History of the school & the OSA

On 6 July 1936, D.D. Senanayake Muhandiram established the school on his own land in Debarawewa, in memory of his late son, Attorney B.C. Senanayake.

On 2 May 1938 the school was taken over by the government and named the Debarawewa Government Mixed School.

On 29 August 1946, Hon. C.W.W. Kannangara — father of free education — visited and elevated the school to Debarawewa Junior College, introducing English-medium instruction as part of the Central School (මධ්‍ය මහා විද්‍යාල) movement.

The school was renamed Ruhunu Maha Vidyalaya in 1960, and in 1962 — on a proposal of the old students themselves — renamed again in honour of its founder's family, before becoming the Central College we know today.

Debarawewa Central College serves as a National School and stands among the leading schools of the deep south. Its Old Students' Association carries the motto on our crest — නැණ එළි දේ, "it gives the light of wisdom" — into every project we undertake.