Public school , independent school in Galle, Sri Lanka
Mahinda College is a Buddhist boys' school in Galle, Sri Lanka. The school was established on 1 March 1892 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott.[1] As of May 2022 it is a national school providing primary and secondary education across 13 grades.[2][3]
Main Hall of Mahinda College, which was named after Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, a retired United States army officer, came across a report of a religious debate between Buddhist monks and Christian clergy. He began to correspond with the Buddhist monks of Ceylon, eventually leading him to visit Ceylon.[4]
Olcott arrived on 17 May 1880 with Helena Blavatsky in Galle, where they converted to Buddhism at the Wijeyananda temple.[5] They founded the Buddhist Theosophical Society and set about opening up Buddhist schools such as Dharmaraja College in Kandy, Ananda College in Colombo, and Maliyadeva College in Kurunegala. With the help of John Bowles Daly, an Irish clergyman and a theosophist, Mahinda College was opened on 1 March 1892 in Galle Fort.[6] The school was named after Arahat Mahinda, the monk who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, founder of Mahinda College
John Bowles Daly, ca. 1892
Daly left after one year, followed by a number of principals serving for short periods. With the arrival of Frank Lee Woodward as principal in 1903, the average attendance of the school rose to 142 from 89.[7] Also in 1903, students took the Cambridge examination, and in July 1904, G. W. Perera won a scholarship to Cambridge. By 1905 there were 246 students attending.
Woodward had plans to relocate the college, and purchased land called “Dawatagahawatta” with a view of the Sripada (Adam's peak).[6] On 15 January 1908 the foundation stone of the Olcott hall was laid. On 1 August 1912 the new building was ceremonially opened and became the main hall of the college. With the new location, the number of students rose to 300.
In 1919, Woodward left for Tasmania to edit and translate Buddhist texts for the Pali Text Society, London.[7]
For the 60th anniversary of Mahinda College in 1952, a new physics laboratory was opened by the Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake on 12 September.
As of May 2022 the college provides education to 3,750 students from grades 1 to 13.[8] Students are divided into five groups: primary, junior, secondary, senior secondary and collegiate. The current acting principal of Mahinda College is R. S. N. Maddhumahewage. The college employs 175 teachers[8] and 30 non academic staff.
Frank Lee Woodward, the principal of Mahinda College from 1903 to 1919
- 1892–1893: John Bowles Daly
- 1894: Lovegrove
- 1895–1896: O. A. Jayasekara (Acting)
- 1897–1898: M. Balasubramaniya Mudlier
- 1898: Gordon Douglas
- 1899: O. A. Jayasekara (Acting)
- 1900: M. J. Fernando
- 1901: O. A Jayasekara
- 1902: McDougal
- 1903–1919: F. L. Woodward
- 1919–1920: Kalidas Nag
- 1920: S. de S. Jayarathna (Acting)
- 1921–1923: F. G. Pearce
- 1923–1926: W. A. Troup
- 1926–1932: P. R. Gunasekara
- 1932–1962: E. A. Wijesuriya
- 1962–1974: J.H. Gunasekara
- 1974–1975: C. K. Waidyarathnae (Acting)
- 1975–1978: B.K Silva
- 1978–1983: W. A. D. S. Gunathilake
- 1983–1987: C. K. Waidyarathnae
- 1987–1991: D. D. Jayasundara
- 1992–1994: M. Wickramasinha
- 1994–1996: D. C. N. de Silva
- 1996–2004: D. K. Athukorala
- 2004–2007: K. A. Susil Premanath
- 2007–2008: L. C. Karunasena (Acting)
- 2008–2011: R. M. Werahera
- 2011–2012: M. A. Jinadasa (Acting)
- 2012–2014: W. M. Wasantha Siriwardhane
- 2014–2021: P. M. G. Gamini Jayawardhane (Acting)
- 2021–2023: Athula Wijayawardhana
- 2023–present: R. S. N. Maddhumahewage (Acting)
Students are divided into four houses.
The houses are named after four ancient kings of Sri Lanka. Annual sporting events are held among the houses.
Flags of Mahinda College at the 103rd Lovers' Quarrel
The Lovers' Quarrel or Battle of the Lovers [9] is an annual cricket match played between the cricket teams of Mahinda College and Richmond College, Galle. The contest was started in 1905 under the principal of Richmond College, Rev. James Horne Darrel, and the principal of Mahinda College, Frank Lee Woodward.
As of 2019, Mahinda College has won 23 times, while Richmond College has won 24 times.[10] The Lover's Quarrel was last won by Mahinda College in 2008, breaking a 30-year-long deadlock of draws.[11]
- A Story of Buddhist Determination: Mahinda College, Galle; Buddhist Annual of Ceylon, Vol I (1920), No. 2, p. 29-3