History of the School
A Short History of our School as narrated by Late Mrs. Chandra
Weerasuriya ( nee Soysa ) on the 15th of February 1998,
and Mrs Kusum Dias ( nee Salgado ) on the 16th of march
2011.
The school was started in 1923 to give both girls and boys of Panadura an education based on Buddhist principles. It was first housed in the building called “The Realto” ( present day Keells Super ). The first principal and only teacher was Mrs. Gertrude Fernando. The first student was W. Bennie Oliver Fernando. In a short time the school was shifted to Gravets road. Later Miss Ellen Fernando and Miss Pushbi joined as teachers. There were only about 25 students.
In 1926 under the guidance and leadership of the great educationist Mr. P De. S. Kularatne the school was shifted to Nalluruwa to the L-shaped building and was named Sri Sumangala Girls’ school to remember Ven. Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero. It was a registered assisted fee levying school with a manager. The first principal was Mr. Kularatne's wife Mrs. Hilda Westbrooke Kularatne. Miss Maheswarie Rodrigo had the honor of being the first girl student to be admitted. Although it was named as a girls school, boys were admitted to the kindergarten classes. Mr. Chandra Cooray, Mr. Sudana Rodrigo, Dr. Padma Dias, Dr. W. D. L. Fernando, Mr. Noel Dias, Mr. Denzil Dias, Dr. Neviile Fernando, Mr. Harold Fernando. The sisters Nanda and Leela Wijesuriya, Sylvia Fernando, Padmi Cooray, Kusum Salgado, Malini Wijesekera, Manel Keerthisinghe ( nee Fernando ) are some of the names we can remember.
Classes were only up to Junior School Certificate. The first students to pass this examination were, Padma Dias, Sudana Rodrigo, Chandra Cooray and Chandra Weerasuriya. The number of students increased to 250.
In 1937 Mrs. Lucy Holliday ( Later Mrs. Vinson ) became the principal, and a class for Cambridge Senior was started, and in 1938 two students including Chandra Weerasuriya passed this examination and entered the University College In Colombo. Chandra has the honor of being the first graduate from the school. Mrs. Elsie Cooke served as principal for a short period of time.
These teachers are remembered with gratitude; Mrs. Kusuma Hettiarachchi, Mrs. Nanayakkara, Mr. Alahakone, Mr. Richard Thenabadu, Mrs. Ivy Peiris ( nee de Mel ) Mr. Winson Soysa, Mrs. Pearl Wijesinghe, Mrs. Ekanayake, Mrs. Florence Amaratunga, Mrs. Rene Fernando, Mrs. Yoti Cooray, Mr. Homer Waniasingham, Mrs. Muriel Dharmaratne, Miss lilian Boralessa, Miss Lilian de Soysa, Mr. Lionel Gunasekera, Mrs. Ena Malawige ( nee Fonseka ).
In 1940 Mrs. Kularatne came back to the school as the principal for another period of time. During this time she started the London Inter Arts class. By 1940 six students had entered the University College. After a few years Mrs. Kularatne left and Mrs, Dodo Sirimanne became the principal. The present uniform was introduced by Mrs. Sirimanne. The first uniform had a V-neck and pleats all round the skirt. The kiddies uniform was sleeveless. Mrs. Sirimanne was succeeded by Mrs. Lucy Vinson who remained to be the principal till she passed away. She was succeeded by Mrs. Malini Ranasooriya who held the reigns till she retired in 1986 .
Mrs. Malini Ranasooriya is our most distinguished past student who has the honor of being a student, a teacher, a vice principal and principal in the same school. We are very fortunate , she still is an active member of our association even after 26 years. We wish her good health and long life.
The Managers: Messes Walter Salgado, Richard Salgado, Mudliyar Thomas Rodrigo, Sir Susantha de Fonseka and Charlie Dias.
Sir Susantha De Fonseka named the four houses, Anula, Chitra, Maya and Sumithra
The Principals: Mrs. Gertrude Fernando, Mrs Lucy Holliday (later Vinson) Mrs Hilda Westbrooke Kularatne, Ms Elsie Cooke, Mrs. Dodo Sirimanne Mrs Malini Ranasooriya ( nee Wijesekera ) Mrs. Indra Nandani Siriwardena, Mrs Chandrani Situge, and Mrs Sampathni Nepala (present principal)
The school was started in 1923 to give both girls and boys of Panadura an education based on Buddhist principles. It was first housed in the building called “The Realto” ( present day Keells Super ). The first principal and only teacher was Mrs. Gertrude Fernando. The first student was W. Bennie Oliver Fernando. In a short time the school was shifted to Gravets road. Later Miss Ellen Fernando and Miss Pushbi joined as teachers. There were only about 25 students.
