Even from the past which state the beginning of the human civilization there was a strong and unbreakable bond between human and the sky. By observing the sky our ancestors knew how to find information such as time, direction, date and even weather then they imaged different characters in the sky with the help of the stars. They saw the wonder of sky as heaven, all the scenes they saw in the sky was a figure of heaven. With the development of the human kind human's curiosity to get to know about the heaven named sky was improved. After human armed with technical and scientific knowledge he understood the core of this heaven "sky". In 1957 Soviets sent the first man to the space and it was the beginning of a new era. In 1969 United States of America sent the first man to the moon. The first man on the moon wasn't an another step we forwarded, it was a giant step that whole man kind forwarded. The science which observe and research the sky which was called as a heaven, is the Astronomy.

 

Nalanda College Astronomical Society began in year 1995 with limited number of students but it developed very quickly limited inside Nalanda College. It became an active society in Nalanda by increasing the knowledge about astronomy and modern day space administrations. In this task "Night Sky Observation Camping" was a special feature. Nalanda College Astronomical Society did a great service by improving the curiosity and knowledge about astronomy of the school children in that period. In that period internet and information technology was in a low state of development. So we went through books and newspapers and other knowledge sources to get armed with Astronomical knowledge then we started to give our knowledge to other schools. With beginning of the new millennium after 2000 our society stood as a strong and permanent society. In the beginning we were limited to our school, but then we stood as a active Astronomical Society out of school as well as inside the school. To deliver the knowledge to students about Telescope which is most essential equipment for astronomical studies, the telescopes we received as donations was the best help we got.

 

Now a days Astronomy becoming a popular subject among the school children. Our Astronomical Society is already a popular Astronomical Society among high class schools in Colombo and also among all the schools island wide. That's because of the lectures, workshops, exhibitions, night sky observation camps and researches organized by our school Astronomical Society. From the beginning to this moment quiz team of our astronomical society has taken a lot of victories and honors to both our school and society. Two students of our school astronomical society has participated in International Astronomical Quiz Competitions continuously three times in year 2007, 2008 and 2009. Also our quiz team has become the champions in 20 Inter-school Astronomical Quiz Competitions.

 

Today we are more rich in astronomical equipments too when comparing with the past. In the period which our astronomical society was established we just had only one telescope, but today twelve telescopes which open the deep space for us are with us. In technical field also we are in the front because we have the honour of making the first astronomical antenna and the first astronomical antennas net. In year 2009 the winner of the Water Rocket Competition organized by the Arthur C. Clerk Center was a member of Nalanda College Astronomical Society and once again he brought honour to our society by participating in the South East Asian Water Rocket Competition.

 

At present there are more than 350 members who have the membership of our Astronomical Society. In 2008 earlier members who left the school established Old Nalandian's Astronomical Society. They're huge strength for us and our march forward. We have taken steps to take Astronomy and Technology which is just limited to Colombo to other schools out of Western Province. We held few night sky observation camps in Habarana, Kandy, Hanguranketha, Bandarawela, Galle, Mathara, Hambantota and haldummulla too.

 

With the dawn of peace to improve the friendship with the students of both North and South in 15th January in 2010 we held a camp at St. John's College, Jaffna there we organized a observation camp to observe solar eclipse and also a night sky observation camp.

 

The research scientist in National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in U.S.A Dr. Sarath Gunapala, Professor Padmajeewa Ganepola who launched first South Asian research rocket who was student of Nalanda in 1948, Professor Thulsy Wickramasinghe a professor of Colarado University, U.S.A, Senior lecturer of Colombo University Dr. Chandana Jayaratne are some greatest Sri Lankans who have donated to the whole nation by Mother Nalanda. Our hope is to donate some greatest characters as above to the nation and for the betterment of the world.

 

Nalanda College Astronomical Society which is on a powerful journey, always stands towards the future as a powerful, strong well armed force among the human why try to make visual limits for the Universe which endless and spread to the infinity.