In a landmark celebration of sporting excellence, the Old Nalandians’ Sports Club (ONSC) honoured 93 distinguished Nalandians who represented Sri Lanka with pride at the “Nalanda Sports Icon of the Century” felicitation ceremony held on 24 June 2026 at Nalanda College. More than 600 distinguished guests, including sports personalities, teachers, old boys, family members of the award recipients, well-wishers and school sportsmen attended the historic occasion.
The event, organized as a flagship initiative of the College’s Centenary Celebrations, was graced by the Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, the Minister highly commended the rich sporting tradition of Nalanda College and paid tribute to generations of Nalandian sportsmen who had brought honour to Sri Lanka. He further assured his support towards the future development of sports at Nalanda College and appreciated the efforts of the Old Nalandians’ Sports Club in preserving the school’s sporting legacy.
Following an extensive fact-finding and verification exercise carried out by the ONSC, 93 sportsmen from 18 sports disciplines were identified and recognized for having represented Sri Lanka at the National level over the past century. Several departed sports heroes were honoured posthumously, with family members receiving the prestigious “Nalanda Sports Icon of the (First) Century” award on their behalf.
A commemorative name board bearing the names of all 93 Sports Icons was ceremonially unveiled at the College Main Pavilion, creating a permanent tribute to a century of sporting excellence and preserving the legacy for future generations.
Over the last hundred years, Nalanda College has produced some of Sri Lanka’s finest sporting personalities, including cricket legends Stanley Jayasinghe, Bandula Warnapura (late) and Mahela Jayawardena, Olympian sprinter Sriyantha Dissanayake, DIG (Rtd.) Sumith Liyanage in Boxing, former Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva in Squash, Sri Lanka Life Saving CEO Asanka Nanayakkara and current Sri Lanka rugby sensation Thenuka Nanayakkara, among numerous national captains and sporting leaders. Current national champions and Olympic hopefuls Dilanka Shehan in Swimming and Umayanga Mihiran in Boxing were also among the distinguished award recipients.
Welcoming the gathering, President of the Old Nalandians’ Sports Club, Mr. Dinuka Chandraratne, reflected on the invaluable contribution made by the ONSC since its inception in 1967 towards the development of sports, sportsmen and sports infrastructure at Nalanda College. He highlighted several initiatives undertaken during the Centenary year and outlined the Club’s vision and long-term plans to establish a firm foundation for the second century of Nalanda sports, calling upon past sportsmen and well-wishers to join hands in elevating the College to greater heights.
Addressing the function as an Ambassador of the Nalanda Centenary Project, former Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Mr. Mahela Jayawardena emphasized the importance of the proposed Nalanda Centennial Sports Complex & Gymnasium and appealed to all Nalandians to rally around the initiative and provide future generations with facilities that many of their predecessors never had the privilege to enjoy.
Principal of Nalanda College, Mr. Iran Champika Silva, expressed his gratitude to the Old Nalandians’ Sports Club for initiating this long overdue recognition programme and commended the efforts taken to preserve and celebrate a century of sporting excellence.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed commitment by the College and the Old Nalandians’ Sports Club to build upon the glorious legacy of the first century and to create greater opportunities for future generations of Nalandian sportsmen.
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