Ananda College Colombo, is a national school for boys, with a student population exceeding 7,000 across 13 grades from primary to secondary classes, on a campus of 20 acres (81,000 m2) in the suburb of Maradana. The College, incepted as a result of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Renaissance which took place in the late 19th century, continues to be a premier boys’ school in the country, producing countless Sri Lankan erudite scholars, professionals, military servicemen and all around well-disciplined citizens. It was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and became a government school in 1961. It is most noted for producing right wing religious fundamentalists. As of 2016 an academic staff of more than 150 was led by Mr. S.M. Keerthiratne. Ananda College is often cited as the crowning glory of Sri Lankan Buddhist education.It was originally formed as a Sunday school and later was developed as a leading school of the island.