Founders

During early British rule in Sri Lanka, Christian missionary societies began opening up English Schools all over-the country, with the active support of the government. The move was to benefit. British rule by turning out English educated youth to man the lower levels of the bureaucracy, which was to help reduce administration costs by stopping the import of British to the lower posts. The covert aim was to perpetuate both the new religion and British rule by helping to create Western oriented Sri Lankan officials, who would help to implement British policy here.

The religions and lay Buddhist leaders of the time realized the gravity of the lasting damage the offer effects of this policy would have on the indigenous religion of the Buddhist majority and their national identity. The news of the debates and the agitation that followed about the two religions spread far and wide and Colonel. Henry Steele Olcott who got interested in them came over here in 1880 and was very soon converted to Buddhism.

All Buddhist leaders rallied round him and the Buddhist Theosophist society was formed and soon began starting Buddhist English Schools in many parts of the country including the provinces. As the Buddhists were not that affluent, well funded or organized as the Christian organizations, enthusiasm had to be created and public support of the Buddhist policy enlisted. The desire spread to Badulla too and on the initiative of Mudliyar. D.N.Gunasekera representing the Kalutara Dharmadutha Society, a similar society was set up in Badulla too, in 1886 at lower street, with the active support of Muhandiram. D.C.Kotalawala. Mr. William Jayasinghe who was a law student abandoned his law studies, returned and took over the lead to setup the Buddhist English High School which was handed over to the Dharmadutha Society in 1891.

By 1894 it was registered as a state aided school. It needed financial and other resources for its continuance and develop the philanthropy of Muhandiram. D.C.Kotalawala and Mr. D.N. Gunasekera helped ease the situation. The school underwent a name change and was named Dharmadutha College, in honor of the society which pioneered its establishment. During the time Mr.R.H.Gunawardena as English trained teacher took over as Principal and school made tremendous progress under his tutelage. By this time, the management of the school had been taken over by Sir. Henry Kotalawala on the death of his father Muhandiram. D.C.Kotalawala, He like his father was an entrepreneur, proprietary planter, social worker and politician. He was twice a member of the Legislative Council in 1921 and 1924 and was elected to both the 1′ & 2d State Councils in 1931 and 1936 respectively. His popularity with the people, his power and influence with the rulers combined with his philanthropy was ideally suited for the welfare of the school. His qualities combined with Mr. R.H.Goonewardena own sterling qualities of commitment to his job, loyalty to the school and the confidence he was able to instill in the minds of the general public, his regularity of attendance, good teaching, social discipline and love of sports worked wonders. The standard of education of sports and of discipline developed by leaps and bounds.