Buddhist High School was named Dharmaraja College by an Englishman

The story of how Dharmaraja College founded by Col. Henry Steele Olcott on June 30th, 1887 came to be named is really fascinating. It’s interesting to think about how an Englishman, Mr. H. Banbury, played a significant role in renaming an institution that had such a strong connection to the Buddhist community of Kandy. His influence as a dedicated member of the Theosophical Society must have really shaped the direction of the school, both in its physical expansion and its cultural identity.

- By ANIL ELLEPOLA

The school’s original name, “Buddhist High School,” likely emphasized its Buddhist heritage and educational mission, but Mr. Banbury's decision to rename it ‘Dharmaraja College’ aligned the institution more closely with Buddhist principles, symbolized by “Dharma” (the teachings of the Buddha) and ‘Raja’ (which could s