Henry Steel Olcott, an American Theosophist and Madam Helena P. Blavatsky,a Russian author and Theosophist, inspired by the message of Buddhism disseminated by the ‘Panadura Debate’ of August, 1873, arrived in Sri Lanka on 17th May, 1880, and proclaimed themselves Buddhist by observing Thisarana Paanchaseela. After the formation of Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society on 17th June 1880 the premis
es No.54,Maliban Street ,Colombo has been bought by the society in 1985. Olcott continued his social activities until his last days in this premises. The First English School also started in this premises and Mr. Lead Be**er was the first principal.This school was shifted to Maradana where present day Ananda College which becomes one of the formost colleges in Sri Lanka. The "Bauddha Mandiraya", the epic center was constructed and formally opened on 28th January 1929 by His Excellency Sir Herbert Stanley Governor of Ceylon.Up to now there have been 29 Presidents who have rendered yeoman services. WHEARE AS the said theosophists, perceiving the need for the upliftment of the people’s self- esteem in collaboration with Most Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala, Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda, Anagarika Dharmapala and other Buddhists Leaders founded the Colombo Buddhist Theosophical Society for the purpose of fostering education, traditional culture and national heritage and protecting Buddha Sasana and consequently the Society has managed as many as 420 public schools.
