Projects

NOSA member Mr. Roshan Yapa donated two tents to the Nalanda Scouts on 5 October 2023. The tents are purpose-suited for scouting activities, with a combined capacity to accommodate 20 scouts at a time. This contribution directly enhances the troop's readiness for camps, outdoor expeditions, and scout events — reflecting the enduring bond between the Old Scouts Association and the active scout community at Nalanda College.

NOSA member Mr. Pahan Palpita donated hiking tents to the Nalanda Scouts on 24 September 2023. Designed specifically for outdoor and trail use, these tents strengthen the troop's capability for hikes, nature expeditions, and wilderness camps equipping the next generation of scouts with the gear they need to embrace the great outdoors with confidence.

On 5 February 2023, the Nalanda Old Scouts Association (NOSA) organised and hosted a Comporee Dinner for the Nalanda College Scouts troop at the picturesque setting of Victoria Park. The occasion brought together scouts in a warm and celebratory atmosphere, honouring their participation in the Comporee and recognising their commitment to the values of scouting. The dinner reflected NOSA's ongoing dedication to supporting and encouraging the active scout troop at Nalanda College nurturing the next generation in the same traditions that shaped its own members.

Two high-quality, US-manufactured tents each measuring 15 × 12 feet were donated to Nalanda College on 26 January 2023. The tents, valued at approximately Rs. 300,000, were gifted by NOSA member Mr. Hasanjith Kurukulaarachchi as a mark of his commitment to the betterment of the school and its community. These tents serve as a lasting resource for school events, outdoor activities, and gatherings.

On 25 and 26 June 2022, Nalanda College hosted a two-day Teachers' Training Programme. As part of its ongoing support for the College, NOSA sponsored refreshments for the participants on both days of the programme.

NOSA paid its highest tribute, the "Nalanda Keerthi Sri Sammanaya" to the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sumangala Dias during its annual prize giving at Malalasekara Theater of the Nalanda College today (31 October 2019).

Dr. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, Vice Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University, attended the ceremony as a Chief Guest. The Commander received the award from Mr. Thilak Waththuhewa, Principal of the Nalalanda College in front of a full house at the Malalasekara Theater.

NOSA paid its highest tribute "Nalanda Keerthi Sri Sammanaya" to the Air Force Commander, Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala during its annual prize giving at BMICH today (28 October 2015). The Commander received the award from Hon Minister of Education Mr Akila Kariyawasam in front of houseful of Nalandians at the BMICH.

With the support of NOSA, the Nalanda College Scout Group organized a Friendship Camp aimed at fostering unity, friendship, and peace among scouts from across Sri Lanka. The camp was officially declared open by our Patron, Major General Milinda Peiris, who attended as the Chief Guest at the Nalanda College Grounds.

Held from 20th to 23rd February 2009, the camp brought together over 250 scouts from different parts of the country, including participants from the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The event provided a valuable opportunity for young scouts to build lasting friendships, promote mutual understanding, and strengthen national unity through shared experiences and activities.

The Nalanda Old Scouts Association (NOSA) organized a Friendship Camp in collaboration with a Scout Troop in Jaffna for the Nalanda Scout Troop. This marked the first scouting visits by a Southern school to Jaffna following the end of the civil war, making it a significant milestone in fostering national unity, reconciliation, and friendship.

More than 25 participants, including Scouts, Scout Leaders, Akelas, and representatives of the Nalanda Old Scouts Association, took part in this memorable event. The camp provided a valuable opportunity for young Scouts from the North and South to interact, share experiences, and build lasting friendships.

The event successfully promoted understanding, harmony, and the true spirit of Scouting, demonstrating how youth can contribute to strengthening bonds between communities across Sri Lanka.

The Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award Ceremony was held as a special feature of the Annual Prize Giving on 16th October 2008 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

The year 2008 marked the fifth consecutive presentation of the prestigious Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award, which recognizes distinguished Old Nalandians for their exceptional achievements and invaluable contributions to society.

At the 2008 ceremony, Dr. Chandana Jayaratne, Senior Lecturer in Physics at the University of Colombo, was honoured with the Nalanda Keerthi Sri Award in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions to the fields of science and academia.

Recognising how vital timely information is to the day-to-day running and decision-making of a school, NOSA set out to build an electronic database for the College, a single system to gather, store, organise, and share the important information that exists across the institution.

Now nearing completion, the system is designed to give the College's various information users quick, reliable access to the data they need, supporting smoother management and faster, better-informed decisions.

In its initial stage the database runs on a single standalone computer. From there it is to be expanded into a networked system, linking computers across different locations of the College so that information can be retrieved quickly and in an organised way wherever it is needed for both decision-making and reporting.

