Rahula College#Battle of Two Cities
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Rahula College
| logo =
| logo_size = 125px
| motto = {{langx|pi|අත්තානං දමයන්ති පණ්ඩිතා}}
Aththānang damayanthi pandithā
| motto_translation = A wise man controls himself
| principal = Samitha Kurukulasooriya
| type = National
| affiliation = Matara Buddhists' Society (1923)
| grades = 1–13
| students = 4000+
| established = {{Start date and age|1923|df=yes}}
| location = Matara
| city = Matara
| Rivals = Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya , St.Thomas' College Matara
| country = Sri Lanka
| coordinates = {{Coord|5.953106|80.535447|display=inline,title}}
| colors = Blue, golden orange
{{color box|#002DAC}} {{Color box|#F39314}}
| website = {{URL|rahulacollege.lk}}
}}
Rahula College ({{langx|si|රාහුල විද්යාලය|Rāhula Vidyālaya}}) is a boys' school in Sri Lanka, located in Matara district. Though it was originally a private Buddhist school, now it is run by the Government of Sri Lanka as a National School. Rahula College has two sections - the Primary section, which serves students from Grade 1 to Grade 5, and the Secondary section, which serves students from Grade 6 to Grade 13.
History
In 1921, Frederick Gordon Pearce (principal of Mahinda College, Galle), D.T.W. Rajapaksha Ralahami and Sir R. S. S. Gunawardana established the "Buddhists Society". On 1 May 1923, the Buddhists Society opened a school named Parakramabhahu Vidyalaya, in a rented building on Main Street, Matara. Parakramabhahu Vidyalaya's motto was "May I be a true Buddhist". Hewabowalage Yasapala was the first student. Parakramabhahu Vidyalaya was shifted to the "Saram Mudali Walawwa" which was donated by C. A. Odiris de Silva, with the new name of "Rahula College". C.A. Odiris de Silva's second son C.A. Ariyathilake, who also donated Matara's leading girls' school Sujatha Vidyalaya, donated this school to the government.{{cite journal |last1=Kaudagammana |first1=Rathanasara |last2=Gamage |first2=Lakmini |title=Exploring the Role of the Gaṃgārohaṇa Pūjā in Sri Lankan Religious, Social, and Political Contexts |journal=International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies |date=15 July 2023 |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=54-71 |doi=10.31357/ijms.v10i3.7574 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383037822_Exploring_the_Role_of_the_Gamgarohana_Puja_in_Sri_Lankan_Religious_Social_and_Political_Contexts |access-date=27 August 2024}}
Rahula College currently has over 4,000 students.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Rahula College Matara - Pen friends|url=https://penfriends.cambridgeenglish.org/school/25963|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Cambridge Assessment English}}
Principals
| class="wikitable" |
|
!Period !Name |
|---|
| 1st
|1923 – 1932 |G. William De Silva |
| 2nd
|1932 – 1936 |C. Amirthalingam |
| 3rd
|1936 – 1937 |J. R. Bhatt |
| 4th
|1937 – 1956 |D. J. Kumarage |
| 5th
|1956 – 1973 |B. P. Ariyawansa |
| 6th
|1973 – 1979 |B. Suriarachchi |
| 7th
|1979 – 1983 |A. H. Godavitharana |
| 8th
|1983 – 1986 |P. Wijewardana |
| 9th
|1986 – 1987 |Mahinda Jagoda |
| 10th
|1987 – 1989 |N. Weerathunga |
| 11th
|1989 – 1990 |A. M. Liyanage |
| 12th
|1990 – 1998 |N. Ariyawansha |
| 13th
|1998 – 2002 |Sarath Gunarathna |
| 14th
|2002 – 2010 |Kithsiri Liyanagamage |
| 15th
|2010 – 2016 |Nimal Dissanayake |
| 16th
|2016 –2021 |Francis Welage |
| 17th
|2021 –2023 |Sudath Samarawickrama |
| 18th
|2023 –present |Samitha Kurukulasooriya |
Primary section
Rahula Primary is located in Welegoda. It was established in 1991, at the site of the former Sudarshana Model School. There are classes from grade 1 to grade 5.
