Sri Sumangala College, which had its humble beginnings in the premises of Rankoth Vihara, Panadura celebrated its centenary on March 3, 2009. To mark this historic occasion, the Sri Sumangala College Old Boys Association (SSCOBA) organized a host of events which included an all night Pirith Ceremony followed by an Alms Giving in memory of the founders and the school teachers and the students who have kept the flame alive.

The legacy of its founders continues to live in on the generation of the students the college has brought forth. As part of its centenary celebration, Sri Sumangala College Old Boys' Association has made steps to prepare a concise history of the college - "An Eulogy on a Centenary' which will include of those students who have excelled in their chosen spheres bringing glory to the Alma Mater.

Among the major projects undertaken by the college is the construction of the college swimming pool with ancillary buildings, Shopping & Commercial building (to generate income for the operation & maintenance of the swimming pool to enable the use of the pool at a nominal cost for the students in our School & Schools around Panadura area) and Hostel. The total project cost will be the around Rs. 50million (approx. USD 450000.00).

Thus, the Sri Sumangala College came into being on March 3, 1909 at the premises of Rankoth Vihara in Panadura as a result of the untiring efforts of the philanthropists, who were determined to bring up an educated middle class, based on Buddhist principles. The fact that these noblemen- most of whom were well-known planters of the era, willingly parted with substantial amounts of their personal wealth in the realization of their dream is particularly noteworthy.

Right from its inception, the college strived to uphold a high level of education, and discipline based on Buddhist virtues and soon became an epitome of Buddhist Educational Institution. The college soon outgrew its modest capacity within some three decades, and the Board of Management decided to shift the college to a more spacious location to accommodate the growing number of students. After contemplating on a number of locations the college was finally shifted to an idyllic site by the sea at Nalluruwa, in the suburbs of Panadura in 1942 leaving behind the Primary in its original location. Years later, with the college gaining the status of a "National School", the primary section too, was moved to Nalluruwa and housed within the main school.

Tragedy struck college when the Tsunami wrought havoc in December 2004, seriously damaging some buildings which prompted the Board of Management to ponder shifting college to a site away from the beach to Walauwatta in Wekada, Panadura. Perhaps, it is a quirk of destiny that the college has to be shifted to a location five decades later that the Board of Management had originally contemplated on in 1942, before finally settling for the site in Nalluruwa. Japan International Corporation Agency, "JICA" one of the sponsors of Ministry of Education, offered to shoulder the herculean task of re-building the school on a completely new site, which would cost a staggering Rs. 390 million.

The foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister of Western Province, Mr. Reginald Cooray in November 2005, and the phase I of the construction was opened by the Minister of Education Mr. Susil Prem Jayanth and H E Kyoshi Araki The Ambassador for Japan in Sri Lanka on September 2007. The phase II of the construction project is presently in progress.