Love affair in the background of Ananda -- Nalanda clash!

Love affair in the background of Ananda -- Nalanda clash!

It is a brotherly affinity that exists between the two schools of Colombo Ananda -- Nalanda Colleges from years back. It is understood in history that at a time when classrooms of Ananda College were in excess, because of a problem of lack of space, the classrooms were shifted to a nearby land and for purposes of employing some

control, Nalanda College was established. Even sports competitions were conducted between the two schools for the sake of maintaining cordial relationships. Under such a background any dispute flared up if ever only on a rare basis. However, this brotherhood has now lost its grip between the new generation. Some years ago too clashes were reported even during 'big matches' and yesterday (15) after school was over, Punchi Borella took on the appearance of a battlefield as a result of a conflict between the two schools.

As reported, it is an issue regarding a romantic affair which incidentally at the root of the dispute. This dispute has flared up against a Nalanda College student who has been a wet blanket to an affair of an Ananda College student involving a student of a girls' school. Because of this phenomenon a clash had issued day-before-yesterday (14) erupting on the road between students of Ananda College and those of Nalanda College and the clash that occured yesterday happened to be an extension of the previous incident.

Around 1.30 last afternoon after school was over, about 300 students of Ananda College armed with iron bars, legs of chairs, empty glass bottles, stones, clubs and bicycle-chains had proceeded to Punchi Borella area in order to launch an attack on Nalanda College students. Later, CTB buses parked opposite Nalanda College with destination boards of 120 Kesbewa and 138 Homagama were attacked initially and subsequently the assailants had started assaulting  the students mercilessly. At that point Nalanda students too had in return leashed a counter-attack on Ananda students.

The two CTB buses subjected to attack and 8 other vehicles have sustained severe damages in the process. Some of the said vehicles were those belonging to owners of houses along that narrow road parked close to their houses. This battle which had gone on for a period of about half an hour was ultimately brought under control by a combined effort of both Borella Police and Maradana Police and subsequently 15 students who directed this combat were taken into custody. 8 students from Colombo Ananda College and 7 students from Nalanda College related to the incident were those apprehended. 6 persons who sustained injuries as a result of the clash were admitted to the National Hospital. Steps had been taken to discuss this issue at hand with principals and teaching-staff of the two schools and thus bring about a settlement.