Sports
=Football=
The annual Rahula - Thomas football encounter or Battle of Golden Ensigns, is an annual football match played between Rahula College and St. Thomas' College, Matara.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=|title=Battle of the Golden Lions...|work=|url=https://www.thepapare.com/dharmapala-rahula-8th-battle-of-golden-lions-06th-april-2019-roundup/|access-date=}}
=Cricket=
In 2012 Rahula College and Dharmapala College commenced an annual match, the Battle of Golden Lions ({{lang|si|රුහුණු -මායා සටන}}). [https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2023/03/31/sports/300501/rahula-host-dharmapala-12th-battle-golden-lions-today Rahula host Dharmapala for 12th Battle of the Golden Lions today]https://stats.thepapare.com/cricket/match/rahula-college-vs-dharmapala-college-7th-battle-of-the-golden-lions rahula college vs-dharmapala college 7th-battle of the golden lions] The inaugural match was held on Uyanwatta Stadium, with Rahula College hosting the event.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Battle of Golden Lions 2012 - RahulaTV|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdGuUvvxlsQ&list=PL9182E3D72D828BBB|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=YouTube}}
Houses
There are four student houses in the college, named after historical figures in South Asia. They are:
- Ashoka : {{color box|red}}
:Named after Ashoka. The house colour is red.
- Gemunu : {{color box|blue}}
:Named after Dutugamunu. The house colour is blue.
- Parakrama : {{color box|yellow}}
:Named after Parakramabahu I. The house colour is yellow.
- Vijaya : {{color box|green}}
:Named after Prince Vijaya. The house colour is green.
Notable alumni
{{See also|Category:Alumni of Rahula College}}
Alumni of Rahula College Matara are called Rahulians.[http://www.dailynews.lk/2013/04/30/fea22.asp Rahula College, Matara:Ninety years past a stigma neutralized] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130703020307/http://www.dailynews.lk/2013/04/30/fea22.asp |date=3 July 2013 }} Following is a list of some notable alumni:
{{dynamic list}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%" |
| style="width:*;" | Name
! style="width:65%;" class="unsortable" | Notability ! style="width:*;" class="unsortable" | Reference |
|---|
| {{sortname|Nandika Sanath|Kumanayake}}
|Secretary to the President |[https://www.presidentsoffice.gov.lk/secretary-to-the-president/] |
| {{sortname|Nandalal|Weerasinghe}}
|17th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka | |
| {{sortname|D. E. W.|Gunasekera}}
| MP - National List (2004-2015), Minister of Constitutional Reform (2004-2010) | style="text-align:center;" | |
| {{sortname|Buddhika|Pathirana}}
| style="text-align:center;" | |
| {{sortname|K.|Balapatabendi}}
| Permanent Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka (1994-2003), former Chairman SriLankan Airlines | style="text-align:center;" | |
| {{sortname|Dhammika|Kitulgoda}}
| former District Judge, Secretary General of Parliament (1999–2002, 2008–2012) | style="text-align:center;" | |
| {{sortname|Gunasena|Galappatty}}
| Sri Lankan dramatist, Sinhala Radio Play writer | style="text-align:center;" | |
| {{sortname|Victor|Hettigoda}}
| Sri Lankan entrepreneur | style="text-align:center;" | |
| {{sortname|Suraj|Randiv}}
| Sri Lanka international cricketer (2010–present) | style="text-align:Centre;" |{{cite web|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=47649|title=The Island|work=island.lk}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/Australia/content/player/50438.html|title=Suraj Randiv|work=Cricinfo}}{{cite web|url=http://rahulacollege.org/sports/cricket/battle-of-two-cities-2011-message-from-the-principal/|title=Battle of Two Cities 2011: Message from The Principal.|work=rahulacollege.org}} |
| {{sortname|Pramodya|Wickramasinghe}}
| Sri Lanka international cricketer (1991-2002) | style="text-align:center;" | |
| {{sortname|Asoka|Abeygunawardana}}
| Chairman/CEO Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) | style="text-align:center;" | |
| {{sortname|Sarath|Wijesinghe}}
| Senator (1947-1965), President of the Senate of Ceylon (1962-1965) | style="text-align:center;" |[http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/02/26/fea04.asp London lawyer Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UAE] |
| {{sortname|Amara|Hewamadduma}}
| former government agent, literary figure, historian | style="text-align:center;" | |
| Tilake Abeysinghe
|Internationally reputed painter and sculptor - awarded “Cavaliere of the Order of Merit" (knighthood) by the Italian Government. |
| {{sortname|Mahinda|Yapa Abeywardena}}
| Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (February 2015 – May 2015), Minister of Agriculture (2010-2015), Minister of Cultural Affairs (2005–2010), Deputy Minister of Healthcare & Nutrition (2004–2005), Chief Minister of Southern Province (1994–2001) | style="text-align:center;" |{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana|url=https://www.parliament.lk/en/members-of-parliament/directory-of-members/viewMember/53|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Parliament of Sri Lanka}} |
| {{sortname|Isuru|Lokuhettiarachchi}}
| Actor | style="text-align:center;" | |
References
{{Reflist}}