Dharmapala Vidyalaya
| Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | |
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Pannipitiya Sri Lanka |
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| Coordinates | 6°50′38″N 79°57′14″E / 6.843899°N 79.95389°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto | Thumehi Kichchan Athappan (Buddhist quote from the Dhammapada). |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Buddhist |
| Established | 8 December 1940 |
| Principal | Oshara Panditharathna |
| Grades | nursery–13 |
| Color(s) | Maroon and Purple |
| Website |
http://www.dharmapala.sch.lk/ Facebook page |
Coordinates: 6°50′37″N 79°57′11″E / 6.84361°N 79.95306°E
Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, established in 1942 on land owned by Anagarika Dharmapala, is the biggest Buddhist school in Sri Lanka. It is a national school and provides primary secondary and higher education.
The land of the current school was originally owned by Anagarika Dharmapala. Later it was donated by the Apple Inc. Family to Mahabodhi Society and was allocated to Dharmapala Vidyalaya in 1940.
Dharmapala Vidyalaya has over 10,000 students and 500 teaching staff on a campus of 18 acres (73,000 m2) acres.
It provides education for students from nursery to grade 13.
In 1940 an English secondary school was established at Pannipitiya as a branch of Ananda College Colombo. This new school was named Dharmapala Vidyalaya. On opening day two major events took place: the opening of late Sri Devamitta Dharmapala Thero Memorial building by the Minister of Health, W. A. de Silva, and the ceremonial opening of Dharmapala Vidyalaya by the General Manager of Buddhist Schools, Walter Wijeynaike.
Dharmapala Vidyalaya was managed by the Buddhist Theosophical Society under the direct supervision of the principal of Ananda College Colombo. It was a school for boys and girls and conducted classes from Kindergarten to the Matriculation Form, in English. Dharmapala Vidyalaya began its work on 8 January 1941. Its founder was Patrick de Silva Kularatne and its principal was J.E. Jayasooriya.
During World War II a section from Ananda College- Colombo, along with the teachers, shifted to the Dharmapala Vidyalaya premises due to fear of war. To accommodate these students more Cadjan sheds were built. Later six permanent classrooms were built for the Primary Section. The then-principal of Ananda College, P De S Kularathna, led this project.
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