Rahula Story
1921
The principal of Mahinda College, Galle, Mr. F.A. Pearce together with Mr. D.T.W. Rajapaksha Nothari Ralahami , Sir R. A. D. Gunawardana Maha Kulatunga established the “Buddhists Society”. This was the first step which led to the beginning of the Rahula College in the future.
1923
The society opened a school in a rented building at the the Main Street, Matara on 1st May 1923. The school was declared open by Mr. asdada as “Parackramabahu Vidyalaya”. The school’s motto stood as “May I be a true buddhist”. Mr. Hewabowalage Yasapala became the first student of the Parackramabahu Vidyalaya.
The first staff of teachers. With the first principal - Mr. G. William De Silva seated middle.
1925
The number of students stared to increase as lot of students in the area came to the Sinhala Buddhist school.
1926
For the first time in history the students were given an examination and two were awarded with Credit passes.
The Principal Mr. G. William De Silva ‘s and Mr. F. Gordan Pearce ‘s efforts to make the school a government founded was yield as the manager Mr. C. A. Ariyatilaka received a letter clamming that the school has been promoted to a government founded school.
1928
The principal Mr. G. William De Silva , started scouting for the first time, with Mr. B. D. P. de Silva as the Scout Master and the Scout Troop was formed. This became the second organized Scout Troop in the Matara district.
1931
For the first time in Rahula College, a Senior Prefect’s Literature Society was formed under the famous literature professionalist, Mr. C. Justin Wijewardana.
1932
The first pioneer of Rahula College,Mr. G. William De Silva , left the school on August 31st. On December 01 Dr. Amirthalingam (B.Sc, Ph.D) became second principal of Rahula College. At the time the school did not have a crest, so under the supervision of Dr. Amirthalingam , a crest was designed.
1933
Mr. B. P. Ariyawanasha who spent 40 years in his life as a student, teacher and a principal of Rahula College, entered the school as a student. 1933 the sports field was developed a lot.
1935
Rabindhanat Targor, a famous artist and a literature professionalist of India visited Rahula College.
1936
The Scout Troop was not in it’s normal progress and the school management and founds were getting poorer. These were the precautions of the dark years which was to come in the future. A sudden disaster fell because of the misunderstandings among principals, teachers and students. A lot of school property was destroyed. Because of this Dr. Amirthalingam had to leave the school.
“During the stormy period, most of the valuable documents had been destroyed by the mischief makers. The Very existence of the school was threatened. The registration was to be cancelled.”
In September Mr. J.R. Bhart became the acting principal of the school.
1937
On 1st February, Mr. D. J. Kumarage became the new principal of Rahula College. The Kumarage era was a dawning era. Number of students started to increase.
1938
The School Houses were renamed with names of four kings. The four houses were,
- Asoka
- Gemunu
- Parakrama
- Vijeya
1939
Senior Class’s Sinhala Development association formed.
Out of the 12 students who wrote the H.S.C. exam, 9 passed with merit.
1940
24 students passed the H.S.C. exam, and the college got the best results of the year.
1941
The Old Boys Association (OBA) was first established in the school.
Two students passed the London Mastriculasion exam and Mr. Piyanda Bandarage became the first student of Rahula College to enter the University directly form the school.(1942).
1943
The total number of school students increased up to 545.
The School anthem was composed by Mr. Ananda Samarakoon, the composer of the national anthem of Sri Lanka.
1944
The ownership of the school land was given to the management of the school.
The primary section treated as a separated part of the school.
1945
Mr. C. A. Edwin Silva and Mr. C. A. Dharmapala sold the land of 4 aches to the school at a low price of Rs.20 000. The land was then taken to establish the play ground.
1948
On 4th February – the Independence day of Sri Lanka – The principal D. J. Kumarage called for a meeting at that special morning and the national flag was hoisted.
The first stone for the The first laboratory of Matara District layed down in Rahula College.
25 years was completed as the school started in 1923 as Parakkrabahu Vidyalaya. But the Silver Jubilee was celebrated in the following year.
1949
The Silver Jubilee was celebrated and the tutorial staff was given a lunch in a famous hotel in Matara.
The “Jubilee Hall”, The first laboratory of Matara District . was opened by Mr. F.G. Pearce . Mr. & Mrs. Pearce arrived for the ceremony.
The Jubilee Hall. The first laboratory in Matara district, built for the silver jubilee of the school.
At the time the total number of students were 999.
1950
The number of students reached over one thousand (1064).
1952
Mrs. Sarah Laurencina Wijesinghe of Mirisawatta, Kamburupitiya donated the Wijesinghe Hall to Rahula College in memory of her husband Mr. F. Wijesinghe. The building was set into a laboratory and was declared open on the 24th of October by Sri Lanka’s second Prime minister Honorable Duddley Senanayake.
Mrs. Sarah Laurencina Wijesinghe laying down the first stone for the Wijesinghe Hall.
