List of alumni of Ananda College

This is a list of Anandians, alumni of the Ananda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka.


Heads of State

Heads of Government

National politics

Heads of Legislature

Name Notability Reference(s)
Anandatissa de Alwis Speaker of the National State Assembly of Sri Lanka (1977—1978), Government Minister
Karu Jayasuriya Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2015—2020), Government Minister, former Ambassador to Germany

Ministers and legislators

Current

Government benches
Name Notability Reference(s)
Dullas Alahapperuma Government Minister, Member of Parliament
Tissa Vitharana Member of Parliament, Leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Professor of Microbiology
R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara Minister of Public Administration and Management, Member of Parliament
Daya Gamage Minister of Primary Industry, Member of Parliament
Mohan Lal Grero, MP State Minister of University Education, Member of Parliament, educationists
Achala Jagodage Member of Parliament [citation needed]
Ashu Marasinghe Member of Parliament[1]
Ajith Perera Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, Member of Parliament
Arjuna Ranatunga Cabinet Minister of Ports and Shipping, Member of Parliament, former captain of the Sri Lanka national cricket team
Rajitha Senaratne Cabinet Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Dental surgeon
Opposition benches
Name Notability Reference(s)
P. Dayaratna Member of Parliament for Ampara (1989-present)
Gitanjana Gunawardena Member of Parliament [citation needed]
Nalaka Godahewa Member of Parliament for Gampaha (2020-present)
Prasanna Ranathunga Member of Parliament
Pradeep Undugoda Member of Parliament for Colombo (2020-present)

Former

Judiciary

Chief Justice
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court

Provincial and Local Government

Name Notability Reference(s)
Anandatissa de Alwis former Governor of North-Western Province
V. M. Panchalingam former District Secretary for Jaffna
Ratnasiri Rajapakse Mayor of Colombo (1991-1996), Municipal Councillor

Diplomats

Name Notability Reference(s)
J. B. Disanayake linguist, Head of the Department of Sinhala, University of Colombo, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand
Tudor Gunasekara former Member of Parliament for Mahara Electorate, District Minister for Gampaha; first Sri Lankan Ambassador to Poland, Bulgaria and Romania
Karu Jayasuriya former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Germany
Wasantha Karannagoda Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan, Secretary Ministry of Highways and Road Development, National Security Adviser, Commander of the Navy
Lalitha Rajapakse Ambassador to France; High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Warnasena Rasaputra former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States of America, France and Geneva
Gunasena de Soyza former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

Armed Forces

Army

Name Rank Notability Reference(s)
Sarath Fonseka Field Marshal Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka Armed Forces (2009), Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (2005–2009) [2]
L. P. Balagalle General Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka Armed Forces (2004–2005), Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (2000–2004)
Hamilton Wanasinghe General Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1988-1991)
Rohan Daluwatte General Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1996–1998)
Mahesh Senanayake General Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (2017-2019)
Sanjaya Wanasinghe Major General Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Armed Forces (July 2023 - Oct 2023)
Lakshman Algama Major General former Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army, former Commander of the Security Forces – Headquarters East (SF HQ (E))
Duleep Wickramanayake Major General former Commander of the Security Forces – Headquarters East (SF HQ (E))
Nanda Mallawaarachchi Major General former Chief of Staff of Sri Lankan Army
Jagath Dias Major General former Commander 57th division of Sri Lankan Army, former Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army
Kamal Gunaratne Major General former Commander 53rd division of Sri Lankan Army, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence
Gratian Silva Major General
Prasanna De Silva Major General former Commander 56th division, Special Forces Regiment, and Army Commando Regiment of Sri Lankan Army
Gotabaya Rajapaksa Lieutenant Colonel
A. P. N. C. De S. Vaas Gunawardene  † Second Lieutenant first Sri Lankan commissioned officer to be killed in action in Sri Lankan Civil War

Navy

Name Rank Notability Reference(s)
Wasantha Karannagoda Admiral of the Fleet Commander of the Navy (2005–2009) [2]
Sarath Weerasekara Rear Admiral Chief of Staff of the Navy, first Director General of the Civil Security Force

Air Force

Name Rank Notability Reference(s)
R. A. U. P. Rajapaksa Air Vice Marshal Air Force Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Air Force

