When a section of Ananda College was shifted to Campbell Place in 1922, few would have imagined it would give birth to one of the country’s foremost institutions – Nalanda College, now a century old and still producing Sri Lanka’s finest minds and sportsmen.
Marking its centenary this week, Nalanda stands tall not just in academics, but also in the sporting arena, where cricket takes pride of place.
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The school has long punched above its weight. From being the first in the island to build an indoor basketball court, a masterstroke of foresight, to producing some of Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketers, Nalanda has always played ahead of the game.
That basketball facility, now in high demand by national, international schools and corporate teams alike, was a generous donation from an old boy. Yet, in true Nalanda fashion, he opted to remain anonymous, his identity known only to the Principal. As they say, true class doesn’t seek the spotlight. Catholic schools have much to learn from Nalanda.
On the cricketing front, the school boasts a galaxy of stars. Sri Lanka’s first Test captain, Bandula Warnapura was a Nalandian. He led the country with grit in its inaugural Test in 1982 and even earlier, masterminded a stunning World Cup win over India in 1979 with captain Anura Tennekoon injured.
But the crown jewel in Nalanda’s cricketing firmament remains Mahela Jayawardene. Elegant, eloquent and eternally dependable, Mahela went on to become Sri Lanka’s most capped cricketer and the first from the island to cross the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket. His leadership continues to earn plaudits worldwide.
Equally cherished is Roshan Mahanama, the gentleman cricketer. With a spine of steel and a heart of gold, Mahanama set benchmarks in discipline, on and off the field, that few have matched. The charities that he is involved in have been a godsend to the struggling people of both north and south of Sri Lanka. Bless him.
The foundation for such excellence was laid early. In the golden years, it was teachers who doubled as cricket masters, taskmasters, really, who nurtured raw talent with old-school rigour and values. Cricket wasn’t just a sport at Nalanda. It was a life lesson in whites.
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Nelson Mendis epitomised that ethos. His teachings went beyond cover drives and Yorkers, he taught boys how to weather life’s bouncers and play straight. His philosophy was clear: win with grace, lose with dignity and always play the game like a gentleman.
Veteran broadcaster and cricket savant Premasara Epasinghe, another pillar of Nalanda’s cricketing culture, carried the school’s ethos through both commentary box and dressing room. Before him, the baton was held by the inimitable Gerry Gunaratne, who ran the show for decades.
Then came the maverick – Jayantha Senevirathne. The fearless coach brought in a touch of flair and a dash of daredevilry. For Jayantha, a draw was a wasted afternoon. He’d rather lose chasing victory than settle for safety.
He saw potential where others saw flaws. When young Mahela kept falling to long-on catches, Jayantha didn’t clip his wings, he worked on his launch. Mahela eventually cleared the ropes with nonchalance.
Same with Dilshan Munaweera, whose square cut, a shot he played with eyes closed and wrists wide open, was getting him into early trouble. But instead of putting the shot away, they simply reworked the angles. Soon enough, Munaweera was cutting over point for sixes that whistled past fielders like tracer bullets.
That’s Nalanda for you, backing instinct, polishing natural flair and thinking outside the box. They never coached the flair out of a player. They nurtured it.
Yet, in recent years, the school has hit a lean patch. The runs have dried up, wickets haven’t tumbled in heaps and silverware has eluded the once-proud bastion.
Still, hope springs eternal. As any old hand will tell you, form is temporary, but class is permanent. A strong Nalanda invariably means a stronger Sri Lankan cricket team.
