SSCOBA would like to thank Sumangalian, Manager of Commercial Bank Of Ceylon PLC – Thissamaharama Branch, Mr. Januka Gunawardana for his donation to renovate the Administrative Building of the college.

The donation was collected by the Treasurer Mr. Dinesh Ketipearachchi.

Thank you so much for your generosity!

We would like to thank Sumangalian, late Mr. Thilak Balachandra’s family for donating Rs 320,000/- worth of books to the college library in remembrance of late Mr. Thilak Balachandra, who passed away while living in Australia.

This was a project carried out by the Old Boys’ Association and Junior Old Boys’ Association in order to enhance the education, knowledge, life awareness of the students.

We would like to express our gratitude to Sumangalian, Mr. Jayantha Silva, for coordinating this and he donated these books to the Principal Mr. Niluka Weerasinghe at the Principal’s office.

Secretary of Junior Old Boys’ Association, Mr. Malith De Silva was also presented at the occasion.

Raigam Tele’es සම්මාන උළෙලේදී 2021 වසරේ හොඳම අංග රචනය සඳහා වූ සම්මානය දිනා ගත් සුමඟුල් ආදී ශිෂ්‍ය විදුර අබේධීර මහතාට අප සංගමයේ හෘදයාංගම සුභපැතුම්!

මෙම සම්මානය ඒ මහතා දිනාගත්තේ ITN නාලිකාවේ විකාශය වූ “සකර්ම” ටෙලිනාට්‍ය සදහා ඒ මහතා කල අංග රචනය වෙනුවෙනි.

We would like to thank Sumangalian, Mr. Dilika Wijayasingha, Vice President of SSCOBA, Business Development Manager of Office Network (Pvt) Ltd for donating Rs 50,000/- to the “සුමඟුල් රිවි බල” Solar Power System Project of SSCOBA

The donation was collected by the Treasurer Mr. Dinesh Ketipearachchi at the recently held Exco meeting.

Thank you so much for your generosity!

Sri Sumangala College Old Boys’ Association (SSCOBA), an integral part of the college is at the verge of celebrating its 100th anniversary on 28th October 2022. In lieu of this historical moment, SSCOBA has planned a number of projects for the betterment of both the present day students of our Alma Mater and the old boys.

One such activity is to install a solar power system at the college premises whilst fulfilling a social responsibility of supporting the promotion of green energy.

At present, the college consumes approximately 1,000 units of electricity a month and incurs an expense of Rs. 90,000/- on average. SSCOBA has understood that the proposed project cost would be in the range of Rs 1.6Mn to Rs 2Mn. This would be phase one of this project and based on its success, SSCOBA would plan to expand the power generation capacity through another phase.

We would like to welcome all Sumangalians to contribute to make this project a success.

Please contact Mahesh on 0762 745 213 or Ketipe on 0777 316 183 or Dhanuka on 0773 224 224 or Chamath onm0727 519 408 or for further information about the project.

Sumangalian, Major General (Retired) W. P. Palitha Fernando appointed as Secretary to the State Ministry of Disaster Management.

SSCOBA takes this opportunity to congratulate Major General Fernando on his new appointment and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors.

Sumangalian, Brigadier HPI Perera RWP RSP assumed duties as the 1st Commander of the newly established Army Headquarters Brigade at the Sri Jayewardenepura Army Headquarters premises on 07 March 2022.

SSCOBA takes this opportunity to congratulate Brigadier Perera on his new appointment and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors.

Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, celebrates its 113 year today.

The school was founded on March 3, 1909, at the Rankoth Viharaya premises Panadura, by its chief incumbent Ven. Panadura Gnanavimalatissa Thero and Mudliyar Thomas Rodrigo, P. C. H. Dias, Matthes Salgado, P. Domingo Dias, Kornelis Perera, and P. Lewis Dias, followed by Arthur Dias, N. Q. Dias, Susantha De Fonseka, Sir Leo Fernando, and many other philanthropists of Panadura.

The plot of land for the buildings of this budding institution was donated by the famous philanthropist Arthur V. Dias, between his residence and the Rankoth Vihara under the sal tree.

The school was named after the Buddhist Scholar Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero.

This educational institution which was started with 77 students had 325 students when it became a government-assisted school on May 11, 1911, and was managed by a Board of Management consisting of a manager. In 1961 it was vested in the state.

A pioneer in Buddhist Education, P. De S. Kularathne was its manager in 1943. It was a golden era of the college as there were many positive developments took place during his time.

