History of Ananda

1881 January 1^st:  The inheritance of the Sinhalese Buddhist "Sarasavi Sandaresa"

1881 February 8^th:  The arrival of Col. Olcott at Dharmopakari society Maradana Colombo.

1885 may 29^th:  The arrival of Mr. C. W. Leadbeater at "Sarasavi Sandaresa".

1886 October 22^nd:  A Buddhist English hall has established.

1886 October 23^rd:  A meeting of the Buddhist public was held at Pettah under the patronage of Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera.

1886 November 1^st:  An English Buddhist school was inaugurated at No. 61, Maliban Street.

• C. W. Leadbeater becomes the first Principal of "Ananda today".
• 37 students attended the first session
• Mr. C. W. Leadbeater inaugurated Sunday schools for the teaching of Buddhism to the schoolteachers.

1889 January 16^th:  The first prize giving was held under the patronage of Col. Olcott. Submitting of applications to the registration of schools.

1889 March:  The registration of the English Buddhist School there were 120 students.  M/s. Bath and Oliver Jams graduates of the Madras University join the teaching staff.

1889 May 27^th:  The first examination was held. The proceeds of the examination amounted to Rs.359.50 cts.

1889 August:  The shifting of the English Buddhist school from No. 61, Maliban street to a more spacious premises at No.19 Prince Street.

1889 December:  The first Anandian to pass the Cambridge junior examination was Mr. J. P. R. Weerasuriya.

1890 - Mr. A. E. Buultjens assigned as Principal.  Mr. D. A. Wittachi acted as the Principal till Mr. Buultjens assigned.

1890 March 1^st: due to the agitation of a Catholic School Principal saying that the transfer was against the educational constitution thereby shifting of the English Buddhist School from No.19 prince street to No.54 Maliban Street.

1890 October:  The second prize giving was held under the patronage of Col. Olcott at No. 54 Maliban Street.

1891 November:  C. C. Jayatissa was the first Sri Lankan to pass the Cambridge junior examination in the German language who was an Anandian.

1892 September:  Student enrollment reaches 200.

1893 November:  A building fund was inaugurated.

1892-1895 - Ven. Sri Sumangala Thera held the post of manager.

1894 - The student population rose up to 270.

1894 January 1^st:  Mudliyar Tudor Rajapaksha donated 3.2/1 acre of land from Paranawadiya to the College.

1895 August 17^th: the school known as the Pettah English Buddhist school was renamed Ananda College at Paranawadiya permanently.