Central College (Anuradhapura)

Anuradhapura Central College (, ) is a mixed educational establishment in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Anuradhapura Central College is a national school, which provides secondary education.

History

Anuradhapura Central College is a national school located in Anuradhapura, the capital of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was established on 21 July 1947 as part of the educational reforms introduced by Minister of Education C. W. W. Kannangara, which aimed to expand access to free education through the creation of Central Colleges. The school was one of the first 54 Central Colleges and the second established in the North Central Province.

The college was initially located in the Rathmale area, where Rathmale Tissa Maha Vidyalaya now stands, and operated as a bilingual evening school. At its inception, it had three teachers and 70 students, and the first principal was R. S. L. de Soysa.

The school was later relocated to temporary premises in Saliyapura before moving in 1952 to its current site in central Anuradhapura. The land, approximately 15 acres, was allocated by the then Minister of Local Government S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. The new premises included science facilities and student hostels, with E. R. Erathne appointed as the first principal at the current location.

During the 1960s, the school began admitting students through the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. On 25 May 1993, it was designated a national school.

As of 2022, the school offers classes from Grade 6 to Grade 13, including streams in science, mathematics, arts, commerce, aesthetics, and agriculture. It also implements the 13 Years Guaranteed Education Programme introduced in 2018 and has adopted digital learning technologies in several academic streams.

The school has produced alumni who have contributed in areas such as medicine, law, engineering, public service, and the arts. The Past Pupils’ Association, founded in 1980, continues to support the school's development through infrastructure and academic initiatives.

School traditions

The college motto is 'Asamu Daramu Haesirmu', meaning "Harken Memorise Act" in Sinhala. Its nickname is "Emeralds"

School Anthem

"Namadimu baethi gee kusum puda" is the school song, which is sung at the start of the school day and on important occasions.

Sports

Anuradhapura Central College has a notable history in sports, particularly cricket, volleyball and athletics. The school has won six all-island cricket championships, including Division II and Division III titles. In 2005, the school's Under-19 girls' volleyball team became all-island champions in the DSI Supersport Schools Volleyball Championship.

Sports School

The school features an athletic academy aligned with the "sports school" concept implemented in certain remote central colleges to nurture rural talent. It offers boarding and meals to young athletes from the Anuradhapura District, with students admitted at age 13 based on their sports achievements.
The school consistently excels in district-level and provicial-level tournaments and proceed talents to all-island games. In 2023, it secured the championship title at the North-Central Provincial School Games, further solidifying its reputation as a dominant force in the region. In 2019, the athletics team secured the Boys’ Championship trophy at the North-Central Provincial Sports Meet. The school also organizes an annual inter-house track-and-field tournament.

Houses

The students are divided in to four houses, which are named after four great arahant theros. An annual track-and-field tournament among these houses is held during the first term of the academic year.
* ''Ananda ''
* ''Mahinda ''
* ''Seewali ''
* ''Rahula''

Facilities

Anuradhapura Central College includes facilities such as science laboratories, computer centers, a library, and a multi-purpose auditorium. In July 2024, a swimming pool was inaugurated by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Notable alumni

Anuradhapura Central College has produced graduates in many fields such as engineering, medicine, law, politics, education, administration, mass-media and entertainment, including:
* Shirani Bandaranayake - the first female Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
* C. M. Madduma Bandara – former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya
* Nanda Mallawaarachchi - former Secretary of Sports in Sri Lanka, Former Secretary of Law & Order in Sri Lanka, Acting Commander & 38th Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Indonesia
* Ran Banda Seneviratne - a lawyer, author, lyricist, television and radio presenter.
* Sirimevan Ranasinghe - 22nd Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka), and former Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy
* Simon Navagattegama - a Sinhala novelist, Sinhala Radio Play writer, playwright and actor.
* Chandrika de Silva – international badminton player and World Senior Champion.
* P. Harrison – former Minister of Rural Economic Affairs, Minister of Social Empowerment, and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development.
* Berty Premalal Dissanayake – former Deputy Minister of Industrial Development.
* Duminda Dissanayake - former cabinet Minister of Education Services.
* K. D. Lalkantha – current Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation (since 2024).
* Anudi Gunasekara - winner of Miss World Sri Lanka 2024; First Runner-up in the Miss World 2025 Multimedia Challenge

References

External links and sources

* {{Official website, http://www.anu-central.sch.lk/

Emeralds Club – The young past pupil association of Anuradhapura central college

Anuradhapura Sacred City

1947 establishments in Ceylon
National schools in Sri Lanka
Schools in Anuradhapura