List of Nalanda College Colombo alumni

This is a list of Old Nalandians, alumni of Nalanda College Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Crest of Nalanda College, Colombo

Politicians

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National

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Name Notability Reference
Mahinda Rajapaksa President of Sri Lanka (2005-2015), Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (2004-2005, 2018, 2019-2022)
Nimal Siripala de Silva Member of Parliament - Badulla (1994–present), Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka) (2015), Leader of the House (2005-2015), Cabinet Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Legal Reforms (2015-2020), Cabinet Minister of Labour (2020-current)
Sarath Weerasekara Member of Parliament - Colombo (2020-current), Member of Parliament - Ampara (2010-2015), State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government (2020-current)
Sisira Jayakody Member of Parliament - Gampaha (2015–present), State Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Rural and Ayurveda Hospital Development and Community Health (2020-current)
Rajitha Senaratne Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine (2015–2020) Member of Parliament - Kalutara (1994–present)
Anura Priyadharshana Yapa Member of Parliament - Kurunegala (1994–present), State Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs (2015-2020)
Chandima Weerakkody Deputy speaker and chairman of committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2010-2015), Member of Parliament - Galle (2009–present)
Sujith Sanjaya Perera Member of Parliament - Kegalle (2015–present)
Gamini Jayawickrama Perera Member of Parliament - Kurunegala (2015–2020), Cabinet Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife and Minister of Buddha Sasana (2015-2020), Chief Minister of North Western Province, Sri Lanka (1987-1993)
Thilanga Sumathipala Deputy speaker and chairman of committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2010-2015) Member of Parliament - Colombo (2010 to 2015) National List (2015-2020), Vice-chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom party, State Minister for Technology and Innovation (2015-2020)
I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla Minister of Education (1965-1970)
M. D. Banda Minister of Food, Commerce and Trade (1965-1970), Member of Parliament - Maturata (1947-1960),
Dharmasena Attygalle Minister of Indigenous Medicine (1980-1982), Member of Parliament - Kesbewa (1972-1982); High Commissioner to Pakistan
M. A. Adikari Member of Parliament - Wariyapola (1956-1964)
Lal Dharmapriya Gamage Member of Parliament - Anuradhapura (1989-1994)
Weerasinghe de Silva Member of Parliament - Balapitiya (1970-1977) Member of Parliament - Galle District (1994–2000)
Indradasa Hettiarachchi Member of Parliament - Horana (1977-1989)
Kamal Karunanayake Member of Parliament - National List (1989-1994)
Chandra Gunasekera Member of Parliament - Kottawa (1970-1977)
C. A. Dharmapala Member of Parliament - Hakmana (1952-1960)
Tissa Karalliyadde Member of Parliament - Anuradhapura (1994–present)
Asoka Karunaratne Member of Parliament - Rambukkana (1960-1970, 1977–1989)
Rupa Karunathilake Member of Parliament - Bentara-Elpitiya (1977-1989); Minister of Plantations; Ambassador to Netherlands
Nirmala Kotalawala Member of Parliament - Kalutara (2004–2020)
H. R. Piyasiri Member of Parliament - Matara (1989-1994); Ambassador to Myanmar
Sarath Ranawaka Member of Parliament - Kalutara (1989-2009)
Maithripala Senanayake Member of Parliament - Medawachchiya (1947-1989); Leader of the House (1970-1977); Governor of North Central Province (1994-1998)
Wilfred Senanayake Member of Parliament - Homagama (1970-1977)
C. V. Velupillai Member of Parliament - Talawakelle (1947-1953)
Dingiri Bandara Welagedara Member of Parliament - Kurunegala (1952-1956, 1965–1970, 1977–1988), Governor of North Central Province (1988-1989)
Athula Wijesinghe Chief Minister North Western Province (2002-2013)
H. R. Wimalasiri Member of Parliament - Matara (1994-2000)

Provincial

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Name Notability Reference
Prasanna Shamal Senarath Provincial Councilor and Opposition Leader of North Western Province, Sri Lanka Council
Udena Wijerathna Provincial Councilor, Western Province