Rahula Art Association was established.
1953
19th November, Goonatilaka Memorial Hall was declared opened by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Honorable Sir John Kotelawala.
Mrs. Sarah Laurencina Wijesinghe laying down the first stone for the Goonathilaka Memorial Hall.
Goonatilaka Memorial Hall was declared opened by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Honorable Sir John Kotelawala.
The Goonatilaka Memorial was used as the main hall of the college in the past, as well as present.
The building was donated to the school by Mrs. Sarah Laurencina Wijesinghe of Mirisawatta, Kamburupitiya in memory of her beloved parents Mr. & Mrs. D. T. Goonatilaka of Hallala.
1954
16th October, the two storied Wanigasekara Hall was declared open by Governor General Sir Oliver Goonatilaka. The building was a donation of Mr. Wanigasekara.
1955
8th July, The Buddha Mandiraya was declare opened.
The Budhdha Mandira, donated by Mr. D. M. Rathnayake.
This was a donation of Mr. D. M. Rathnayake. Ambassador for Japan in Ceylon his Excellency Mr. Shiroji and the ambassador for Burma in Ceylon his Excellency U. Ba Lwin made the first offerings at the Buddha Mandiraya.
1956
This was the final year of the Kumarage era. In December 03, the last day of the school term, Mr. D. J. Kumarage retired from the school.
Read the article written by a manager of Rahula College:
Click image to enlarge..
1957
Mr. B. P. Ariyawanasha became the new principal of the school.
1958
Mr. L.A.W. de Silva the principal of the Primary section retired.
1965
The total students of the school reached up to two thousand (2010).
1971
T.I.S. Samarasuriya won the gold medal in all-island Sinhala Language Competition.
Hockey was introduced to the school.
1972
Rahula College won the overall championship at the Southern Zone School AAA Champion Track & Field meet. This was the first time a school outside Galle won this competition.
1973
28th February, Principal Mr. B. P. Ariyawanasha got a promotion and left the school.
1975
The first pioneer of Rahula College, Mr. G. William De Silva died.
The school Traffic Board was established.
45 students who sat for the A/L examination entered the university and this was a new record for Matara district.
1979
Mr. A.H. Godavitarana became the principal of Rahula College.
1980
Under the guidance of Mr. A.H. Godavitarana , a branch of the Sri Maha Bodiya was planted in the school premises by the President of Sri Lanka, Mr. J. R. Jayawardana.
26th July, the Three storied Kumarage Hall was also declared opened by Mr. J. R. Jayawardana.
1982
Basket ball was introduced to the school.
1983
Mr. P. Wijewardana became the principal.
1984
30th September, the school bell tower was donated by Mr. C. A. Hemachandra, in recognition of his brother Lieutenant Kernel Darmasena.
1986
Mr. Mahinda Jagoda became the principal.
1987
In February, Mr. N. Weerathunga became the new principal.
1989
Mr. A.M. Liyanage became the new pioneer of Rahula College.
1990
1st July, Mr. N. Ariyawansha became the new principal of the school. He took efforts to re-open the school hostel and finally it was succeeded.
1991
The Primary Section of the school was shifted to the Sudarshana Model School promises, Welegoda with the educational reconstruction by the government the Sudarshana Mobel School was administratively vested by Rahula College.
1992
Rahula College was approaching in to her Diamond Jubilee. To Celibrate this special event, a committee was established on the 29th of November. The school principal Mr. N. Ariyawansha was the chairman of the committee.
1994
An educational exhibition and a teacher felicitation ceremony was held from March 30th to April 02nd in the school premises.
A statue of Mr. D.J. Kumarage was built in memory of his great contribution in pioneering the school to success.
1997
The number of students increased up to 5000.
For the century birthday calibration of Mr. D.J. Kumarage who was the principal of the school (19937-1956), a stamp was issued. This was another special event in celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Rahula College.
10th June, Mr. Richard Pathirana laid the foundation stone for the three store Diamond Jubilee Building.
1999
9th April, The Saram Mudali Walawwa was declared a protected monument under the Antiquites Ordinance by gazette No.I075.
6th June, The three storied Diamond Jubilee building was declared opened by Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranayake, the Hon’s President of Sri Lanka and with the presence of Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, the Minister of Post & Mass media of Sri Lanka.
2005
After the Tsunami, 8 months later the CCF (Christian Children’s Fund) donated a building which was complete with a Cafeteria for the School.
2007
A three storied hostel building was donated by Neuwied, Germany and it was arranged by a old boy of the college, Mr. Sagara Abegunawardene.
2010
Mr. J.D.N. Thilaka Siri became the new principal of Rahula College.
On May, Rahula College was celebrated the 2600 Sri Sambudhdhathwa Jayanthi Vesak festival. The Rahal Puwath Media Unit was moved to the Office.
Leave a Reply