During the 19th century Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, a retired United States army officer reached the shores of Ceylon in search of truth. He grieved at the treatment of Buddhists, their institutions and the religion received by the colonial rulers and converted as a Buddhist at the Wijeyananda temple in Galle. Becoming the pioneer of opening Buddhists schools in then Ceylon, Colonel Olcott along with the first principal Dr. Bowles Daly an Irish clergymen and a theosophist opened ‘Mahinda College’ on March 1, 1892 at Pedlar Street in Galle Fort.
founder of Mahinda College
Known as a conscientious disciplinarian Dr. Daly left the country at the end of 1893, and the College passed through a period of 9 years under five principals. Seeing the deteriorating standard of the school Colonel Olcott invited Mr. Frank Lee Woodward to visit Ceylon hence, Mr. Woodward took over his assignment as Principal of Mahinda College on the 1st August 1903.
Mahinda College was relocated during the tenure of Principal Mr. F. L. Woodward to the current location with the panoramic view of the ‘Sripada’ making it the most suitable place for a Buddhist school. The necessary land known as the ‘Dewatagawatta’ was provided by Mrs. D. F. De Silva of Minuwangoda with the assistance of the members of the Weerasiri family. On January 15, 1908 at 2.14 p.m, Mr. Woodward laid the foundation stone of the Olcott hall. In July and October of the same year, the foundation stones for the Amrasuriya block and Matara blocks was laid by Mr. H.Amarasuriya, E. S. Balasuriya,and D. N. Weeratunga respectively.
On August 1, 1912 the new building had been ceremonially opened. With the shifting of the school to its present abode, the number of students rose to 300. The first prize-giving commemorating the 21st anniversary of the school and the ninth anniversary of Mr.Woodward’s arrival was also celebrated in 1912.
Mr. F. L. Woodward along with then principal of Richmond College Galle, Rev. J. H. Darrell began a cricket encounter in 1905 at Galle Esplanade, with the two principals officiating as umpires. The Big Match is famously known as the “Lovers’ Quarrel” is the third oldest schools cricket match in the history of the game in Sri Lanka and true to its name, Richmond-Mahinda big match remains a battle between brothers played annually ever since. Mahinda College also became the first school in Sri Lanka to live webcast the big match.
The period after 1932 can be named as the golden era of Mahinda with the appointment of a new principal Mr. Edgar Albert Wijesooriya, a creation of mother Mahinda. He retired in 1962 with the taking over of assisted schools by the government which led to Mahinda College becoming a government Sinhala medium school. Thus far, Mahinda College has been led under the guidance of 31 principals and it stands today, as a foremost educational academy in Sri Lanka due to the untiring efforts of these principals.
Renowned teachers such as Kalasuri Arisen Ahabudu, Veteran Journalist Edwin Ariyadasa and also the composer and musician Ananda Samarakoon contributed immensely to the exalted position of mother Mahinda. Our students were privileged to sing the national anthem composed by late Mr. Ananda Samarakoon for the first time at the steps of sacred Olcott Hall before it was officially accepted by the government.
Mahinda College has a long line of Academic Achievements, portraying the quality of education. Producing the students that perform exceptionally well at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level and G.C.E. Advanced Level Examinations, Mahinda College is also the ultimate destination for the cream of the students that pass the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination in the southern district. The trend set by mother Mahinda was inevitable by the G.C.E. Advanced Level results of former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo Deshabandu Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda who obtained 396 marks out of 400 in bio stream and Dr. Nihal Somaratne obtained 385 marks out of 400 in 1972. This facilitated competition among students that allowed them to push each other and continuously achieve the highest possible standards ever since.
Furthermore, an institution such as Mahinda College being a state-run school provides commendable opportunities to develop multifaceted skills and talents of its student population. More than 21 sports and 26 clubs and societies are currently opened to students to provide the basis of developing well-rounded future citizens. Mahinda College also became the pioneer of introducing the scouts movement to the Southern Province in 1914within two years of its induction in Sri Lanka. Also, Mahinda became the first school to introduce the Cadet Brass Band to Sri Lanka in 1968. The school also runs a hostel, which has provided many Mahindians from distant regions of Sri Lanka, a ‘home away from home’.
Mahinda College has produced a vast array of persons of eminence in diverse fields of activity. Among its proud products are, Henry Woodward Amarasuriya former deputy speaker and a member of parliament, and the first general secretary of the United National Party, Sri Lankabhimanya A.T. Ariyaratne founder and president of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Dr. Anil Abeywickrama the forerunner of the first ever heart transplant performed in Sri Lanka, Sportsmen Marvan Attapatu and Lasith Malinga and many other hoard of doctors, ministers, legislators, prelates, members of defence services, sportsmen who have accomplished remarkable achievements to the nation. Mother Mahinda also has the pride of producing the largest number of Professors to the nation than any other school in Sri Lanka.
With a history of more than 100 years, Mahinda College has risen and effectively faced a multitude of challenges developing into the premier Buddhist educational institution in Sri Lanka with an enrolment of more than 4200 students currently. Being named as Mahinda as a mark of respect to Arahat Mahinda Thero, the Buddhist monk who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, from the day of her inception mother Mahinda is committed in achieving in no small measure the aims of its founders to protect, nourish and indoctrinate the Sri Lankan values of Buddhism to the future generation.
මේ මහින්ද ශාස්ත්රශාලා කීර්තියෙනි වැජඹේවා!!!
By Dr. Sujeeva Wijewickreme