Never growing old - renewing itself from time to time:

Sri Sumangala reaches 100 years

A. Asiri Nirmala Perera

In answer to a question raised by a friend, the six friends Mudliar Thomas Rodrigo, M. Mathes Salgado, P. C. H. Dias, M. Cornelis Perera, P. Lewis Dias and P. Domingo Dias, met the High Priest of Rankoth Vihare, Panadura, Most Ven. Walpita Gunarathanatissa Thera.

The six philanthropists explained their wish to the High Priest, to establish an English School in Panadura which would deliver an education at par with Colleges in Colombo but in a Buddhist background.

Ven. Gunarathanatissa suggested that they establish the new school in the temple premises in the name of his teacher, Most Ven. Sasanawansalankara Kavidhaja

Weligama Siri Sumangala Nayaka Thera to immortalize the name of his teacher.

Students

On March 3, 1909, Sri Sumangala College was formally established with Thomas Gunaratne as the Principal and Messrs. Philip and Michael Bharethi as assistant teachers. Seventy seven students were enrolled on the first day. The first students were Walter and Richard Salgado, the two sons of Founder M. Mathes Salgado.

As all the founders were Proprietary Planters, they allocated a considerable proportion of their income to develop the alma mater, which had become, by now their main objective.

Followed by Thomas Gunaratne Esq. a series of well-known educationists like R. S. S. Gunawardene, Abhayaseela Ginige, M. W. Karunananda, K. L. V. Alagiyawanna, Newton Fernando and D. E. Jayanetti, rendered their invaluable service to the improvement of the College. The Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, Old Boys’ Association, which has become a very powerful institution by now, was inaugurated by Abhayaseela Ginige, in 1922.

As time went on, with the increase of the student population, per student’s space reduced progressively and true to the tenets of Buddhism, Sri Sumangala had its rebirth at Nalluruwa, in a block of land donated by the First Student of the alma mater, Walter Salgado, enhanced by another block of land presented by Sisilyn Perera, the wife of one of the founders.

Main block of the quadrangle was put up with public funds collected over the years and the auditorium was a present from old boy Sir Leo Fernando and his wife. The laboratory block was an award of Mrs. P. C. H. Dias, the wife of one of the founders, in memory of her son Benjamin, lost in the second World War.

In August 1942, the upper classes of the College settled in the new building which had several classrooms added later with compliments of several members of the Board of Management.

New classrooms

With the increase of student population, more classes had to be established in new classrooms with more and more teachers joining the tutorial staff.

According to the Government takeover of schools, which took place during the principalship of Dr. K. L. V. Alagiyawanna, Sri Sumangala became a Government School.

The takeover of the College was followed by a period of inactivity towards the development of College, until old boy Dr. Neville Fernando who became a Member of Parliament gave a two storeyed building, which was opened in 1979.

The Old Boys’ Association which was in a quiescent state, awakened from its slumber and dedicated it’s energies towards the development of the College. New classrooms came up to fill the new student population and lower classes of the town branch brought in and the playground totally developed.

When the tsunami struck, the parents of students who sought the safety of their children, applied pressure to move the College to safer grounds.

Then came the Japanese Government to the rescue. Through its International Cooperation Agency, JICA, the Japanese Government allocated Rs. 390 million to build a completely new school. With the perseverance of the principal L.W. Somatilaka and the Old Boys’ Association, when the building of the Phase One of the Alma Mater was complete, it was awarded to the Student Community by the Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha together with the Japanese Ambassador, Kiyoshi Araki on September 27, 2007.

Donations

Two Buddhist Shrines donated by Old Boy B. Ranjith de Silva and by Punyakanthi de Silva, a great granddaughter of the philanthropist, Charles Henry de Soysa of Moratuwa, the former owner of the land on which the College was built and award of 16 computers to enhance the computer laboratory of the Alma Mater presented by the Old Boy Dr. Neville Fernando, a swimming pool costing at 6.5 million rupees presented by the former Governor of Lions Clubs and Deshabhimanya Rohantha de Fonseka and a lot of books valued at Rs. 1,000,000 enhanced the assets of the new College.

Spending approximately Rs. 1.5 lakhs an anonymous old boy had presented the electro plated lettering of the name of the College, affixed on the wall of the classroom block facing the entrance.

With the dawn of the Centenary, Sri Sumangala has emerged in to a ‘Golden Era’.The new school comprises 96 classrooms, 4 science laboratories for science students, two computer units, a library with new technological facilities, a sports complex with the gymnasium, 3 Aesthetics, 2 agriculture units, 2 canteens, 2 quarters for principals, water and electricity facilities and a network of internal roads. As such, Sumangala will be the Premier College in Kalutara district.

On the day of the laying of the foundation stone for the new school, the principal, L. W. Somatilaka stated that he wished Sri Sumangala to be a people’s school rather than a National School. Signs of realization of his dream are slowly materialising.

In celebration of the emerging Centenary, the Principal, together with the OBA, its Branch Organisations and the School Developing Society has organised a series of programs with the sponsorship of a number of well-wishers and organisations.

These programs commenced on November, last year will continue through March, 2009. An Alms giving to Children’s Homes, Elders Homes and an all-night Pirith ceremony was held on March 3.

Opening of the complete School Complex, and a Centenary Exhibition, the new headquarters of the OBA, inaugurated by the late Abhayaseela Ginige in 1922, the launch of ‘An Eulogy on a Centenary’ depicting the history of the College from 1909 are included in the centenary celebrations.

Variety entertainments, sport competitions, ‘Warriors’ and ‘Students’ days, spread throughout the month of March and end with the annual prize giving.

The guidance and cooperation of the principal in the projects implemented by the SSCOBA, is highly valued, specially the struggle, the Principal carried out to establish Sri Sumangala College in Wekada, in association with SSCOBA, is unforgettable and will be written in Gold in the History of Sri Sumangala.

May the Alma Mater and SSCOBA live long to be National Institutions.