eranga Weeraratne Politician, Engineer, Business Executive, National List Member of Parliament

Military

Name Notability Ref
Jayantha Kularathna Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy,Rear Admiral, Eastern Naval Area Commander, Chief of staff, Deputy Chief of staff Commander
Channa Weerasuriya Major General, Colonel of the Regiment of Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Sri Lanka Army
Chandana Welikala Director of Administration Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Vice Marshal

Academics

Name Notability Ref
Pradeep Rathnayake Dean, Department of Languages, Cultural Studies and Performing Arts at University of Sri Jayawardenepura [56][57]

References

  1. ^ "Mahanama College · WV43+FW2, ආර් ඒ ද මෙල් මාවත, Colombo, Sri Lanka". Mahanama College · WV43+FW2, ආර් ඒ ද මෙල් මාවත, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Vidura College - Colombo "Oneself is one's own protector"". viduracollege.com. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. ^ Mahanama College 66 Years of Excellence | Documentary, 4 January 2020, retrieved 19 May 2022
  4. ^ "History". Retrieved 17 October 2014.
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  7. ^ "Sports – Mahanama College". Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  8. ^ Silva, Sithija De (11 October 2019). "Photos : Mahanama College Vs St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa | U17 Cricket Tournament 2019 | Final".
  9. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20191011/282127818232401?srsltid=AfmBOopsAItVkMFTlxXrsYbZOfAl_vKpDgsce-WUtW4BUw_i0RS40Lbf – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ Today, Ceylon (20 December 2024). "Mahanama 'B' beat last season champs Royal 'B'".
  11. ^ Today, Ceylon (17 August 2025). "Mahanama, Devapathiraja clash in final today (18)".
  12. ^ Sanjeewa, Kanishka (16 August 2025). "Mahanama & Devapathiraja set for U17 Division 1 Final Showdown".
  13. ^ "Mahanama College wins U19 Tier 'A' Inter-School One Day Cricket Championship".
  14. ^ "Mahanama power past Richmond to claim U19 Tier a Crown". 3 November 2025.
  15. ^ "Battle of the Golds – Mahanama College". Retrieved 26 May 2022.
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  20. ^ "12th Battle of the Golds - D.S. Senanayake, Mahanama battle for supremacy". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  21. ^ Kumarasinghe, Chathura (13 March 2019). "DS-Mahanama lock horns for the 13th time". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Battle of the Golds ends in draw".
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  24. ^ Herath, Kanishka (10 August 2025). "Spirited Mahanama thrash Bowl Champions in Nittawela".
  25. ^ "REPLAY – Mahanama College vs Science College - Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025". 26 July 2025.
  26. ^ Coggins, Nathan (6 June 2025). "Mahanama College Rugby : Rising to the Pinnacle of Schools Rugby In 2025". Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  27. ^ "Mithun Hapugoda | ThePapare Stats Center Rugby". stats.thepapare.com.
  28. ^ "Sri Lanka Air Force - Guardians of the skies". www.airforce.lk.
  29. ^ Jayathileke, Vibdua (4 April 2019). "Kingswood to finals, Mahanama to 3rd Place".
  30. ^ Alles, Tharindhie (30 November 2015). "D.S conquers the Battle of the Golds yet again".
  31. ^ "Mahanama College surprises a few on Day-2". 2 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Mahanama boxers obtain several Colours".
  33. ^ Silva, Romario De (2 November 2024). "Mahanama College surprises a few on Day-2".
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  56. ^ "Profile | Pradeep Ratnayake".
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