How Forces opened doors to Anandians

Col. G.W. Rajapaksa was one of the most illustrious principals of Ananda College. His influence caused many Anandians to join the Forces. In the early days, the Forces' intake was mostly from the elite private schools of Colombo. Here, in an article to the Anandaya Centenary Magazine, he recalls how this situation changed and the doors of the Forces were opened to Anandians.

"When Ananda won the Governor's Cup, Principal L.H. Mettananda was ecstatic and met Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake. Mettananda asked the Premier - "will the doors of the Forces and the Police be open to Anandians at least now?"

The Prime Minister replied that he would take the top four Governor's Cup performers from Ananda to the Forces. This is how Anandians got an opportunity to serve the country by joining the Forces. Today, there are many sons of Ananda in the Forces and the Police. They are all Sinhala lions."