Bandarawela Central College


Bandarwela Madya Maha Vidyalaya is a public school in Uva province, Sri Lanka which was founded in 1948 as a section of Royal College Colombo. A national school, controlled by the central government, it provides primary and secondary education. Bandarawela Central College has supplied many undergraduates from Badulla District to local universities.

History

The foundation for the establishment of the college was laid by a Japanese bomb attack on Colombo during World War II. In 1942, Forms 1 to 3 of the Royal College, Colombo were moved to Glendale Bungalow in Bandarawela, where BCC stands today. In 1944, the Royal Preparatory School was also moved to the same place; in 1948, they were moved back to Colombo.
After the departure of Royal College, a new school was established on its former premises. Beginning with a few buildings, the school grew; Glendale Bungalow was endowed to the school with its of land. In 1954, Prime Minister John Kotelawala opened the college main hall and two-storey building required by the rapid development of the college. In 1958, it was renamed Bandarawela Senior School; in 1972, Bandarawela Senior College became the Bandarwela Madya Maha Vidyalaya. In November 1986 BMMV became a national school, the only such school in Uva Province. In 1974 BMMV‘s primary school became Bandarawela Darmashoka Vidyalaya; in 1986 Dr. E. W. Adikaram Primary School, Bandarawela was established and it became the Primary of the Bandarawela Central College.

Status

The school educates nearly 4,000 primary and secondary students in Sinhala and English; students may choose their language of instruction. It is administratively divided into two sections: primary and secondary. The school provides housing for boys and girls. Its students have performed well in Ordinary and Advance Level Examinations, rating highly in provincial and island-wide rankings. BCC provides a variety of facilities, including science laboratories, an IT unit, a large playground, a library, auditoriums and sports facilities.

Houses

Students of the school are divided into four houses, named by four renowned Sri Lankan kings in the country's history:

Cricket

Golden Battle of Uva

The Golden Battle of Uva is an annual cricket Big Match played against St. Joseph's College, Bandarawela, which was first played in 1996 at the school playground. It later moved to the Bandarawela Urban Council Playground, where it was played until 2003. After a seven-year hiatus from 2004 to 2011, the match was reorganised by the school Old Boys' Association in collaboration with St. Joseph's College and held at the Bandarawela Municipal Council Ground. At the end of the match, Bandarawela Central College won the trophy for the first time in match's history.

Principals

TitleNameTerm
Mr.Amarasekar 1949
Mr.H.R. Perera1950
Mr.Percy Bouy1954
Mr.D.G.R. Abegunawardana1960
Mr.W.P.K.D. Silva1 January 1961
Mr.M.B. Rathnayake–
Mr.C. Bibile 4 June 1965 – 15 February 1966
Mr.H.W. Fernando15 February 1966 – 1 January 1967
Mr.K.V.W. De Silva1 January 1967 – 26 May 1977
Mr.D.M.P. Dissanayake6 June 1977 – 1 March 1979
Mr.P. Samaranayake1 March 1979 – 31 December 1981
Mr.D.M.M.B. Dissanayake 1 January – 1 March 1982
Mr.M.P. Alwis1 March 1982 – 23 April 1989
Mr.Gunadasa Edirisinghe24 April 1989 – 1 August 1993
Mrs.Wijelatha Gunawardana 1 August – 11 October 1993
Mr.R.M. Jayasekara11 October 1993 – 3 May 1995
Mr.A.M. Vithana4 May 1995 – 23 November 1997
Mrs.Wijelatha Gunawardana 24 November 1997 – 25 March 1998
Mr.Jayantha Wikramanayake25 March 1998 – 9 December 2002
Mr.H.K. Jayasekara9 December 2002 – 12 November 2003
Mr.K.M. Aberrathna Banda13 November 2003 – 3 April 2009
Mrs.Sunethra M. Vithana 4 April – 1 October 2009
Mr.M.M. Vimalasekara2 October 2009 – 2013
Mrs.Kalyani Widyarathne2013 - 15 October 2014
Mr.D.M.Ranathunga16 October 2014 – Present

Notable alumni

NameNotabilityReference
member parliament - Haputale, Badulla, Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province
member parliament - Gampaha
member parliament - Badulla, Chief Minister of Uva Province