This is a list of Old Nalandians, alumni of Nalanda College Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Politicians National Name Notability Reference President of Sri Lanka (2005-2015), Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (2004-2005, 2018, 2019-2022) Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Member of Parliament - Colombo (2024-present), Executive Member NPPColombo urbanisation: ‘City will be transformed to be more citizen-centric, efficient’ Member of Parliament - Kalutara (2024-present)Member of Parliament - Kegalle (2015–present) 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) Minister of Finance (2017 to 2019), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005 to 2007 and 2015 to 2017), Member of Parliament Matara (1989 - 2020), Member of Parliament - Colombo (2020-current), Member of Parliament - Ampara (2010-2015), State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government (2020-2024) Member of Parliament - Gampaha (2015–present), State Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Rural and Ayurveda Hospital Development and Community Health (2020-2024) Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine (2015–2020) Member of Parliament - Kalutara (1994–2024) Member of Parliament - Kurunegala (1994–present), State Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs (2015-2024) Deputy speaker and chairman of committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2010-2015), Member of Parliament - Galle (2009–2024) 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)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) Minister of Education (1965-1970) Minister of Food, Commerce and Trade (1965-1970), Member of Parliament - Maturata (1947-1960), Minister of Indigenous Medicine (1980-1982), Member of Parliament - Kesbewa (1972-1982); High Commissioner to Pakistan Member of Parliament - Wariyapola (1956-1964) Member of Parliament - Anuradhapura (1989-1994) Member of Parliament - Balapitiya (1970-1977) Member of Parliament - Galle District (1994–2000)Member of Parliament - Horana (1977-1989)Member of Parliament - National List (1989-1994)Member of Parliament - Kottawa (1970-1977) Member of Parliament - Hakmana (1952-1960) Member of Parliament - Anuradhapura (1994–2020) Member of Parliament - Rambukkana (1960-1970, 1977–1989) Member of Parliament - Bentara-Elpitiya (1977-1989); Minister of Plantations; Ambassador to Netherlands Member of Parliament - Kalutara (2004–2020) Member of Parliament - Matara (1989-1994); Ambassador to Myanmar Member of Parliament - Kalutara (1989-2009) Member of Parliament - Medawachchiya (1947-1989); Leader of the House (1970-1977); Governor of North Central Province (1994-1998) Member of Parliament - Homagama (1970-1977) Member of Parliament - Talawakelle (1947-1953) Member of Parliament - Kurunegala (1952-1956, 1965–1970, 1977–1988), Governor of North Central Province (1988-1989) Chief Minister North Western Province (2002-2013) Member of Parliament - Matara (1994-2000)
Provincial Name Notability Reference Provincial Councilor and Opposition Leader of North Western Province, Sri Lanka Council Provincial Councilor, Western Province
Religion Name Notability Reference Former Chief Incumbent of the Vajiraramaya Temple, Bambalapitiya, Former Sinhala Editor at the Buddhist Publication Society Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University Resident of Buddhangala Forest Hermitage
Academia Name Notability Reference Vice Chancellor of the Uva Wellassa University, Professor of Chemistry Vice Chancellor University of Vocational Technology, former Vice Chancellor - Uva Wellassa University Vice Chancellor / Commandant - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Deputy Vice Chancellor - University of Moratuwa Professor of Surgery, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences - University of Sri Jayewardenepura former Professor of Linguistics, Dean of Faculty of Arts - University of Peradeniya former Vice Chancellor (Founder), Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka former Professor of Chemistry, Acting Vice Chancellor and Head of Chemistry Department - University of Colombo 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 Professor of Medicine - University of Sri Jayewardenepura former Professor and Dean of Economics Department - Kelaniya University former Professor of Medicine, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Medical Faculty - University of Colombo Senior lecturer in Neurology, Department of Medicine - University of Kelaniya Professor of Project Management Systems, Vice Provost International Senior Scientist - Planetary Science Institute (PSI), Arizona, USA former Professor (Adjunct) - University of Toronto Canada Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Australia Senior Lecturer in Nuclear Physics - University of Peradeniya Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa, Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Chemistry, University of Colombo, alumnus of Nalanda College Colombo
