Bandarawela Central College
| Bandarawela Central College බණ්ඩාරවෙල මධ්ය මහා විද්යාලයය | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Bandarawela Sri Lanka | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto | Paraththan Patipajjatha (Pali) |
| Established | 1948 |
| Founder | Mr. Amerasekara |
| Principal | Mr. D.M. Ranathunga |
| Staff | 120 |
| Grades | Class 1 – 13 |
| Gender | Mix |
| Age | 6 to 19 |
| Enrollment | 4500 |
| Colour(s) |
Maroon and gold |
| Affiliation | Buddhist |
| Website | |
Bandarwela Madya Maha Vidyalaya (Bandarawela Central College) is a public school in Uva province, Sri Lanka which was founded in 1948 as a section of Royal College Colombo. A national school, controlled by the central government (as opposed to the Provincial Council), it provides primary and secondary education. Bandarawela Central College has supplied many undergraduates from Badulla District to local universities.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
History
The foundation for the establishment of the college was laid by a Japanese bomb attack on Colombo during World War II. In 1942, Forms 1 to 3 of the Royal College, Colombo were moved to Glendale Bungalow in Bandarawela,[7] where BCC stands today. In 1944, the Royal Preparatory School was also moved to the same place; in 1948, they were moved back to Colombo.
After the departure of Royal College, a new school was established on its former premises. Beginning with a few buildings, the school grew; Glendale Bungalow was endowed to the school with its 26 acres (11 ha) of land. In 1954, Prime Minister John Kotelawala opened the college main hall and two-storey building required by the rapid development of the college. In 1958, it was renamed Bandarawela Senior School; in 1972, Bandarawela Senior College became the Bandarwela Madya Maha Vidyalaya (Bandarawela Central College). In November 1986 BMMV became a national school, the only such school in Uva Province. In 1974 BMMV‘s primary school became Bandarawela Darmashoka Vidyalaya; in 1986 Dr. E. W. Adikaram Primary School, Bandarawela was established and it became the Primary of the Bandarawela Central College .
Status
The school educates nearly 4,000 primary and secondary students in Sinhala and English; students may choose their language of instruction. It is administratively divided into two sections: primary (grades 1–5) and secondary (grades 6–13). The school provides housing for boys and girls. Its students have performed well in Ordinary and Advance Level Examinations, rating highly[8] in provincial and island-wide rankings. BCC provides a variety of facilities, including science laboratories, an IT unit, a large playground, a library, auditoriums and sports facilities.
Houses
Students of the school are divided into four houses, named by four renowned Sri Lankan kings in the country's history:
Sports
The college provides students an opportunity to improve their sports skills, organizing annual intramural games to develop athletic skills and team spirit. Trainers and coaches are available for the games.
Sports played at the school include:
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Golden Battle of Uva
The Golden Battle of Uva is an annual cricket Big Match played against St. Joseph's College, Bandarawela, which was first played in 1996 at the school playground. It later moved to the Bandarawela Urban Council Playground, where it was played until 2003. After a seven-year hiatus from 2004 to 2011, the match was reorganised by the school Old Boys' Association in collaboration with St. Joseph's College and held at the Bandarawela Municipal Council Ground. At the end of the match, Bandarawela Central College won the trophy for the first time in match's history.