Religion

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Name Notability Reference
Piyadassi Thera Former Chief Incumbent of the Vajiraramaya Temple, Bambalapitiya, Former Sinhala Editor at the Buddhist Publication Society
Aluthwewa Soratha Thera Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University
Ananda Weerasekara Resident of Buddhangala Forest Hermitage

Academia

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Name Notability Reference
Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera Vice Chancellor of the Uva Wellassa University, Professor of Chemistry
Ranjith Premalal De Silva Vice Chancellor University of Vocational Technology, former Vice Chancellor - Uva Wellassa University
Milinda Peiris Vice Chancellor / Commandant - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Rahula Anura Attalage Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Deputy Vice Chancellor - University of Moratuwa
Mohan De Silva Professor of Surgery, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences - University of Sri Jayewardenepura
K. N. O. Dharmadasa former Professor of Linguistics, Dean of Faculty of Arts - University of Peradeniya
Chandra Embuldeniya former Vice Chancellor (Founder), Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
H. D. Gunawardhana former Professor of Chemistry, Acting Vice Chancellor and Head of Chemistry Department - University of Colombo
Abhaya Induruwa Founder, Department of Computer Science & Engineering [1], University of Moratuwa, Inaugural Endowed Professor of Computing - University of Colombo School of Computing; Internet Hall of Fame Inductee - 2014
S. D. Jayaratne Professor of Medicine - University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Kamal Karunanayake former Professor and Dean of Economics Department - Kelaniya University
Nandadasa Kodagoda former Professor of Medicine, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Medical Faculty - University of Colombo
Udaya Ranawaka Senior lecturer in Neurology, Department of Medicine - University of Kelaniya
Janaka Ruwanpura Professor of Project Management Systems, Vice Provost International
Nalin Samarasinha Senior Scientist - Planetary Science Institute (PSI), Arizona, USA
Suwanda H. J. Sugunasiri former Professor (Adjunct) - University of Toronto Canada
Athula Sumathipala Professor of Psychiatry - Keele University, Staffordshire
Mahinda Vilathgamuwa Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Ranjith Laxman Wijayawardana Senior Lecturer in Nuclear Physics - University of Peradeniya

Civil servants

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Name Notability Reference
P. Amarasinghe former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, former Chairman of People's Bank
Tissa Devendra former Chairman of Public Service Commission, Chairman of Salaries Commission
C. A. Dharmapala former Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Security Advisor to President J. R. Jayewardene
Saman Ediriweera former Secretary Ministry of Tertiary Education and Training, Secretary Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
Hemasiri Fernando Current secretary to the Ministry of Defence and chief of staff of the president, chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, former secretary to the Ministry of Postal Services, former secretary to the prime minister, former chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom, People's Bank (Sri Lanka), and the Airport and Aviation Authority, former chairman National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, (also listed in Industry and commerce)
V. C. Gunatilleke PC - former Solicitor General, Attorney General's Department
Abhaya Induruwa former acting chairman and board member of the Computer and Information Technology Council (CINTEC), Board Member Natural Resources Energy and Science Authority (NARESA)
Lincoln Perera former Secretary of Ministry of Plantation Industries, former Chairman of Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB)
M. J. Perera CCS – former Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, former Secretary Ministry of Education, first Ceylonese Director General of Radio Ceylon, founder Chairman of Rupavahini (TV) Corporation
B. D. Rampala CCS, MBE - former General Manager of the then Ceylon Government Railway (present Sri Lanka Railways), first Ceylonese Chief Mechanical Engineer of Ceylon Government Railway
Ridgeway Thilakeratne CCS - former Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, former Chairman / Director General of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Ananda Weerasekara former Vice Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services, former Director of Rehabilitation Services Prelates
Prasanna Wickramasuriya former Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka, former Special Operations Platoon Commander, Sri Lanka Army
Upawansa Yapa PC - former Solicitor General, Attorney General's Department

