The Second World War started in September 1939 and soon we launched on the New Year under an Acting principal, when we had an influx of students of Mahinda from various schools. At the same time Mr. Ananda Samarakoon who had recently returned from the ShantiNiketan in India joined our staff as our music teacher, and the Olcott hall was assigned for him. A piano was also purchased to promote music education.

The Olcott hall, built by Mr.F.L.Woodward, did not have a stage. We had a platform on which was kept the main table and chair, from which the principal addressed us at the daily assembly after the observance of Pansil. Above this chair was Mr.Woodward’s portrait and above it the college crest and motto. The large framed picture of the Lord Buddha drawn by Mr.W.S.de Mell , our Art teacher was placed still above. On the wing of the Hall were the photographs of our past principals and on the other wing, those of Col. H. S. Olcott, Madame Blavatsky, our Managers and Benefactors. On the rear wall were hung the photos of various cricket, football and athletic teams that brought credit to the school.

When Mr. Samarakoon came to Mahinda he had already recorded “Punchi Suda” & “Ennada Manike” on a H.M.V. record. The flute became a very popular musical instrument among the students many of whom learnt to play it, specially during the lunch interval, as classes were held during both session of  a day. The evenings were crowded with the musicians both teachers and students, and the year saw the production of concerts. G.R Edwards, Who was my classmate, was an able musician and artist. When Edward was in Sdt.4 he was a commercial artist who erected pandols etc. during Wesak and Poson. While yet a student, he was able to obtain half an hour per month from Colombo Radio to broadcast music items. He finally had to leave Mahinda and go to All Saints College in the fort as he had recorded “Egoda Gode Gan Evure” without Mr Samarakoon’s permission, as its tune was his. Mr. Samarakoon was so immersed in his music that even trained Edward and Percy Wijayakularathne to stage a dance performance to tune of “Punchi Suda” college concert.

Mr. Samarakoon took over, he found that he had copied Rabindranath Tagore’s Indian National Anthem to recite our Anthem. Actually we had no National Anthem at that time, and we used to sing the British Anthem when the need arose as we were British subjects.

He was instrumental in instilling into us not to other countries when our own Ceylon had a sufficient musical tradition to be inspired by. He composed ‘Namo Namo Matha’ at  Mahinda to demonstrate that we Sinhalese can produce our own tunes. He finally recorded the above as a national song.

At the time of Mr. Samarakoon’s advent to Mahinda, we used to sing Hindi, Bengali and  Western songs. He was one of the first musicians to record Sinhala love songs in addition to those composed on Buddhist themes, which were very popular. We have to salute Samarakoon for his new vision.