| Al Manar National School, Handessa | |
| Native Name: | அல்-மனார் தேசிய பாடசாலை, ஹந்தஸ்ஸ |
| Location: | Handessa, Kandy District |
| Province: | Central Province |
| Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Authority: | Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka |
| Denomination: | Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka |
| Oversight: | Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka |
| Principal: | M. J. M. Hijas |
| Teaching Staff: | 68 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| Lower Age: | 11 |
| Upper Age: | 19 |
| Schooltype: | National School |
| Enrolment: | 1,500 - 2,250 |
| Grades: | Class 6-13 |
| Language: | Tamil and English |
| Motto: | Lord! Reward Me Wisdom |
| Established: | 26 March 1892 |
| Colors: | Maroon and yellow |
| Alumni: | Old Almanarians |
| Website: | http://www.facebook.com/almanarhandessa |
Al Manar National School (commonly known as Al-Manar College or simply as Al-Manar), Tamil: அல்-மனார் is a national school in Handessa, Kandy. It was founded 15 September 1892. It is one of the oldest Muslim school established in Sri Lanka.[1] [2]
The Al Manar National School was founded in 1892[3] as Pethiyagoda Tamil School in Thalawathura. It was later moved to Boowelikada in 1929 and named as Ketakumbura Tamil school, then in 1964 it was moved to its current location in Ambarapola. At that time the school was called Al Manar Maha Vidyalaya and later on in 1999 it was renamed Al Manar Central College (National School).
For the school's 125th anniversary the Al Manar management board, SDC, OBA and OGA joined together and planned a 125-year celebration walk.[4] [5] [6]
The students are divided into six houses, which are split by gender. The houses, led by house captains, compete in all major games to win the inter-house games. The houses are:
| Name | From | To | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weerasooriya Pallewala | 15.09.1892 | 1896 | Headmaster | |
| K. M. Banda | 1896 | 01.09.1918 | Headmaster | |
| S. A. G. Charles | 16.01.1910 | 30.09.1918 | Assistant teacher | |
| S. A. G. Charles | 01.10.1918 | 30.04.1925 | Assistant teacher | |
| Manual Fernando | 01.05.1925 | 31.03.1926 | Headmaster | |
| K. Muththaiya | 01.04.1926 | 30.10.1926 | assistant Headmaster | |
| J. W. Muththiya | 01.11.1926 | 31.12.1944 | Headmaster | |
| S. Murugesu | 01.01.1945 | 31.07.1949 | Headmaster | |
| M. Abdussalam | 01.08.1949 | 31.12.1955 | Headmaster | |
| K. M. Abdul Gaffar | 01.01.1956 | 14.09.1967 | Head master | |
| B. G. N. Sharifodeen | 15.09.1967 | 20.04.1968 | Headmaster | |
| A. M. Abdul Gafoor | 20.04.1968 | 31.08.1970 | Principal | |
| A. A. M. Fuaji | 01.09.1970 | 07.02.1972 | Principal | |
| M. S. M. M. Hassen | 08.02.1972 | 14.03.1972 | acting Principal | |
| K. M. Abdul Gaffar | 15.03.1972 | 30.07.1977 | Principal | |
| M. S. M. M. Hassen | 01.08.1977 | 21.02.1978 | acting Principal | |
| K. L. Abu Bakkar | 22.02.1978 | 30.05.1981 | Principal | |
| H. M. Thayib | 01.06.1981 | 31.03.1989 | Principal | |
| C. L. Issadeen | 01.04.1989 | 06.06.1989 | acting Principal | |
| A. C. M. Hussain | 07.06.1989 | 31.12.1990 | Principal | |
| C. L. Issadeen | 01.01.1991 | 31.01.1991 | acting Principal | |
| M. L. Thajudeen | 01.02.1991 | 16.12.1996 | Principal | |
| O. M. Jabir | 16.12.1996 | 28.02.1998 | acting Principal | |
| I. L. H. Careem | 01.03.1998 | 22.11.1998 | acting Principal | |
| B. M. Jameel | 23.11.1998 | 30.06.2008 | Principal | |
| M. Seyyadu Meeras | 01.07.2008 | 06.12.2015 | Principal | |
| M. J. M. Hijas | 07.12.2015 | Present | Principal |