Kalutara Vidyalaya

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Public school in Sri Lanka

Kalutara Vidyalaya

කළුතර විද්‍යාලය

Location

Sri Lanka

Coordinates| 6°34′27″N 79°57′53″E﻿ / ﻿6.5742°N 79.9648°E﻿ / 6.5742; 79.9648
Information
Type| Public
Motto| Sinhala: දෑ සමය සුරකිනු
(Save the Race & Creed)
Established| 13 January 1941; 84 years ago (1941-01-13)
Founder| Sir Cyril de Zoysa
Principal| Pradeep Leelarathna
Grades| Primary to G.C.E. (A/L)
Gender| Boys
Age| 6 to 19
Enrollment| 3,500
Colour(s)| Dark green, light green, dark green

Alumni| Kevians
Kalutara Vidyalaya Main Building

Kalutara Vidyalaya (Sinhala: කළුතර විද්‍යාලය) is a Buddhist boys' school in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The college was founded in 1941 by Sir Cyril de Zoysa.[1][2][3] It is a national school providing primary and secondary education.[3][4][5]

## History

[edit]

In order to provide education to the Buddhist children of Kalutara district, the Kalutara Buddhist Society, led by Sir Cyril de Zoysa, tried to start a Buddhist school in Kalutara.[1][4][5]

As a result, Kalutara Vidyalaya was officially established on 13 January 1941, with 56 students and 11 teachers at the Martin Bungalow in Nagoda, Kalutara.[1] In the beginning, the college was led by P. De S. Kularatne (principal of Ananda College), J. N. Jenendradasa (principal of Nalanda College), and E. W. Adikaram (principal of Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte).[1] Later, D. D. P. Samaraweera became the first principal of the college.[3][5]

After only six months, the college became a senior secondary school.[3] At the beginning, Kalutara Vidyalaya at the Martin Bungalow was a mixed school.[1] On 7 January 1942, Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya was established in Clammily House by P. de S. Kularatne as the girls' school, with Kalutara Vidyalaya becoming a boys' school. On 18 March 1942, the Royal Air Force took over the school for their use during World War II.[1][5]

After a short break, Kalutara Vidyalaya recommenced at Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya. Sir Cyril de Zoysa noticed that it was hard to develop two schools and handed over his Brookline House to the Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya. In April 1946, the college began offering free education and was transferred across to the government.[6] In 1998, the college became a national school.[1][2][3]

Today[when?] the school has about 3,500 students and more than 120 teachers.

Sir Cyril de Zoysa Statue in Kalutara Vidyalaya

## First staff

[edit]

* D. D. P. Samaraweera – principal [5]
* Al-Haj Badurdeen – vice principal (former Minister of Education)
* A. Athukorala – first art teacher
* Prasanna 'Perry' Perera – first student [3]

## Houses

[edit]

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The boys are divided into four houses,[2] led by house captains. The houses compete in inter-house games and house colours are awarded to winners.[5] The houses are:

*   Sena (brown)
*   Tissa (red)
*   Tilaka (orange)
*   Anura (white)

## Principals

[edit]

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* 01\. D. P. Samaraweera [5]
* 02\. H. M. Darmapriya
* 03\. C. D. S. Siriwardane
* 04\. Layanal Lokuliyane
* 05\. M. B. Rathnayake
* 06\. D. A. Weerasinghe
* 07\. Dencil A. Silva
* 08\. Upali Philip Senarathne
* 09\. Gamini Goonerathne
* 10\. A. G. de Silva
* 11\. A. G. Weththasinghe
* 12\. Thanthirige D. Ariyasena
* 13\. H. Sarathchndra Silva
* 14\. P. W. Nelson Perera
* 15\. Mithrasena Ratiyala
* 16\. K. A. D. Punyadasa
* 17\. I. D. Piyarathne
* 18\. Mahanama Siriwardena
* 19\. H. M. Gunarathne
* 20\. K. Rathnaweera Perera
* 21\. H. Sarathchndra Silva
* 22\. K. I. J. Peiris
* 23\. M. Harshana Peiris
* 24\. G.W.C.Pradeep Leelarathna

## Battle of the Mangosteen

[edit]

