Ananda College, Colombo was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. Ananda College was established by the Buddhist Theosophical Society. Originally it was known as an English Buddhist School, describing its stated intention of providing English instruction to Buddhist students who would otherwise have had to go to a missionary school in order to get an English education. The school opened with 37 students in a private house at No. 61 Maliban Street, Pettah. Mr. C. W Leadbeater was the principal. In August, 1889, the school moved to a more spacious location at No. 19 Prince Street. In 1895, it was relocated to Maradana during the period of A.E.Bultjens and was named after Arahant Ananda, the most devoted disciple of the Buddha. Asia’s first Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, on 10 November 1922, as chief guest at the annual prize giving. He declared on that occasion: ‘I acknowledge that the life of Ananda is its humility and unassuming nature.” Mahatma Gandhi visited Ananda in 1927. The school has a student population exceeding 8,000 across 13 grades from primary to secondary classes. The Ananda College resides in a 20 acres land in Maradana.
In the enchanting year of 1994, a group of spirited Anandians residing in the United Arab Emirates under the patronage of Mr. Saliya Senanayake, embarked on a remarkable journey, forming a cricket team comprising beloved alumni. From those humble beginnings, their passion and dedication have propelled us to remarkable heights. What makes our story even more extraordinary is the presence of three exceptional players who were part of the original team from the early 90s: the esteemed Prasanna Samarasinghe, the veteran Sanjeewa Karunasekara, and the remarkable Dinesh de Silva.
Since its inception in 1994, our vibrant community of Ananda College Alumni in the UAE has blossomed into a magnificent tapestry of shared experiences and unbreakable bonds. Through the years, we have united to create a haven of support and friendship, organizing countless sporting and social events that have left an indelible mark on our collective memories.
On the auspicious 1st of November 2008, under the visionary leadership of Sujeewa Karunasekara, the Ananda College Old Boys’ Association – UAE Wing came into glorious existence. With the esteemed approval for the affiliation with Ananda College Old Boys’ Association (Main OBA) in Sri Lanka, our radiant group proudly became known as the Ananda College Old Boys Association – UAE Wing (ACOBA – UAE Wing). Today, we stand united as a testament to the enduring spirit of Anandians, forever cherishing our shared heritage and celebrating the bonds that make us a treasured part of the Ananda College legacy.
The ACOBA – UAE Wing is presently engaged in supporting their Alma Mater mainly by providing scholarships to needy hostellers at the college and also participating in numerous community events conducted in the UAE. Membership of the Association is open to all past pupils of Ananda College living in the UAE.