List of Nalanda College Colombo alumni

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

Name	Notability	Reference
Mahinda Rajapaksa	President of Sri Lanka (2005-2015), Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (2004-2005, 2018, 2019-2022)
Chathuranga Abeysinghe	Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Member of Parliament - Colombo (2024-present), Executive Member NPP
Chandima Hettiaratchi	Member of Parliament - Kalutara (2024-present)
Sujith Sanjaya Perera	Member of Parliament - Kegalle (2015–present)
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)
Mangala Samaraweera	Minister of Finance (2017 to 2019), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005 to 2007 and 2015 to 2017), Member of Parliament Matara (1989 - 2020),
Sarath Weerasekara	Member of Parliament - Colombo (2020-current), Member of Parliament - Ampara (2010-2015), State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government (2020-2024)
Sisira Jayakody	Member of Parliament - Gampaha (2015–present), State Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Rural and Ayurveda Hospital Development and Community Health (2020-2024)
Rajitha Senaratne	Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine (2015–2020) Member of Parliament - Kalutara (1994–2024)
Anura Priyadharshana Yapa	Member of Parliament - Kurunegala (1994–present), State Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs (2015-2024)
Chandima Weerakkody	Deputy speaker and chairman of committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2010-2015), Member of Parliament - Galle (2009–2024)
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 (1994–2020)
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)

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

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

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 , 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

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

List of Nalanda College Colombo alumni

Politicians

National

Provincial

Religion

Academia

Civil servants

Military

Army

Navy

Air Force

Police

Diplomats

Legal / Judiciary

Industry and commerce

Art

Authors

Artists

Media

Sports

Architects

Medicine

Other

References

Wikiwand - on

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)

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

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

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