Principals
| Title | Name | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. | Amarasekar (principal, Royal College) | 1949 |
| Mr. | H.R. Perera | 1950 |
| Mr. | Percy Bouy | 1954 |
| Mr. | D.G.R. Abegunawardana | 1960 |
| Mr. | W.P.K.D. Silva | 1 January 1961 |
| Mr. | M.B. Rathnayake | – |
| Mr. | C. Bibile (acting) | 4 June 1965 – 15 February 1966 |
| Mr. | H.W. Fernando | 15 February 1966 – 1 January 1967 |
| Mr. | K.V.W. De Silva[9] | 1 January 1967 – 26 May 1977 |
| Mr. | D.M.P. Dissanayake | 6 June 1977 – 1 March 1979 |
| Mr. | P. Samaranayake | 1 March 1979 – 31 December 1981 |
| Mr. | D.M.M.B. Dissanayake (deputy) | 1 January – 1 March 1982 |
| Mr. | M.P. Alwis | 1 March 1982 – 23 April 1989 |
| Mr. | Gunadasa Edirisinghe | 24 April 1989 – 1 August 1993 |
| Mrs. | Wijelatha Gunawardana (acting) | 1 August – 11 October 1993 |
| Mr. | R.M. Jayasekara | 11 October 1993 – 3 May 1995 |
| Mr. | A.M. Vithana | 4 May 1995 – 23 November 1997 |
| Mrs. | Wijelatha Gunawardana (acting) | 24 November 1997 – 25 March 1998 |
| Mr. | Jayantha Wikramanayake | 25 March 1998 – 9 December 2002 |
| Mr. | H.K. Jayasekara | 9 December 2002 – 12 November 2003 |
| Mr. | K.M. Aberrathna Banda | 13 November 2003 – 3 April 2009 |
| Mrs. | Sunethra M. Vithana (acting) | 4 April – 1 October 2009 |
| Mr. | M.M. Vimalasekara | 2 October 2009 – 2013 |
| Mrs. | Kalyani Widyarathne | 2013 - 15 October 2014 |
| Mr. | D.M Ranathunga | 16 October 2014 – Present |
School song
Bathi kusum puda adarin samada – Obe paa namadimu dohoth naga
Oba apa Jeewaya oba apa praanaya – Bandarawela maha viduhal maatha//
Kandurali atharin thuruliya sipagena – Diwaena suwandathi mada pawane
Amuthuma sisilak genadei apahata – Obe pa yuga sewane
Bathi kusum puda...
Oba thurule hinda biwu sip kiri rasa – Apa leya ha musuwee
Hada pana ganwai theda bala nanwai – Hela wikuman mathuwee
Gunadam mini baranin apa sarasa – yahamaga me yayi nisi penwa
Oba dun owadan pana men surakimi – Divihimiyen samada
Bathi kusum puda...
Rata daya nagumata hela nama rakumata – Diri denu apahata mawni daya
Yamu yamu peratama jaya gosa nagamin – Samaya sathuta soya
Bathi kusum puda...//
Organizations
- Cadet squadron
- Interact Club
- English Learners Club
- Sinhala Literary Association
- Art Society
- Science Society
- Commerce Society
- Society of Vidunada - The Media Unit
- Drug Prevention Unit
- Scouting
- Cadet Band
Notable alumni
- W. J. M. Lokubandara – Former Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, present governor of Sabaragamuwa Province
- Vijitha Herath – Former Cultural Minister and JVP Member of Parliament[10]
- Samaraweera Weerawanni – Former Deputy Education Minister, former chief minister of Uva Province
References
- ↑ Needed: a new hostel for Royal
- ↑ A brief history of Royal College
- ↑ Learning of books and men and how to play the game
- ↑ Athula Ratnayake Elected as President of the RCOBAA
- ↑ Sacred to the memory of Principal E. L. Bradby
- ↑ History of Bandarawela Central College
- ↑ "Needed: a new hostel for Royal". http://sundaytimes.lk. 20 September 1998. Retrieved 6 April 2009.
- ↑ "Best at G.C.E Advanced Levels". http://lankasun.com. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2009. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ↑ "Shining beacon of Bandarawela Central". http://sundaytimes.lk. 4 November 2001. Retrieved 6 April 2009. External link in
|publisher=(help) - ↑ "The Hon. Ministers who held the portfolio of Cultural Affairs.". http://www.cultural.gov.lk. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2009. External link in
|publisher=(help)
Coordinates: 6°30′25″N 80°35′44″E / 6.506944°N 80.595556°E