Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda
Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda , also known as “Veyangoda Central College ”, is a National school in Sri Lanka. The school was originally one of the three first Central Colleges established under the education reforms of late Hon. C. W. W. Kannangara, who introduced free education in Sri Lanka. Today about 2640 students are studying from grade 6 to 13 and academic staff of 135 are engaged in the teaching process. It is one of the schools with highest academic performance in Gampaha district with 100% O/L passes and over 75% university entrances from A/L each year.HistoryC.W.W Kannangara was Sri Lanka's first Minister of Education.<ref name='st-10/8/06-groe'></ref> On the 6th of January 1941 three central colleges, Veyangoda, Akuramboda, and Weeraketiya were opened by C.W.W Kannangara, Sri Lanka's first Minister of Education. Veyangoda Central College was created by joining three schools. They are Veyangoda Swabasha Patashalawa (Sinhala school), English school and Paththalagethara School which were in the same place where the President College, Veyangoda situated today, in the middle of Veyangoda town.Later the school was moved into Maligathanna Watta and first building was opened by Mr.D.S. Senanayaka on 3 September 1951.The school originally had 20 class rooms and two hostels, one for girls and one for boys, and two buildings for Home science and Vocational Training. Now there are 51 class rooms, an agriculture unit, a computer resource center and a computer lab in the school.The College TodayToday the school educates close to 3000 students. To accomplish this task the school is fully equipped with all the required facilities such as lecture halls, science & computer laboratories, auditoriums etc. This includes the 'College Hall' which is looks like a national theatre. For many years the school has maintained an excellent academic record with its students archiving the highest grades at all national exams held annually. The main medium of education had been English, however with Sinhala becoming the official language. Since 2002 English has been reintroduced as a medium of education at the College. Students may select one of the two mediums to conduct their studies in.