As part of its commitment to the students of the College, NOSA has put in place the arrangements needed to conduct sessions aimed at developing students' skills. These sessions are to be scheduled on dates that are mutually convenient for both students and teachers.

One of the most significant projects undertaken by NOSA was the establishment of a dedicated Scouts Training Area (STA) for the Nalanda College scout troop.

For several years, the troop had no proper location of its own in which to carry out training activities. Scouts and their leaders were forced to move from place to place, and the lack of permanent structures and facilities made it difficult to conduct training sessions effectively a problem keenly felt by everyone involved.

Recognising this long-standing need, NOSA identified a suitable site within the College premises and requested the Principal to allocate it for the project. The area behind the scouts' room was earmarked, and driven by the commitment of NOSA members and supported by the Scouts' Parents' Association, the much-awaited training area was brought to completion.

The troop's training activities are now conducted in this newly built STA. Looking ahead, NOSA intends to introduce a number of further improvements to the facility, once again in collaboration with the Scouts' Parents' Association.

For a long while there had been no necktie in Nalanda's colours that old boys, teachers, and parents of the College could wear on special ceremonial occasions which was a noticeable gap the Association had long wanted to fill. Having begun the groundwork the previous year, NOSA brought the project to a successful completion this year.

Manufactured in Singapore to the required standards and of exceptionally high quality, the tie, bearing the Nalanda crest and colours was formally unveiled at a ceremony held at the College on 2 November 2004, where it was presented to the Principal and the Assistant Principals.

NOSA extends its special thanks to the Nalanda Scout Parents' Committee, whose support helped make the project possible.

The foremost of the Association's projects on the year 2004 was the construction of a fully equipped multimedia language laboratory for Nalanda College, a valuable resource enabling every student to learn languages such as English and Japanese which was then handed over for the students' use.

Carried out at a total cost of Rs. 2.4 million, the language laboratory was declared open on 1 July 2004 by the Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and formally handed over to the students.

The Association gratefully and respectfully acknowledges the cooperation and dedication of the Principal throughout the project. To help make full use of the new facility, NOSA also conducted a dedicated workshop for all the English teachers of the College, providing them with the training the laboratory required.

At a cost of Rs. 375,000, NOSA was able to build and fully equip a technologically modern computer laboratory for the scouts of Nalanda College.

Furnished with up-to-date equipment including computers, printers, scanners, CD writers, a web cam, and capture cards, the laboratory was created to help every scout in the school strengthen and expand their computer knowledge and skills.

From 27 to 30 May 2004, NOSA organised a scout camp at Weli Oya for the scouts of Nalanda College. Every aspect of the camp's organisation was carried out by the Association, while the Sri Lanka Army played a major role in making the event a success.

The camp proved a memorable experience for the scouts and their leaders alike, time spent together in the outdoors and in the true spirit of scouting.

Its impact reached beyond the Nalanda troop as well: the camp also helped to strengthen and enhance scouting activities within the Weli Oya area itself, extending the spirit of the movement to the local community.

Recognizing a long-held dream of our scouts for a fully-equipped facility, our association initiated the preliminary planning for this project in 2002. Construction commenced in April 2003. We are pleased to share that by August 2003, the project was successfully completed at a cost of LKR 700,000. The result is a premier, state-of-the-art Scout Den—fully equipped to a standard matching any top school in Sri Lanka—which was proudly handed over for the students' use.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all alumni, well-wishers, and partner organizations whose generous donations and sponsorships made this achievement possible.

The 17th Anniversary of the 32nd Colombo Nalanda College Scout Troop was marked with a commemorative Friendship Camp held from 20 to 22 July 1984, organised by the Nalanda Old Scouts Association (NOSA). The camp united scouts from schools across the island (2nd Galle – Richmond College, St. Mary's College – Chilaw, 1st Negambo – Harischandra College, 17th Colombo – Open Troop, 44th Colombo – Rotary Scouts Troop, 41st Colombo – Pioneers Scouts Troop, 10th, Colombo – Ananda College, 51st Colombo – Ananda Sastralaya MV Kotte, 69th Colombo – Wellawaththa MV), fostering bonds of brotherhood and highlighting NOSA's growing role in supporting and strengthening the troop's legacy. The occasion was graced by Mr. Upali Dharmadasa, a distinguished Old Nalandian and Director of the Nawaloka Group, who attended as Chief Guest, a reminder of the lasting impact of scouting in shaping leaders of society. As part of the anniversary celebrations, an art and essay competition was also organised for the whole school.