Military

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Army

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Name Notability Reference
Piyal Abeysekera Major-General; Deputy Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army)
Prabath Dematanpitiya Major-General; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army) (2020–present)
Prasad Edirisinghe Major-General; Rector, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Donald Hewagama Brigadier; Judge Advocate General (1967-1982)
Amal Karunasekara Major-General; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army) (2017–2018); Commandant of the National Defence College, Sri Lanka
Jeewaka Ruwan Kulatunga Major-General; Commandant Defence Services Command and Staff College; Deputy Vice Chancellor - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Ubaya Madawela Major-General; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army) (2016-2017)
Milinda Peiris Major-General; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army); Vice Chancellor / Commandant - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Samantha Sooriyabandara Major-General; Commander 53 Division; Defence Attaché Sri Lankan Embassy (USA)
Janaka Walgama Major-General; Commander Security Forces (East); Commandant Defence Services Command and Staff College
Ananda Weerasekara Major-General; Commanding Officer - North Central Province
Prasanna Wickramasuriya Colonel; Commander 1st Gajaba Battalion; Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services
Ajith Wickramasinghe Major-General; Director General Supply and Transport (Sri Lanka Army)
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Name Notability Reference
H. R. Amaraweera Rear Admiral; Director Operations (Sri Lanka Navy)
Justin Jayasuriya Rear Admiral; Commander of Eastern Naval Command
Vijitha Meddegoda Rear Admiral; Director Naval Budget
Sarath Ratnakeerthi Rear Admiral; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Navy)
Sarath Weerasekara Rear Admiral; Director General Civil Security Department
Samantha Wimalathunga Rear Admiral; Director Sri Lanka Coast Guard (2015–present)

Air Force

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Name Notability Reference
Gagan Bulathsinghala Air Chief Marshall; Commander of the Air Force (2015-2016); Ambassador to Afghanistan
Kapila Jayampathy Air Chief Marshall; Commander of the Air Force (2016–2019); High Commissioner to Malaysia
Sumangala Dias Air Chief Marshall; Commander of the Air Force (2019–2020); High Commissioner to Italy
Ruchira Samarasinghe Air Vice Marshall; Director Civil Engineering
Kapila Wanigasooriya Air Vice Marshall; Director Welfare
Chandana Welikala Air Vice Marshall; Director Administration
Prashantha De Silva Air Vice Marshall; Director Inspection and Safety
P. D. J. Kumarasiri Air Vice Marshall; Director Aeronautical Engineering
E. P. B. Liyanage Air Vice Marshall; Director General Engineering; Director Investigation and Safety
Buddhi Siriwardene Air Commodore; Base commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake

Police

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Name Notability Reference
Deshabandu Tennakoon 36th Inspector General of Police (Sri Lanka) (2024-2024)
Nilantha Jayawardena Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police; Chief of State Intelligence Service (Sri Lanka)
Sisira Mendis Deputy Inspector General of Police; Chief of State Intelligence Service (Sri Lanka)
Sumith Liyanage Deputy Inspector General of Police (?-1996)

Diplomats

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Name Notability Reference
Sumangala Dias High Commissioner to Italy
Kapila Jayampathy High Commissioner to Malaysia
Gagan Bulathsinghala Ambassador to Afghanistan
H. R. Piyasiri former Ambassador to Myanmar
Rupa Karunathilake former Ambassador to Netherlands
Dharmasena Attygalle former High Commissioner to Pakistan
Siri Perera former High Commissioner to India
A. S. P Liyanage Ambassador for Qatar, former High Commissioner to Nigerian Republic
Udayanga Weeratunga former Ambassador to Russian Federation
Jaliya Wickramasuriya former Ambassador in Washington D.C., United States of America
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Name Notability Reference
Priyantha Jayawardena President's Counsel, Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Sobhitha Rajakaruna Judge of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
V. C. Gunatilleke President's Counsel, Solicitor General of Sri Lanka (1977-1981)
Upawansa Yapa President's Counsel, Solicitor General of Sri Lanka (1996-1998)
H. L. de Silva President's Counsel, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
T. B. Dissanayake President's Counsel, former Commissioner of Assize
Siri Perera QC; High Commissioner to India [1][2]