The annual cricket encounter between Kalutara Vidyalaya and Tissa Central College, known as the "Battle of the Mangosteen" (Kevian–Tissian cricket encounter), has been held since 1949. It is the second-oldest big match between two leading Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka and the 11th longest running big match in Sri Lanka.[7][8][9]

The name "Battle of the Mangosteen" is derived from Kalutara’s reputation for cultivating mangosteen fruit, reflecting the region's agricultural identity and adding a local cultural element to the rivalry.[8]

In 1949, Herbert de Silva for Kalutara Vidyalaya and Gamini Karunaratne for Tissa Central College made history as the captains of the Battle of the Mangosteen's debut match. With Kalutara Vidyalaya succeeding in recording the victory in that match, the name of Herbert de Silva is written as the first winning captain, and the name of Kalutara Vidyalaya is written as the first winning team. The first time Tissa Central College won the match in the history of the Battle of the Mangosteen was recorded in 1958. The team is led by A. K. D. Jayaweera.[7][10]

So far, 65 matches have been played. Kalutara Vidyalaya (Kevians) has won 23 matches, and Tissa Central College (Tissians) has won 6 matches. 36 matches have resulted in draws.

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* W. D. Amaradeva – Sri Lankan vocalist, musician, violinist and musical composer.
* Tillakaratne Dilshan – Sri Lankan cricketer (former captain of the Sri Lanka national cricket team)
* Channa Jayasumana – Medical Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Rajarata University, Former Minister of Health Sri Lanka, First and only cabinet minister produced by the school.
* Somawansha Amarasinghe – former leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
* Narada Disasekara – Sri Lankan classical singer
* Raj Somadeva – professor of archaeology
* Stanley Tillekeratne – Sri Lankan politician
* Shelley Wickramasinghe – former Sri Lankan cricketer, Chairman of the National Sports Council, vice-president of Sri Lanka Cricket
* Daya Alwis – actor in Sri Lankan cinema
* Wilson Gunaratne – actor in Sri Lankan cinema
* Dulip Liyanage – former Sri Lankan cricketer
* Lalith Kaluperuma – former Sri Lankan cricketer
* Sujeewa de Silva – former Sri Lanka cricketer
* Chinthaka Jayasinghe – former Sri Lanka cricketer
* Malinga Bandara – former Sri Lankan cricketer
* Milinda Siriwardana – Sri Lankan cricketer
* Ravindra Kottahachchi – Sri Lankan cricket umpire
* Rohitha Kottahachchi – Sri Lankan cricket umpire
* Manilal Fernando – former international football official
* Hettikamkanamge Perera – Sri Lankan professional football referee
* Amila Weththasinghe – former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer
* Nadeera Nawela – Sri Lankan first-class cricketer
* Tillakaratne Sampath – Sri Lankan first-class cricketer
* Himasha Eashan – athlete
* Rangika Halwatura – youngest professor of Civil Engineering in Sri Lanka
* Pathum Nissanka – Sri Lankan cricketer

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "The History of Kalutara Vidyalaya, Sri Lanka". kalutaravidyalaya.lk.[non-primary source needed]
2. ^ a b c "KVNS | Kalutara Vidyalaya - Identity". www.kvns.lk.[non-primary source needed]
3. ^ a b c d e f "Kalutara Vidyalaya Proud History".[unreliable source?]
4. ^ a b Amunugama, Sarath (2 January 2011). "Sir Cyril did much for Buddhists of Kalutara". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
5. ^ a b c d e f g "Kalutara Vidyalaya moves forward to produce balanced personalities | The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka". The Sunday Times. 14 July 2013.
6. ^ "About the Kalutara Vidyalaya". www.kvns.lk.[non-primary source needed]
7. ^ a b Premachandra, Jagath (28 March 2019). "History of Battle of the Mangosteen - KV vs TCC". ThePapare.
8. ^ a b "KVOBA | Battle of the Mangosteen". kvoba.lk.[unreliable source?]
9. ^ "Kalutara Vidyalaya a fine cricket nursery". www.sundaytimes.lk.
10. ^ malinga (28 May 2025). "65th 'Battle of Mangosteens' ends in draw". DailyNews.

## External links

[edit]

* Old Boys Association Website

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