First Buddhist school on verge of collapse:

Time ripe to rebuild education

Priyanka Kurugala

Sri Piyaratana Vidyalaya in Dodandoova, is one of the symbols of the nationalist movement which our patriotic leaders launched against the British empire. Being the first Buddhist school in the country Sri Piyaratana Vidyalaya gifted several eminent citizens to the country. One of its old boys was attached to the NASA in the United States. It was the alma mater of many doctors and engineers produced under the direction and patronage of people and various benefactors. Famous literetti and a pioneer of the nationalist movement Ven S. Mahinda Thera was also a past pupil of this school.

Leaving its glory and pride to the days gone by, today, the school faces only crisis and decay. The decaying and cracked walls have lost all the strength and lustre it had during its prime years but today, only stand testimony to the present plight of the school.

Education authorities seem to have turned a blind eye to the dismal and ramshackle state of the school. About 10 years ago, the Advanced Level classes were halted.

There are only 116 students and 16 teachers. Today, the school is almost on the verge of closing down. It is time the authorities act to protect this national heritage for future generations.

Former Cultural Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath declared the school a national heritage on December 12, 2004, on the birth anniversary of its founder Ven Sri Piyaratana Tissa Thera.

On March 14, 2005, authorities informed the Ambalangoda Divisional Education Director to close the school to make alternative shelters for the tsunami displaced at the school site. The order was implemented. However, informed by Principal Y Seelawathi, villagers protested the order under the leadership of Amarajeeva de Silva Rajakaruna, the main organizer for the protection project of the school. Consequently, the authorities decided to reverse the order.

Founder of Sri Piyaratana Vidyalaya Ven Dodandoowa Piyaratana Tissa Thera established the school to promote Buddhist education in face of numerous challenges from Catholic missionaries at that time.

First, the school was located in the premises of Saila Bimbaramaya in Dodandoowa. Jinalabdhi Visodaka was the school’s first name. Ven Piyaratna Thera was the Chief Incumbent of the Saila Bimbaramaya .

In 1883, the Thera was appointed Head of the Sri Kalyanawansa Chapter. After the famous religious debate - the Panaduravadaya, Col Henry Steele Olcott came to Sri Lanka and Ven Dodandoowe Piyaratana Tissa Thera administrated Pansil. A postal stamp valued at 60 cents was issued by the Postal Ministry on May, 22 1984 in honour of Ven Dodandoowe Piyaratana Tissa Thera. Col Olcott donated several equipment to the school. He gifted a valuable projector with 8mm film rollers. It was the first projector brought to Sri Lanka. A number of books were also donated by Col Olcott.

This school library was the best-equipped library in the South. But due to negligence of the school authorities, most of these gifts have disappeared. It is said that the film projector was sold for Rs 400. And some copper pots were also auctioned by the school authorities.

Retired Principal DD de S Rajakaruna is a native of Ratgama and an old boy of the school. He and his son Amarajeewa de Silva Rajakaruna are taking great interest in the school. They said, the school does not have a Principal. They expect to rebuild Sri Piyaratana Vidyalaya and provide education facilities.

Today, the school has very poor education resources. It does not have adequate buildings and other learning/ teaching facilities.

The villagers request the school to be vested in the Central Government. They say if the Government provides educational facilities, children will be motivated to enter the school. “The ideal time has come to rebuild Sri Piyaratana Vidyalaya coinciding with the commemoration of the Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi”, Rajakaruna told the Daily News.

It is the duty of the authorities to turn back and heed people’s voice. It is the best way to rebuild national heritages such as Sri Piyaratana Vidyalaya.