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SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Sinhalese: , Tamil: இலங்கை; known as Ceylon before 1972) is an island nation in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India. It is home to around twenty million people.

Because of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia, and has been a center of Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times. Today, the country is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation, with more than a quarter of the population following faiths other than Buddhism, notably Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.

The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population, with Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, forming the largest ethnic minorit.Other communities include the Muslim Moors and Malays and the Burghers. Famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts and rubber, Sri Lanka boasts a progressive and modern industrial economy and the highest per capita income in South Asia.

The natural beauty of Sri Lanka's tropical forests, beaches and landscape, as well as its rich cultural heritage, make it a world famous tourist destination.After over two thousand years of rule by local kingdoms, parts of Sri Lanka were colonized by Portugal and the Netherlands beginning in the 16th century, before the control of the entire country was ceded to the British Empire in 1815.

During World War II, Sri Lanka served as an important base for Allied forces in the fight against the Japanese Empire.[4] A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century with the aim of obtaining political independence, which was eventually granted by the British after peaceful negotiations in 1948.

RAHULA COLLEGE-matara

Ralula College, Matara was established in May 1, 1923, by the Buddhist Society led by Sir. R.A.D. Gunawardana Maha Kulathunga. It is one of oldest buddhist schools. Rahula College is a National School. It provides primary and secondary education.

In 1991, Mr. F. Gorden Pearce (principal of Mahinda College, Galle), Mr. D.T.W. Rajapaksha Ralahami, Sir. R.A.D. Gunawardana Maha Kulathunga established the "Buddhists Society". On 1923 May 1st, the Buddhists Society opened a school named "Parakramabhahu Vidyalaya" , in a rented building of Main Street, Matara. Parakramabhahu Vidyalaya's motto was "May I be a true buddhist" .

Mr. Hewwabowalage Yasapala was the first student of Parakramabhahu Vidyalaya. Parakramabhahu Vidyalaya was shifted to the "Saram Mudali Walawuwa" which donated by Mr. C. A. Ordisis de Sivla, with a new name of "Rahula College".Today Rahula College is home for about 6000 students and guided by about 200 dedicated staff,led by principal Mr. Kithsiri Liyanagama.

Rahula College has been in the forefront of the the Sri Lankan national schools and considered to be one of best outstation schools in the country. Schools frequently produce large number of higher ranking students to Sri Lankan universities.

MATARA MY HOME TOWN

Matara historically belongs to the area called Ruhana, one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka (Thun Sinhalaya). First Indians who arrived to the island country according to the Mahawansa settled in the area, along the banks of Nilwala river. Matara was ruled by Sinhala kings for thousands of years and this is evident by the ancient temples and shrines built by them such as temples in Dondra (Devinuwara) and Weherahena.

The temple in the middle of the town is also built by ancient kings and now it is a very popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area. In 16th and 18th centuries Matara was ruled by Portuguese and Dutch respectively. The culture and architecture can be still seen in the area. The popular Light house in point Dondra was built by Dutch and it is considered as one of the most beautiful and oldest light houses in Sri Lanka.

The two fortresses built by Portuguese and Dutch can be found inside the city of Matara. Other important works done by Dutch are the St. Marie's church and the market place in Nupe junction.Historically people of Matara has enriched the Sinhala literature. Most famous intellects lived in the area are Kumaratunga Munidasa and Gajaman Nona. The ethnic majority of Matara is Sinhala Buddhists for thousands of years.

Later during 16th and 17th centuries Muslims arrived in to the area as traders from Persia and Arab, and their descendants coexist with Sinhalese peacefully as an ethnic minority up to date.