Bandaranayake College, Gampaha

Bandaranayake College Gampaha (Sinhala: බණ්ඩාරනායක විද්‍යාලය ගම්පහ) is a Buddhist boys' school in Gampaha, Sri Lanka, founded on 18 September 1918. The school has a student population exceeding 5,000 across 8 grades from grade 6 to advanced level classes, on a campus of 10 ha (25 acres). Boys are admitted at grade six, based on the results of an island-wide Scholarship Examination.

Bandaranayake College, Gampaha
බණ්ඩාරනායක විද්‍යාලය, ගම්පහ
Location
Map

11000

Coordinates7°05′30″N 80°00′20″E / 7.091667°N 80.005556°E / 7.091667; 80.005556
Information
Former names• Henarathgoda Seewali Buddhist School

• Henarathgoda Senior Secondary School
• Henarathgoda Secondary English School
• Kasagahawatta Maha Vidyalaya
• Bandaranayake Maha Vidyalaya

• Bandaranayake College (since 1993)
Type1AB National School
Motto"විද්වාන් සර්‍වත්‍ර පූජ්‍යතේ"
(Scholar is always honored)
Religious affiliation(s)Buddhist
Established18 September 1918; 106 years ago (1918-09-18)
FounderCharles Samarasooriya
School districtGampaha District
School codeBCG
PrincipalKasun Gunarathne
Teaching staff250
Grades6 - 13
GenderBoys
Age range10 to 19
Enrolment5,000
ClassesA - J (10), A - S (19)
LanguageSinhala and English
Campus size10-hectare (25-acre)
Campus typeUrban
Colour(s)Navy blue and maroon
  
Team nameNayakenz
AlumniOld Nayakenz
Websitebcg.lk

History

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In 1918, this school was established as Henarathgoda Seewali Buddhist School at the place where Yasodara Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya is presently located. Charles Samarasooriya was the first principal of the school. In 1949, the school was established as the Henarathgoda Senior Secondary School, and then it was established as the Henarathgoda Secondary English School at its present location. When the school was established at its current location, Jinadasa Munasinghe was the principal.[1]

In 1923, this school was promoted as a first grade school.[2] It had been a mixed-sex school up to 1985, when it became a single sex (male) school. On 25 May 1993, the school was advanced to the national level as, Bandaranayake Vidyalaya.[1]

Former principals include:

  • Labuthale Sudassana Thero (2006-2012)
  • Lal Dissanayake (2012-2017)
  • Iran Champika de Silva (2017-2023)

Houses

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The students are divided into four houses:

  •   - Vijaya
  •   - Gemunu
  •   - Thissa
  •   - Parakrama

These houses are named after some of the greatest ancient kings in the history of Sri Lanka. Students participate in an annual inter-house sport meet.

Media

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  • Siyanesara FM (Estd. 1993) - Sri Lanka's first school radio channel. - FM 103.1 / FM 96.1[3]
  • Siyane Roo TV (Estd. 2008) - Sri Lanka's second school TV channel.[4]

Notable alumni

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Name Notability
Nuwan Kulasekara International cricket player (2003–2019)
H. R. Mithrapala Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Kegalle (2004–2015)
Nilanka Premaratne First-class cricket player
Ajith Mannapperuma Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Gampaha (2013–2020), mayor Gampaha (2006–2009)
Anura Priyadharshana[citation needed] Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Kurunegala (1994–present)
Neil Rosayro Deputy chief of staff (Navy) - Eastern Naval Area (2016–present)
Milan Jayathilaka Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Gampaha (2020–present)
K. N. O. Dharmadasa Senior Professor
Udeni Rajapakse 19th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (2023-present)
Sahan Arachchige[citation needed] International cricket player (2023-present)

References

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  1. ^ a b "SCHOOL PROFILE". Bandaranayake College. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Gampaha Bandaranayake College inherits a unique school culture". Sunday Times.
  3. ^ "BCMU". App Store. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Siyane Roo TV".
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