On July 24, the Mahinda Rajapaksa College in Homagama observed a significant moment. A noteworthy occurrence transpired when Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media, who formerly held the position of Minister of Education, and Dr. Susil Premajayantha, the present Minister of Education, convened on a shared platform to witness the transition of a departing school principal and the induction of a new principal.
The parents and children of the school likely envisioned a meeting focused solely on the promising future of the nation’s children, devoid of political considerations. On that particular day, Sarath Bandu Gunasekara was bestowed with the position of principal at Homagama Mahinda Rajapaksa College.
Elon Musk has established an innovative educational institution in the United States with the aim of fostering practical skills among students, emphasising the application of knowledge in the industrial realm rather than relying solely on theoretical learning from textbooks. This, to some extent, is also the premise and the promise behind the Homagama Mahinda Rajapaksa College, named after the former President.
The establishment of the Homagama Mahinda Rajapaksa College on a previously unoccupied Homagama land presented an opportunity for the school to make significant contributions by nurturing talented individuals who can positively impact our nation. Recognising the significance of education, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, the former Minister of Education and longstanding Chairman of the development committee for the
Homagama constituency, realised the necessity of establishing a national school in Homagama.
Consequently, he received funds from the Mahapola Trust Fund and established a mechanism aimed at directing children towards the most optimal trajectory of life, namely education.
Through collaborative efforts with Susil Premajayantha, the former Minister of Education, a robust groundwork was established to construct the school, thereby bestowing Sri Lankan children with an inventive offering that imparts a distinct educational milieu within the Sri Lankan schooling framework. There are many individuals who contributed to the construction of this educational institution during that period, as well as the enrollment of the inaugural student on January 20, 2011, under the auspices of the former Prime Minister, the late D.M. Jayaratne.
Homagama Mahinda Rajapaksa College is distinguished by its co-educational nature, facilitating the enrollment of both male and female students for secondary grades. The educational institution known as Homagama Mahinda Rajapaksa College was established with the primary objective of nurturing the intellectual capacities and talents of students, while also providing them with proper nourishment to support their physical development.
The college boasts an enrollment of approximately 7,000 students, which is actually a bigger student population than many elite Colombo schools. Three hundred female educators demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering quality education. Significantly, no children in the area now try to get into Colombo schools even if they pass the Grade 5 Scholarship examination, as the educational standards and other facilities at the Mahinda Rajapaksa College are on par with the top schools in Colombo.
This educational institution holds the distinction of being the largest secondary school in the South Asian region. The entire cohort of 763 students who participated in the General Certificate of Education (G.C.E) Ordinary Level Examination in 2021 achieved a 100 percent pass rate despite the pandemic. The school transitioned fully to an online environment during that period, so that students in nay grade did not have to miss any lessons.
In 2011, H. N. De Silva, the founding principal of Homagama Mahinda Rajapaksa School, demonstrated his commitment to enhancing the cognitive development of the students under his care through his extensive education expertise and unwavering dedication. Kasun Gunaratne served as the principal of the school in 2015. He constructed an aesthetically pleasing library within the educational institution, incorporating state-of-the-art technological advancements. In 2023, Sarath Bandu Gunasekara assumed the responsibility of enhancing the status of Mahinda Rajapaksa College.
As per a statement made by MinisterDr. Bandula Gunawardena, it is proposed that the school system should be the means through which a child, who possesses valuable qualities for the betterment of society, is produced for the society.
Irrespective of the challenges that may arise, the child’s education must not be compromised under any circumstances. The Government’s educational vision, formulated on February 17, 2013, emphasises the establishment of schools in every district of Sri Lanka, following the example set by the Mahinda Rajapaksa College in Matara. The objective is to cultivate well-rounded knowledge in children, moving away from a reliance on rote learning. Individuals entrusted with governing the nation in the future should possess a commendable capacity for enhancing societal progress.
The development of a nation necessitates the presence of individuals who possess a wealth of knowledge. Subsequently, individuals possessing aptitude and proficiency will be identified and enlisted to contribute to the betterment of the nation.
In light of this circumstance, it is imperative for individuals occupying positions of authority, such as politicians, as well as aspiring individuals from the younger generation seeking to contribute to national progress, to unite in their efforts in order to foster the development of the nation. The nation ought to be incentivized.
Sri Lanka, a nation abundant in diverse and well-distributed natural resources, is characterised by its ongoing developmental trajectory since its inception. The attainment of developed country status in the foreseeable future is contingent upon the presence of individuals who exhibit a notable absence of self-centeredness.
The citizens originating from educational institutions such as the Homagama Mahinda Rajapaksa College possess the potential to bring about transformative changes in the future. Now is the opportune moment to step forward for that purpose.
