In 1870, in the village of Atulugama, which
is situated in the Bandaragama electorate of Kalutara district, at the
Delgahawatta area, in the verandah of Alla Pichchei, a school was started with 10-20 students.
In 1904, it was
shifted to a temporary building opposite to late Mr.Thowfeek’s house and became
a government school. In 1911, it was named as KL/Atulugama Mohamadian
Vernaculari Boys’Tamil government school (MVBTS) and registered under Group
17/MVBTS.
The first
headmaster was S.Rayappu and he assumed duties in 1911.On13th of
February, 1920, late Mr.S.Arumuham assumed duties as the headmaster and late
Mr.Thambo was the assistant teacher. On 22nd of June 1925, the name
was changed as KL/Atulugama Government Muslim School.
At that time, the
student population was very low because the parents feared of baptism of the
students. But they sent their children to the Quran Madarsa school from
6.30-8.30.So they were asked to sent their children to Quran Madarsa school in
the evening. During the year1926 the student population was 133 on roll and the
staff consisted of three teachers. In 1930, the first temporary building was
constructed and on 20th of March 1933 that temporary building was
replaced by a permanent building.
In 1937, the student
population was 256 on roll. On 2nd of February 1927 late Mr.I.L.M.
Sali, who was born in Atulugama area assumed duties as the first teacher. By
the year of 1950 there were 355 students on roll and on 11th of
September 1955 late Mr.I.L.M. Sali assumed duties as the first Muslim principal of Atulugama.
With the growth of
student population, the space was limited. So on 23rd of January in
1961,the school was separated into Girls’
school and Boys’ school and it was held in the
morning and in the evening. By the year 1971 the girls’ school consisted of 470
students and 14 teachers on roll while the Boys’ school consisted of 505
students and 16 teachers on roll.
When Dr.Badiudeen
Mohamed was the Minister of Education, he visited the school on 7th
of August 1972 and the name was changed into Al-Gazzaly MahaVidyalaya.
Mr.A.H.A.Cader assumed duties as the first principal of Al-Gazzaly Maha
vidyalaya. In 1972, with the involvement
of the parents, the present school land was purchased and constructed a 100’’ x
20’’ building.
In 1976, again parents
involved and constructed the first science laboratory of the school and late
Mr.Herbert Wickramasinghe laid foundation to the laboratory. The HNCE Science
and Maths classes started In the same year teachers of the school staged a
drama Name “Kanneer Anjali” in aid to
raise the funds to construct a building (Taharam hall) and it was a success. The
first Magazine released on 1977 named “Al-GAZZALY” During the era of the
principal Mr.A.H.A.Cader
In end of the 1977
late Mr. A.S.M. Nowfer assumed duties as the third principal of Atulugama. In
1977, Mr.Raja Samaranayake donated a 100’’ x 20’’ building. On 28th
of March 1978, the rest of the lands were purchased by the government to erect
a playground and at that time the school
consisted of
1238 students and 47 teachers.
The first floor
of the two storied building near the Bo-Tree and with the funds donated by parents
and the second storied donated by Mr.Raja Samaranayake. In 1991 teachers’
quarters was constructed. In 1993 another building was constructed by tilak
karunaratna. During the year 1994, the student population consisted of 1956
students on roll and 49 teachers.
On 10th of
May 1997, Minister of Education, late Hon.Richard Pathirana visited the school
and laid foundation to the three storied Science laboratory building and on 27th
of May 1998 Minister Reginald Cooray laid foundation for another three storied
building. By the year 2006,(over two hundred) 216 students were enrolled to
grade one class for the first time in the history of Al Gazzaly. On 12th
March 2009, a duplo machine was donated by Minister Reginald Cooray.
On 2004 Imthiyaz
Bakir Markkar laid foundation to the Auditorium and the first step construted
by Imthiyaz Bakir Markar.
Hon. Reginald
cooray completed the Auditorium. During the era of the principal Mr.T.U.A. Wahab, the Main Auditorium was
declared opened.
From 06th
of January 2011,a new era was opened to
Al-Gazzaly. Mr.A.M.A. Jaward, our
present principal assumed duties on this day. He is a man of wide vision and in
order to bring about a broader out look in the students, he is trying his best
with the help of his staff. 30th December 2012 was an unforgettable
day for the history of Al-Gazzaly Central College. On that great day Minister
of education Honourable Bandula Gunawardhana laid foundation for the three
storied science laboratory in the secondary section of the school and laid
foundation to the building of the new primary section of the school. The land
for the new primary section of the school was bought by the SDS of the school
with the help of the parents, donors and the well wishers of the school due to
the untiring efforts of the present principal Mr.A.M.A.Jaward The school is
progressing both in studies and in material gains.
Al-Gazzaly Central College Can boast of a large number of eminent past
students among whom are Doctors, Accountants, Engineers, lawyers, principals of
schools, teachers, government servants, leading businessmen and many worthy
citizens of Sri Lanka.