Police

Name Notability Reference(s)
Osmund de Silva Inspector-General of Police (1955–1959)
Mahinda Balasuriya Inspector-General of Police (2009–2011) [3]
M. Walter F. Abeykoon Inspector-General of Police (1951–1953) [3]
Sumith Liyanage Deputy Inspector General of Police, 1960 national featherweight champion, 1960 Olympic Games competitor

Academics

Name Notability Reference(s)
K. D. Arulpragasam First Vice Chancellor of Eastern University
Charles Dahanayake Author, Professor of Physics, Dean - Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya
Chandre Dharma-wardana Scientist, Professor in Theoretical Physics Université de Montréal
D. Shelton A. Gunaratne Professor of Mass Communications Emeritus affiliated with Minnesota State University Moorhead
Saman Halgamuge Professor of Engineering and AI, University of Melbourne
Sampath Amaratunge Professor of Economics, Chairman of University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)
W. S. Karunaratne Professor in Buddhist Philosophy and Comparative Religion at Peradeniya University; Dean of the Faculty of Arts; member of Board of Regents of University of Sri Lanka
Wickremabahu Karunaratne Lecturer of Electronics at Peradeniya University; Leader of Nava Samsamaja Party
Chandratne Patuwathavithane Former Professor of Engineering; Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa
Vicumpriya Perera Professor of Mathematics, Kent State University
Bogoda Premaratne Author, Former Principal of Royal College, Colombo
Sunanda Mahendra Author, Professor of Mass Communication, University of Kelaniya
Nimal Rajapakshe Dean - Faculty of Applied Sciences Simon Fraser University, Canada; Vice-President (Research and International), Carleton University, Canada
M. P. Ranaweera Professor of Civil Engineering; Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya
V. K. Samaranayake Professor of Computer Science; Former Dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo
Karu Esselle Professor, School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Australia
Suwanda H. J. Sugunasiri Professor of Theology University of Toronto
L. H. Sumanadasa Aviator; Engineer; Educator; Former Vice Chancellor University of Ceylon; Founder of the University of Moratuwa
Stanley Wijesundera Former Professor of Chemistry; Vice Chancellor University of Colombo
Sumedha Chandana Wirasinghe Professor of Civil Engineering; Founding Dean (Emeritus) Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
G. M. Heenilame Founder of North Colombo Medical College
J. B. Disanayake Linguist, Head of the Department of Sinhala, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo
Don William Rajapatirana 3rd Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Warnasena Rasaputra Economist, 7th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Nandalal Weerasinghe Economist, 17th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Medicine

Name Notability Reference(s)
Ravindra Fernando Professor of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
Harendra de Silva Professor of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya
G. M. Heenilame founder of North Colombo Medical College, University of Kelaniya
Tissa Vitharana Professor of Microbiology
Anil Jasinghe Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health

Legal

Name Notability Reference(s)
Shiva Pasupati Former Attorney General of Sri Lanka
Yuwanjana Wijayatilake Former Attorney General of Sri Lanka
Ye Htoon Burmese Lawyer, Entrepreneur

Corporate

Name Notability Reference(s)
Nalaka Godahewa Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism; Former Managing Director of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation
Thilan Wijesinghe Former Chief of Board of Investment (Sri Lanka); Chief Executive Officer Forbes and Walker Ltd
Sandun Wijemanne Nissanka Music & Tech Entrepreneur. Current Group CEO of the music distribution franchise, Bonfire Distribution Inc.

