Sri Sumangala College Panadura

suko pangnaya patilabo


Sri Sumangala College, in Panadura, Sri Lanka, was founded on March 3 1909. It is one of the oldest schools in the country. It is a national school, ie it is controlled by the central government as opposed to the Provincial Council.
It is the largest Buddhist school in Sri Lanka, with a student population of 5000 in all 13 Grades. The academic staff, led by the Principal Mr. Somathilake, is over 130.

History______________

Sri Sumangala College was built in 1909 at Rankoth Viharaya in memory of Ven. Waligama Sri Sumangala thero who played an important role in Sri Lankan Buddhism.
In 1911 the school had 77 students. In 1940 Mr. Volter Salgadu, the first ex-student, donated land in the Nalluruwa area and secondary level classes shifted to Nalluruwa area. Primary classes remained in Panadura Town where the school was called the Town Branch



Principals_____________

• Tomas E Gunarathne 1909


• W. Charles De Silva 1912


• T.S Anirawan 1915


• C.E Strange 1916


• D.C Ranasinghe 1919


• R.S.S Gunawardana 1921


• A.Ginige 1922


• A.M De Silva 1940


• N.K.T Chandrasekara 1941


• P.J Jayarathne 1941


• P.De S Kularathne 1943


• M.W.Karunananda 1945


• D.W.J Perera 1945


• A.J Fernando 1947


• K.L.V Alagiyawanna 1954


• R.A Markas 1962


• C.H.J Weerasooriya 1963


• Author Ranasinghe 1969


• H.R Perera 1970


• W.Kahandagamage 1972


• S.Wijeweera 1973


• M.D.L Fernando 1975


• A.G. Weththasinghe 1975


• D.D Wijemanna 1977


• A.P De Silva 1979


• H.S.N.K Fernando 1987


• G.D.K Perera 1990


• J.K.P Ashokarathne 1991


• D.E Jayaneththi 1992
  
• L.W Somathilake (Current)

Founders_____________

• Ven. Gnanawimalathissa Maha thero (lived in Panadura Rankoth Viharaya)


• Ven. Walpita Gunarathana Thissabidana Amarapura Maha Nikaye thero

Sri Sumangala College Scout group is in Panadura-Horana Scout district and a leading group in the island. It was the first Scout group started in Panadura-Horana Scout district. There are 50 Scouts and 40 Cub Scouts. Group Scout leader: Mr. Padmalal Perera (District Scout Commissioner-Panadura-Horana)

Sri Sumangala College was seriously damaged by the tsunami on Dec 26, 2004 because the school was near the sea so it has moved to a safe place near Panadura City