Civil servants Name Notability Reference former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, former Chairman of People's Bank former Chairman of Public Service Commission, Chairman of Salaries Commission former Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Security Advisor to President J. R. Jayewardene former Secretary Ministry of Tertiary Education and Training, Secretary Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications 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) PC - former Solicitor General, Attorney General's Department former acting chairman and board member of the Computer and Information Technology Council (CINTEC), Board Member Natural Resources Energy and Science Authority (NARESA) former Secretary of Ministry of Plantation Industries, former Chairman of Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB) 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 CCS, MBE - former General Manager of the then Ceylon Government Railway (present Sri Lanka Railways), first Ceylonese Chief Mechanical Engineer of Ceylon Government Railway CCS - former Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, former Chairman / Director General of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation former Vice Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services, former Director of Rehabilitation Services Prelates former Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka, former Special Operations Platoon Commander, Sri Lanka Army PC - former Solicitor General, Attorney General's Department
Military
Army Name Notability Reference Major-General; Deputy Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army) Major-General; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army) (2020–present) Major-General; Rector, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Brigadier; Judge Advocate General (1967-1982) Major-General; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army) (2017–2018); Commandant of the National Defence College, Sri Lanka Major-General; Commandant Defence Services Command and Staff College; Deputy Vice Chancellor - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Major-General; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army) (2016-2017) Major-General; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Army); Vice Chancellor / Commandant - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Major-General; Commander 53 Division; Defence Attaché Sri Lankan Embassy (USA) Major-General; Commander Security Forces (East); Commandant Defence Services Command and Staff College Major-General; Commanding Officer - North Central Province Colonel; Commander 1st Gajaba Battalion; Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Major-General; Director General Supply and Transport (Sri Lanka Army)
Navy Name Notability Reference Rear Admiral; Director Operations (Sri Lanka Navy) Rear Admiral; Commander of Eastern Naval Command Rear Admiral; Director Naval Budget Rear Admiral; Chief of Staff (Sri Lanka Navy) Rear Admiral; Director General Civil Security Department Rear Admiral; Director Sri Lanka Coast Guard (2015–present)
Air Force Name Notability Reference Air Chief Marshall; Commander of the Air Force (2015-2016); Ambassador to Afghanistan Air Chief Marshall; Commander of the Air Force (2016–2019); High Commissioner to Malaysia Air Chief Marshall; Commander of the Air Force (2019–2020); High Commissioner to Italy Air Vice Marshall; Director Civil Engineering Air Vice Marshall; Director Welfare Air Vice Marshall; Director Administration Air Vice Marshall; Director Inspection and Safety Air Vice Marshall; Director Aeronautical Engineering Air Vice Marshall; Director General Engineering; Director Investigation and Safety Air Commodore; Base commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake
Police Name Notability Reference 36th Inspector General of Police (Sri Lanka) (2024-2024)https://www.newsfirst.lk/2024/02/29/deshabandu-tennakoon-assumes-role-of-igp Deshabandu Tennakoon assumes role of IGPhttps://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=95251 Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon appointed Acting IGP Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police; Chief of State Intelligence Service (Sri Lanka) Deputy Inspector General of Police; Chief of State Intelligence Service (Sri Lanka) Deputy Inspector General of Police (?-1996)
Diplomats Name Notability Reference High Commissioner to Italy High Commissioner to Malaysia Ambassador to Afghanistan former Ambassador to Myanmar former Ambassador to Netherlands former High Commissioner to Pakistan former High Commissioner to India Ambassador for Qatar, former High Commissioner to Nigerian Republic former Ambassador to Russian Federation former Ambassador in Washington D.C., United States of America
Legal / Judiciary Name Notability Reference President's Counsel, Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka President's Counsel, Solicitor General of Sri Lanka (1977-1981) President's Counsel, Solicitor General of Sri Lanka (1996-1998) President's Counsel, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations President's Counsel, former Commissioner of Assize QC; High Commissioner to India
Industry and commerce