Visakha Vidyalaya

Visakha Vidyalaya

The crest of Visakha Vidyalaya
Pali: Paññaya Parisujjhati
(by wisdom is one cleansed)
Location
Colombo
Sri Lanka
Information
Type Public
Established 1917
Founder Celestina Dias
Principal Mrs. Sandamali Aviruppola
Grades Grade 1 - 13
Gender Girls
Color(s)

Gold and Blue

        
Affiliation 100% Buddhist
Website Visakha Vidyalaya

Visakha Vidyalaya is a girls school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is a National School funded by the central government providing primary and secondary education.

History

Founder Mrs. Dias.

The school was established in 1917 by the late Celestina Dias as the Buddhist Girls College in a house called 'The Firs' in Turret Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was the desire of Mrs. Dias to train the school girls according to the Buddhist moral values and principles. In 1927 it moved to its present premises in Vajira Road, Colombo and was named Visakha Vidyalaya (Visakha College) by Lady Herbert Stanley the wife of the Governor of Ceylon at that time. In 1939 the school was affiliated to Lady Irwin College, New Delhi to conduct courses in home science.[1] Science subjects were introduced to the curriculum in 1946, for the first time in a girls school in Sri Lanka.

School motto

The school's motto is from the Alavaka Sutta in the Sutta Pitaka of the Tripitaka. When the yakkha Alavaka first confronted Lord Buddha, he threatened to exterminate Lord Buddha unless He, Lord Buddha were to answer all his questions. One of the questions asked was "Kathansu Parisujjhati" (how is one cleansed) to which Lord Buddha replied, "Paññaya Parisujjhati" (by wisdom is one cleansed)

Houses

There are 6 houses at Visakha:

Most of the names of the Houses are made from the names of Past Principals.

Sports

Sports played at Visakha are:

The school captain is Osuri Kumarage. The games captain is Piyusha Sumanapala.

Clubs and societies

  • Astronomical Association
  • Broadcasting Unit
  • Buddhist Association
  • Commerce and Arts Society
  • Discussion Forum
  • ADIC Society
  • English Drama Society
  • English Literary Association
  • Environment Society
  • Film Society
  • Health Society
  • Information and Communication Technology Society
  • Interact Club
  • Junior Oriental Band
  • Junior Western Band
  • Music circle
  • Oriental Music Society
  • Photographic Society
  • Quiz Club
  • Red Cross Society
  • Science Association
  • Scrabble Club
  • Senior Oriental Band
  • Senior Western Brass Band
  • Sinhala Literary Association
  • Western Music Society
  • Art Society
  • Aesthetic Society (Fine Arts)
  • Aviation Society

Past principals

Name Entered office Departed office
Dr. Bernice T. Banning
Jan. 1917
Dec. 1917
Miss J. Ganguli
Jan. 1918
Mar. 1920
Miss H. Westbrook
Mar. 1920
Jan. 1921
Miss D. C. Devereaux
Feb. 1921
May 1922
Miss E. L. Fletcher
May 1922
May 1924
Miss G. H. Pearse (Acting)
May 1924
May 1925
Miss S. E. Lowe
May 1925
Sept.1926
Miss G.H. Pearse
Sept.1926
Apr. 1933
Mrs. MacDonald (Act.)
May 1933
Jun. 1933
Mrs. C. L. Motwani
Jun. 1933
Apr. 1945
Mrs. S. G. Pulimood
May 1945
Jul. 1967
Mrs. H. S. Jayasinghe
Jul. 1967
Jun. 1983
Mrs. S. E. Siriwardhana
July 1983
Dec. 1987
Mrs. M. N. Edussuriya
Jan. 1988
Oct. 1999
Mrs. R. M. L. Jayasekara
Oct. 1999
Nov. 2001
Mrs. M. D. I. N. Siriwardhana
Nov. 2001
July 2003
Mrs. R. N. Amarasinghe
July 2003
July 2007
Mrs. C. R. Gunarathne
July 2007
Oct. 2008
Mrs. B. M. Weerasooriya
Oct. 2008
Dec 2008
Mrs. Sandamali Aviruppola
Dec. 2008
Present

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Clara Motwani". ancestry.com.
  2. ↑ "New Justice Ministry Secy. assumes duties tomorrow". sundaytimes.lk.

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