Sports

Name Notability Reference(s)
Arjuna Ranatunga International cricket player (1982–2000); captain (1988–2000); Member of Parliament (Colombo (2001–10), Kalutara (2010–15), Gampaha (2015–present))
Marvan Atapattu International cricket player (1990–2007)
Dinesh Chandimal International cricket player (2010–present); captain (2017-–present)
Akalanka Ganegama One Day International cricket player (2001–06)
Anurudda Polonowita One Day International cricket player (2001–06)
Avishka Gunawardene International cricket player (1998–2005)
Chandika Hathurusingha International cricket player (1991–1999)
Dinuka Hettiarachchi International cricket player (2001)
Udara Jayasundera International cricket player (2015)
Thilina Kandamby One Day International cricket player (2004–2011)
Brendon Kuruppu International cricket player (1987–1991)
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara One Day International cricket player (2009–10)
Daya Rajasinghe Nadarajasingham Olympic rifle shooter (1972, 1988)
Dammika Ranatunga International cricket player (1989)
Nishantha Ranatunga One Day International cricket player (1993)
Sanjeeva Ranatunga International cricket player (1994–98)
Dulip Samaraweera International cricket player (1993–95)
Thilan Samaraweera International cricket player (2001–13) [4]
Charith Senanayake International cricket player (1991)
Sachithra Senanayake International cricket player (2013)
Ajit de Silva International cricket player (1982)
Mahela Udawatte International cricket player (2018)
Dhansiri Weerasinghe First-class cricket player (1958–1965)
Sanjeewa Weerasinghe International cricket player (1985)
Mithra Wettimuny International cricket player (1983)
Sidath Wettimuny International cricket player (1982–87)
Sunil Wettimuny One Day International cricket player (1975–79)
Hemantha Wickramaratne One Day International cricket player (1993)
Sarath Wimalaratne First-class cricket player (1965–68)
Shammu Ashan First-class cricket player (2016)
Priya Munasinghe Motor Racer; former Secretary of Sri Lanka Association of Sri Lanka [citation needed]

Engineers

Name Notability Reference(s)
B. D. Rampala Former General Manager of Ceylon Railways
L. H. Sumanadasa Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon; founder of the University of Moratuwa
R. G. de S. Wettimuny Buddhist writer; chartered engineer (mechanical and civil)
D. J. Wimalasurendra Pioneer of hydro power in Sri Lanka

Media

Name Notability Reference(s)
Titus Thotawatte former head of the children's programmes unit of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation
Nishantha Ranatunga CEO of CSN TV
Bandula Padmakumara Sri Lankan journalist, writer, former Lake House chairman
Premil Ratnayake Journalist (Lake House); writer; diplomat; former First Secretary (Press and Information) [5]
Regi Siriwardena Journalist, poet, writer, playwright
Tarzie Vittachi Journalist; former UNICEF Deputy Executive Director of External Relations

Arts

Name Notability Reference(s)
Premakeerthi De Alwis Composer; narrator
Tissa Devendra Author
Malaka Dewapriya Video artist; short filmmaker
K. A. W. Perera Director, producer, Screenplay writer
Premil Ratnayake Author; journalist
W. B. Makuloluwa Author; director
Lucky Dias Actor
Dayananda Gunawardena Playwright; actor; lyricist; radio play producer
Piyadasa Gunasekera Film actor
Nalaka Gunawardene Journalist
Bathiya Jaykody Singer
Kasun Kalhara Music director, singer, composer
Indrachapa Liyanage Singer
P. G. Punchihewa Author; Civil Servant
Sathish Perera Singer
Sunanda Mahendra Author; critic
D. B. Nihalsinghe Film director; founding CEO / General Manager of the State Film Corporation
pioneer of Sri Lankan television production
G. B. Senanayake Author
Titus Thotawatte Film director
Meemana Premathilake Poet, Journalist, Author
C. G. Uragoda Physician; author; folklorist; historian; conservationist
Wijeratne Warakagoda Actor
Jagath Wickramasinghe Singer
Thusitha Laknath Actor
Jayatilleke De Silva Author; Journalist
Dudley Wanaguru Actor
Saumya Liyanage Actor, Dean - Faculty of Graduate Studies University of the Visual and Performing Arts
Sajitha Anthony Film and TV actor

Religion

Name Notability Reference(s)
Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero Writer, Buddhist Scholar
Curuppumullage Jinarajadasa Theosophist, Author, Buddhist Scholar

References

  1. ^ "Hon. (Prof.) Ashu Marasinghe, M.P." Directory of Members. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Distinguished Old Anandians". Archived from the original on 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2015-02-13.
  3. ^ a b "Distinguished Old Anandians, Page 1". Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  4. ^ "PROFILE: THILAN SAMARAWEERA". Archived from the original on 2015-02-13.
  5. ^ "The Island". www.island.lk. Archived from the original on 2020-06-23.
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