In 1926 under the guidance and leadership of the great educationist Mr. P De. S. Kularatne the school was shifted to Nalluruwa to the L-shaped building and was named Sri Sumangala Girls’ school to remember Ven. Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero. It was a registered assisted fee levying school with a manager. The first principal was Mr. Kularatne's wife Mrs. Hilda Westbrooke Kularatne. Miss Maheswarie Rodrigo had the honor of being the first girl student to be admitted. Although it was named as a girls school, boys were admitted to the kindergarten classes. Mr. Chandra Cooray, Mr. Sudana Rodrigo, Dr. Padma Dias, Dr. W. D. L. Fernando, Mr. Noel Dias, Mr. Denzil Dias, Dr. Neviile Fernando, Mr. Harold Fernando. The sisters Nanda and Leela Wijesuriya, Sylvia Fernando, Padmi Cooray, Kusum Salgado, Malini Wijesekera, Manel Keerthisinghe ( nee Fernando ) are some of the names we can remember.
Classes were only up to Junior School Certificate. The first students to pass this examination were, Padma Dias, Sudana Rodrigo, Chandra Cooray and Chandra Weerasuriya. The number of students increased to 250.
In 1937 Mrs. Lucy Holliday ( Later Mrs. Vinson ) became the principal, and a class for Cambridge Senior was started, and in 1938 two students including Chandra Weerasuriya passed this examination and entered the University College In Colombo. Chandra has the honor of being the first graduate from the school. Mrs. Elsie Cooke served as principal for a short period of time.
These teachers are remembered with gratitude; Mrs. Kusuma Hettiarachchi, Mrs. Nanayakkara, Mr. Alahakone, Mr. Richard Thenabadu, Mrs. Ivy Peiris ( nee de Mel ) Mr. Winson Soysa, Mrs. Pearl Wijesinghe, Mrs. Ekanayake, Mrs. Florence Amaratunga, Mrs. Rene Fernando, Mrs. Yoti Cooray, Mr. Homer Waniasingham, Mrs. Muriel Dharmaratne, Miss lilian Boralessa, Miss Lilian de Soysa, Mr. Lionel Gunasekera, Mrs. Ena Malawige ( nee Fonseka ).
In 1940 Mrs. Kularatne came back to the school as the principal for another period of time. During this time she started the London Inter Arts class. By 1940 six students had entered the University College. After a few years Mrs. Kularatne left and Mrs, Dodo Sirimanne became the principal. The present uniform was introduced by Mrs. Sirimanne. The first uniform had a V-neck and pleats all round the skirt. The kiddies uniform was sleeveless. Mrs. Sirimanne was succeeded by Mrs. Lucy Vinson who remained to be the principal till she passed away. She was succeeded by Mrs. Malini Ranasooriya who held the reigns till she retired in 1986 .
Mrs. Malini Ranasooriya is our most distinguished past student who has the honor of being a student, a teacher, a vice principal and principal in the same school. We are very fortunate , she still is an active member of our association even after 26 years. We wish her good health and long life.
The Managers: Messes Walter Salgado, Richard Salgado, Mudliyar Thomas Rodrigo, Sir Susantha de Fonseka and Charlie Dias.
Sir Susantha De Fonseka named the four houses, Anula, Chitra, Maya and Sumithra
The Principals: Mrs. Gertrude Fernando, Mrs Lucy Holliday (later Vinson) Mrs Hilda Westbrooke Kularatne, Ms Elsie Cooke, Mrs. Dodo Sirimanne Mrs Malini Ranasooriya ( nee Wijesekera ) Mrs. Indra Nandani Siriwardena, Mrs Chandrani Situge, and Mrs Sampathni Nepala (present principal)
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MESSAGE
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
It is with great pleasure that I convey this message today, as it is a very important day for Sri Sumangala Balika Maha Vidyalaya. In an age of information, Info Tech and computers the launching of a Website by the O.G. A. of S.S.B.M.V. could be considered an apt decision taken by its members. Information technology is now a multi billion dollar business worldwide. The Internet has revolutionized the life of people. Today computer literacy has become a must for employment. Therefore it is impossible to survive in this wonderful world of advanced technology if one is not on a website. The web is truly international. It is the modern marvels which helps us find and retrieve information at low cost and at great speed. In other words it is the “Information Super Highway” As a source of information, the launching of such a website makes it easy to obtain information about the school and it's progress. People around the world can have access to it. Hence, I am quite confident that the launching of the website by the O.G.A. of S.S.B.M.V. offers the students and past pupils of the school a wealth of opportunities and advantages in a world where rapid globalization is taking place. I wish the O.G.A. of S.S.B.M.V. all success in its effort. Mrs. Sampathni Nepala |
MESSAGE
FROM THE PRESIDENT
To all Sumangalians Beyond our Horizons, It is with utmost pride that I announce the achievement of another mile stone of our association. It is the launching of a much needed and much awaited website which will take place on the 27th of March 2011. It will keep you abreast of all our activities past and present. I firmly believed that this is one of the best ways to touch your hearts, and help your Alma-mater to face the unlimited demands and challengers in the fields of education, co-curricular and extra curricular activities. The generous and unstinting support given by our past students, and the commitment and hard work of the past and present committees have helped the organization to move forwards with dignity and courage. My thanks go out to all hose who helped to make our dream come true. Mrs. Swarnamali Rodrigo |
