Ananda College Principal bids farewell
Mr. S.M. Keerthiratne, Principal of Ananda College retired last Sunday.
He was offered the post of Principal at Dhramaraja College in Kandy, in 2001.
He served in this capacity for nearly 15 years.
In August 2016, Mr. Keerthiratne was recommended by the Education Ministry and was selected without an interview as Principal of Ananda College, becoming the eighth Dharmaraja Principal to become Principal of Ananda.
He entered Peradeniya University and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1984.
In 1981, he joined the tutorial staff of Ampara Dawalahinda Vidyalaya while still an under- graduate.
In 1992 was appointed principal of Nugawela Central College in Galagedera. Within three years Nugawela Central College won numerous championships in sports and produced good academic results.
He was then selected as first principal of the newly opened Ranabima Royal College.
In 2001, Mr. Keerthiratne was appointed principal of Dharmaraja College in Kandy.
The short spell of his stewardship at Ananda College from 2016 onwards, was a troubled period of the country, as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools and there were challenges faced in continuing education.
During his time, the college’s student population numbered nearly 7,000 and the school authorities decided to demolish the pas mahalabuilding and build a seven- storeyed building - the ‘sath mahala’. This ultra-modern building with many facilities for students and staff was declared open by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a distinguished old boy of the school, on February 7, 2020.
From the outset of his assuming duties as principal in August 2016 till he retired on December 26 last year, Mr. Keerthiratne had made it clear that his life’s aim and desire was not, merely the cause and progress of Buddhist education, but also the improvement of Buddhism as well.
Mr. Keerthiratne and his wife Thilanee have two sons, Udayana and Devindha.
We wish Mr.Keerthiratne and his family the best for the future.
- Meghavarna Kumarasinghe