Anuruddha College Nawalapitiya
Though in this present from, Anuruddha College is less than a decade old, it is interesting to trace its origin to as early as 1895. It has twenty one years of total life to its credit its activities being suspended twice , and for the last time in 1918
On the 10th Octomber, 1895, a band of enthusiastic men in Nawalapitiya started the Saddharmaviwriddhi Samagama, with a view to establishing a school, where secular education would be supplemented by the teaching and the practice of the Dhamma. A site was selected, and a modest sum of Rs 600, which was collected in three weeks time acquired the land. On 20th November the building operations started , and in February 1896,the school began to function with about a hundred children. It was run on such liberal lines that the Moslem population of the town largely patronized it, and Anuruddha College today counts a good number of “Old” boys of the faith of islam, that affectionately remember their Alma Mater.
Mr.Gadie Punchihewage Cornelis de silva, one of the founders of the Society was the first Manager of the school. He gifted a valuable property to the school and to the temple, and was farsighted enough to make a proviso that the circumstance, be overlooked in the premises. When he retired from business and went to Galle, he nominated his friend Mr.Baronis, responsible officer in the Railways, as Manager. Mr.Barounis justified the trust and maintained the record of his predecessor until he left the town on transfer.