Sri Sumangala College nurtured and molded thousands of excellent citizens such as Sir Ukwatte Jayasundare, Dr. Linton Salgado, Prof. P. E. E. Fernando, H. Jinadasa Samarakkody, Prof. Raja de Fonseka, Prof. Ranjith Ruberu, Dr. Walter Fernando, Dr. Neville Fernando, Prof. P. A. De Silva, Dr. Jayantha Ruberu, Dr. L. L. Gunarathne, Prof. Nimal Chandrasena, Sir Leo Fernando, D. W. J. Perera, Merryl Kariyawasam, P. W. M. Wijesooriya, D. G. Athukorala, Dr. Malinga Fernando, Alec Robertson, Linton Wijenayaka, W. D. Amaradeva, Premasiri Khemadasa, Prof. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, Don Arunasiri, and Dilruwan Perera to mention a few.

On August 7, 1942, all the students of the college between the 7th standard up to the H.S.C. were shifted to the buildings constructed at Nalluruwa to a land to the extent of two acres donated by Walter Salgado, one of the two brothers who were enrolled first, as students of the college. It is very important to point out that it was on March 24, 1940, that the foundation stone was laid for these buildings.

The adjoining land of about 2 1/2 acres which was donated by M. D. Fernando has been turned into the playground of the college. The audience hall of the college was made constructed and donated by Sir Leo Fernando, while P. C. M. Dias contributed largely to the construction of the laboratory. The public of the area, especially of Panadura contributed towards the construction of the buildings.

The students of Sri Sumangala Girl’s School used the laboratory of the college for their highest studies in H.S.C. classes at the initial stage.

The primary classes from Kindergarten up to six standard which had been retained at the town branch adjoining Rankoth Viharaya was headed by A. C. Morawaka, a tough disciplinarian. This branch was also shifted to Nalluruwa premises, making it one institution in 1995.

On May 25, 1993, the college was graded as a National School.

The first two to enroll as students were two brothers Walter and Richard Salgado, the sons of Matthes Salgado, one of the six founders of the college. The children of the other founders also followed suit.

The first Principal of the College was Thomas E. Gunaratne, who held the post till 1912.

The late W. S. M. Wijenayaka (Village Headman of Pohaddaramulla, Wadduwa) was also a student with Walter and Richard Salgado, U. A. Jayasundare, and Sir Leo Fernando when Thomas E. Gunaratne was the Principal succeeded by W. Charles de Silva. His sons, Walter, Sylvester, Llewellyn, and Linton Wijenayaka were also students when A. C. Morawaka was the Head Master and A. J. Fernando who was the Principal, succeeded by K. L. V. Alagiyawanna.

One-third of the college buildings were washed out on December 26, 2004, by the Tsunami. As a result, the college was shifted to the Army camp at Wekada and the camp at Wekada was shifted to the space where the college buildings were.

The college is a National Institution – a part of our national heritage and it has a powerful Old Boys’ Association which was established in 1922.

Some of the devoted eminent past teachers were Thomas E. Gunaratne, R. S. S. Gunawardane, P. De S. Kularatne, M. W. Karunananda, A. J. Fernando and K. L. V. Alagiyawanne. The present Principal of the school is Niluka Weerasinghe.

The 99th AGM of the SSCOBA was held successfully on 26th December 2021 from 0830hrs onwards at the college auditorium with a record number of attendance of old boys showing the growing interest of the OBA activities. This is considered to be a good sign for the future of OBA activities towards our Alma Mater. New office bearers were appointed for the year 2021/2022.

Mr. Mahesh Fonseka got re-elected as the President. Mr. Amila Nawalage & Mr. Dhanuka Kottahachchi were re-elected as Joint Secretaries and Mr. Dinesh Ketipearachchi was re-elected as the Treasurer.

In his welcome speech, Mr. Mahesh Fonseka briefed members about the progress of the OBA, projects carried out in 2020/2021, and thanked everyone who supported OBA in numerous ways.

The Principal, Lt. Col. L. G. P. B. Liyanagaskumbura in his speech mentioned that how he wants to give priority to English Medium education. He briefed old boys on how he has utilized college infrastructure and resources.

The meeting was attended by representatives from other affiliations of OBA including the President of Junior OBA Mr. Buddhi Perera, the President of Colombo Branch HE Sunil De Silva, and the President of Past Cricketers’ Association Mr. Saman Kumara.

A large number of distinguished old boys of various disciplines took part in the event and expressed their views constructively.

The vote of thanks was given by the Jt. Secretary, Mr. Amila Nawalage.

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