Industry and commerce

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Name Notability Reference
Vinya Ariyaratne President of Sri Lanka Medical Association, Executive Director of Sarvodaya, lecturer in Community Medicine Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Mohan De Silva Chairman of University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka
Felix R de Zoysa founding Chairman of Stafford Motor Ltd, Stafford International School and Atlas Hall; philanthropist
Chandra Embuldeniya President, National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, CEO Informatics Group of Companies
Hemasiri Fernando Chairman of People's Bank, Sri Lanka
S. D. Jayaratne Chairman of National Medicines Regulatory Authority, former chairman of Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital, former chairman of State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka and State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC)
Dilan Jayawardane co-founder and CTO of Scoopler, software engineer at Google
A. S. P. Liyanage Chairman of ASP Group of Companies
Eastman Narangoda Chairman of George Steuart Finance, former Chairman of Seylan Bank, former CEO and General Manager of National Savings Bank
Yoga Perera Chairman and managing director of Autoland, Director Airport and Aviation Services Ltd
Thilanga Sumathipala Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket
Chandima Weerakkody former Chairman State Mortgage and Investment Bank
Ranjith Laxman Wijayawardana Chairman of Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) of Sri Lanka
Mangala Yapa Chairman of Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), former Managing Director Agency for Development of the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade in Sri Lanka, former chief executive officer and managing director of Colombo Dockyard

Authors

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Name Notability Reference
Gunadasa Amarasekara dental surgeon, writer, poet
Anura C. Perera science writer and author
Siri Perera "Siri Aiya" of Radio Ceylon
Suwanda H. J. Sugunasiri author of poetry in English
Asoka Weerasinghe Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Canada; poet, co-founder of the Gloucester Spoken Art Series in Ottawa, Canada

Artists

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Name Notability Reference
Hiran Abeysekera British theatre actor
Kamal Deshapriya actor, commentator
Senesh Dissanaike Bandara film director, television presenter
Gamini Hettiarachchi film/teledrama actor
Niroshan Illeperuma film and teledrama actor
Dhamma Jagoda theatre actor (English and Sinhala)
Henry Jayasena playwright, actor
Milinda Madugalle film actor, singer
Bandu Munasinghe first stunt director of the Sri Lankan Cinema
G. D. L. Perera actor, film director of the Sri Lankan Cinema
Ravindra Rupasena film actor of early Sinhala cinema in the 1950s
Sisira Senaratne singer
Dhammika Siriwardana film/teledrama producer, director
Ananda Weerakoon film actor of early Sinhala cinema in the 1950s
Namel Weeramuni dramatist, play producer
Tissa Wijesurendra film actor in the 1970s

Media

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Name Notability Reference
Denzil Peiris Editor of The Ceylon Observer (1961-1970)
Chitrananda Abeysekera poet, former Director of Sinhala Service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Karunaratne Abeysekera poet, songwriter, created history in the world of radio by being the first ever Sinhala cricket commentator over airwaves of Radio CeylonÄ
Premasara Epasinghe cricket commentator, private secretary and media consultant to Minister of Education, former head of public relations, Bank of Ceylon
Rajeewa Jayaweera Newspaper columnist
Srimath Indrajith Liyanage Television and radio presenter; actor
Palitha Perera former Deputy Director General (Commercial) of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, former Director of Sinhala Service Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, cricket commentator
Suwanda H. J. Sugunasiri columnist, Toronto Star, Ontario, Canada
Nalaka Vithanage theatre, television and cinema director

