Protagonist of Ananda College
He was passionately nationalistic. he bore no grudge against the Portuguese Dutch or British who colonised the country nor their descendants for preserving their identity, manners culture
L.H. Mettananda guided the destinies of Ananda College for over ten years from November 5, 1945, to December 1955. He was a courageous protagonist who abhorred the Alien Culture at the time and valued the teaching of the Dhamma.
Born on March 19, 1894, in the Village of Kalawadumulla, Ambalangoda, he was the eldest son of L.H. Kovies De Silva, a businessman and Weerasooriya Karalinahamy. Mettananda had four brothers and one sister.
Having had his primary education at Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, he completed his secondary education at Richmond College, Galle, where he had a distinguished academic record. In 1912 he passed the Cambridge senior examination and in 1913, he successfully completed the London Matriculation examination.
In July 1930, he obtained the diploma in education from the London day training College. In 1912 he joined the tutorial staff of Sri Sumangala Boys school, Panadura and a few years later, he joined Ananda College as an assistant Teacher in 1919.
Mettananda served the Buddhist Congress as President for one year in 1934. Having stayed away from congress activities for some time, he was re-elected to the same position in Congress and contributed to creating far-reaching, revolutionary changes in our society. He believed that religion was essential for the well being of every human being.
He was passionately nationalistic. However, he bore no grudge against the Portuguese Dutch or British who colonised the country nor their descendants for preserving their identity, manners culture and language. He considered them as another race who had the right to live in their adopted land Sinhaladvipa, even though their ancestors had come as conquerors to “Civilise the heathen”
He was disdainful of those amongst the Sinhala who chose to ape the foreigners and borrowed or used their names and habits.
For Mettananda education was the panacea for all ills. In his maiden speech as President of the Buddhist Congress at the sessions, he spelt out in no uncertain terms that the future of the people lays in the restoration of Buddhist education. His call to Buddhists to rally round the Buddhist Theosophical society the pioneering organization for this purpose had a good response. For the first time in the long history of Buddhism, the sacred Tripitaka was committed to writing in the Sinhala language on Sinhala ola leaf in the Sinhala village of Aluvihare. Under his presidentship, the Buddhist Congress laid the foundation for a Tripitaka trust for Publication and distribution of a Sinhala Tripitaka.
Mettananda shunned power and fame and never acted with self-interest. His ambition was to restore to the people their rightful place. In all his dealings both public and private, he was the epitome of honesty and sincerity.
In 1949 the chief guest at the school prize giving on November 01 was the Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake. In the Principal’s report on that occasion, Mettananda asserted application of the principle of practical bias in the education of at least eighty (80%) percent of children. He also pointed out that bifurcation at 11 plus, rather than 14 plus, was desirable as adolescents who have learnt to use tools from 11 plus would learn more effectively. He felt it a pity that provision for practical education had not received adequate attention and stressed the necessity of taking it up. To make practical education a success it was advisable to abstain craft teachers from Japan, famous for its well-organized cottage industries. He was of the view that, if children were introduced to practical work at the correct age they would derive great pleasure in turning out beautiful objects with their own hands. Enabling them to lead happy and prosperous lives.
Mettananda was responsible for completing classrooms in the two main buildings viz the Buddha Jayanthi building and the Lead beater memorial building of the College. The foundation far Ananda Viharaya was also laid by him in addition, he started the parent Teacher association to help uplift and maintain the highest standards in the school.
It is an historical coincidence, that in this month of November, Ananda College celebrates its 128th Anniversary and commemorates the “fantastic fanaticism” of P. De S. Kularatne the death of Lokusathu Hewa (L.H.) Mettananda (November 01 1967), and the birth of G.P. Malalasekera (November 09) three stalwarts to whom the school and all Anandians, young and old, are beholden.