Bandaranayake College, Gampaha
1AB National School in Sri Lanka
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Bandaranayake College, Gampaha (Sinhala: බණ්ඩාරනායක විද්යාලය, ගම්පහ) is a boys' school in Gampaha, Sri Lanka, founded on 18 September 1918. The school has a student population approximately 6,000[when?] across 8 grades from grade 6 to advanced level classes, on a campus of 10 ha (25 acres). Boys are admitted at grade six, based on the results of an island-wide Scholarship Examination.
- Henarathgoda Seewali Buddhist School
- Henarathgoda Senior Secondary School
- Henarathgoda Secondary English School
- Kasagahawatta Maha Vidyalaya
- Bandaranayake Maha Vidyalaya
- Bandaranayake College (since 1993)
Sanskrit: "Vidwan Sarvatra Pujyate"
(Scholar is always honoured)
| Bandaranayake College, Gampaha | |
|---|---|
බණ්ඩාරනායක විද්යාලය, ගම්පහ | |
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
11000 | |
| 7.091667°N 80.005556°E | |
| Information | |
| Former names |
|
| Type | 1AB National School |
| Motto | "විද්වාන් සර්වත්ර පූජ්යතේ" Sanskrit: "Vidwan Sarvatra Pujyate" (Scholar is always honoured) |
Religious affiliation | Theravada Buddhism |
| Established | 18 September 1918 |
| Founder | Charles Samarasooriya |
| Yasodara Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha | |
School district | Gampaha District |
| Authority | Government of Sri Lanka |
Educational authority | Ministry of Education |
School code | BCG |
Principal | Sarath Bandu Gunasekara |
| Staff | 500 |
Teaching staff | 300 |
| Grades | 6 - 13 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Age range | 10 to 19 |
| Enrolment | 6,000 |
| Classes | A - J (10), A - S (19) |
Education system | National Education System |
| Language | Sinhala and English |
| Schedule | 07:30 - 13:30 (SLST) |
Hours in school day | 6 Hours |
Campus size | 10-hectare (25-acre) |
Campus type | Urban |
| Houses | |
| Colours | Navy blue and maroon |
| Song | නමදිමු බණ්ඩාරනායක විදුහල් මාතා… |
| Team name | Nayakenz |
| Alumni | Old Boys' Association |
Alumni name | Old Nayakenz |
| Website | bcg |
History
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In 1918, this school was established as Henarathgoda Seewali Buddhist School at the place where Yasodara Devi Balika Vuidyalaya is presently located. Charles Samarasooriya was the first principal of the school. In 1949, the school was established as the Henarathgoda Senior Secondary School, and then it was established as the Henarathgoda Secondary English School at its present location. When the school was established at its current location, Jinadasa Munasinghe was the principal.[1]
In 1923, this school was promoted as a first grade school.[2] It had been a mixed-sex school up to 1985, when it became a single sex (male) school. On 25 May 1993, the school was advanced to the national level as, Bandaranayake Vidyalaya.[1]
Principals
| Principal | From | To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Samarasooriya | 1918 | 1923 | |
| G. S. Selviya | 1923 | 1924 | |
| E. W. P. Samaranayake | 1925 | 1938 | |
| D. H. Silva | 1939 | 1941 | |
| K. A. Peris | 1941 | 1944 | |
| D. W. P. Samarasinghe | 1944 | 1948 | |
| M. A. R. Cooray | 1949 | 1953 | |
| Jinadasa Munasinghe | 1954 | 1968 | Established the school at its current location. |
| S. A. W. Subasinghe | 1968 | 1972 | |
| D. N. Rajapakse | 1972 | 1979 | |
| D. S. Gunapala | 1979 | 1980 | |
| E. Jayanettiarachchi | 1980 | 1982 | |
| A. J. K. Jayasundara | 1982 | 1983 | |
| P. Udugampola | 1983 | 1988 | School was converted into a boys' school in 1985. |
| P. P. D. T. Aquinas | 1988 | 1991 | |
| S. K. Mallawaarachchi | 1991 | 1992 | |
| R. M. Sumanapala | 1992 | 1998 | Elevated the college to National School status. |
| M. L. B. Peiris | 1998 | ||
| B. A. Abeyratne | 1998 | 2001 | |
| J. H. M. W. Ranjith | 2001 | 2002 | |
| W. M. J. Wickramanayake | 2002 | 2004 | |
| P. R. Nonis | 2004 | 2005 | |
| A. D. M. D. Bandara | 2005 | 2006 | |
| Labuthale Sudassana Thero | 2006 | 2012 | |
| Lal Dissanayake | 2012 | 2017 | |
| Iran Champika de Silva | 2017 | 2023 | Later became Principal of Nalanda College, Colombo |
| M. R. D. Kasun Gunarathna | 2023 | 2025 | |
| Jagath Jayakody | 2025 | His term was brief (April–July) due to administrative unrest.[3] | |
| Kusuman M. Ranasinghe | 2025 | 2026 | Acting principal |
| G. D. Sarath Bandu Gunasekara | 2026 | present | |
Media
Notable alumni
| Name | Notability |
|---|---|
| Nuwan Kulasekara | International cricket player (2003–2019) |
| H. R. Mithrapala | Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Kegalle (2004–2015) |
| Nilanka Premaratne | First-class cricket player |
| Ajith Mannapperuma | Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Gampaha (2013–2020), mayor Gampaha (2006–2009) |
| Anura Priyadharshana | Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Kurunegala (1994–2024) |
| Neil Rosayro | Deputy chief of staff (Navy) - Eastern Naval Area (2016–?) |
| Milan Jayathilaka | Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Gampaha (2020–2024) |
| K. N. O. Dharmadasa | Senior Professor |
| Udeni Rajapaksa | 19th Commander of the Air Force (2023–2025) |
| Sahan Arachchige | International cricket player (2023–present) |
| Ruwan Mapalagama | Member of Sri Lanka Parliament - Gampaha (2024–present) |
| Koyan Chamitha | First Sri Lankan to complete the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training conducted by the USN |