Sports

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Name Notability Reference
Ishara Amerasinghe former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer
Hemantha Devapriya former Sri Lanka "A" Cricket team coach
Kumar Dharmasena former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer
Sriyantha Dissanayake athlete, former Sri Lanka 100m record holder 1990, Asian Games silver medalist
Chamara Dunusinghe former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer
Yohan Goonasekera former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer, Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (1976)
Kusal Goonewardena Australian physical therapist and health lecturer
Roshan Guneratne former Sri Lanka Test cricketer
Asanka Gurusinha former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer, manager of Sri Lanka national cricket team
Milinda Jayasinghe former Sri Lankan rugby union player
Stanley Jayasinghe former all Ceylon and Leicestershire County Cricket Club cricketer
Sunil Jayasinghe former One Day International cricketer
Mahela Jayawardena former Sri Lanka Test cricket captain, Chairman Sri Lanka National Sports Council (NSC)
Shantha Kalavitigoda former Sri Lanka Test cricketer
Lalith Kaluperuma former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer; former Chairman of Selectors Sri Lanka Cricket
Sanath Kaluperuma former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer
Sumith Liyanage former Olympian boxer
Roshan Mahanama former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International Cricket Captain, Elite Panel Referee of International Cricket Council
Dilshan Munaweera Sri Lankan T20 cricketer, Sri Lanka A cricketer
Yoga Perera motor car racing champion
Prageeth Rambukwella Member of ICC International Panel of Umpires
Anura Ranasinghe former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer
Keerthi Ranasinghe former One Day International cricketer; professional Middlesex CCC cricket coach
Gihan Rupasinghe Sri Lankan T20 cricketer, Sri Lanka A cricketer
Jayantha Seneviratne represented the National Cricket Team from 1973 to 1980, Chairman of the Coaching Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket
Sachithra Serasinghe Sri Lanka A cricketer
Shammi Silva President of Sri Lanka Cricket; former president and Chairman of the Gymkhana Club; Colombo Cricket Club; former national player, manager and national coach for squash
Roy Silva first Sri Lankan to play for United States national cricket team
Ashan Priyanjan Subasinghe captain of Sri Lanka A cricket team, One Day International cricketer
P. H. D. Waidyatilleka civil engineer; Chairman of Technical Committee Asian Masters Athletics; first Sri Lankan to be appointed as an International Technical Officer (ITO) by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF); only Sri Lankan to qualify as an IAAF Lecturer
Bandula Warnapura Sri Lanka's Inaugural Test cricket captain
Priyankara Wickramasinghe former Sri Lanka A cricketer; Malaysian National Cricketer
Gamini Wickremasinghe former Sri Lanka Test/One Day International cricketer

Architects

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Name Notability Reference
Justin Samarasekera architect, past President of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science
Gamini Wijesuriya architect, archaeologist, winner of ICCROM Heritage award 2021

Medicine

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Name Notability Reference
Hudson Silva Founder President of the International Eye Bank, Tissue Bank, and the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society
Vajiranath Lakshman De Silva Founder of Saukyadana Movement of Sri Lanka
Mohan De Silva Professor of Surgery at University of Sri Jayewardenepura
P. T. De Silva President of Ceylon College of Physicians 1984; Physician
Vinya Ariyaratne Faculty of Medical Sciences at University of Sri Jayewardenepura, General Secretary of Sarvodaya
Sarath Samarage National Consultant World Health Organization, Physician, recipient of knighthood 2019
Udaya Ranawaka Professor/Senior Consultant, Lecturer Neurologist North Colombo Teaching Hospital(NCTH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya
Prasanna Gunasena neurosurgeon Lanka Hospitals, Chairman of State Pharmaceutical Company (SPC) of Sri Lanka
W. D. L. Fernando Forensic pathologist and Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) for Colombo

Other

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Name Notability Reference
Pradeep Nilanga Dela Diyawadana Nilame (Chief Lay Head or Trustee) of the Kandy Temple of the Tooth
Sarath Gunapala Manager Jet Propulsion Laboratory National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA
Indrani Iriyagolla humanitarian activist
Harischandra Wijayatunga President of Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra

References

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  1. ^ "Death of Anil Obeyesekere, PC". Dailynews.lk. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  2. ^ "Tribute to Siri Perera, QC". Dailynews.lk. 2010-02-10. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-09-10.