Girls' High School, Kandy

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Girls' High School is the oldest school for girls in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Girls' High School

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early years 1.2 20th century 2 Notable alumnae 3 Maps 4 References

[edit] History

[edit] Early years

In 1873, the want of a 'superior' school in connection with Wesleyan Mission work was urged by Samuel Langdon and it was unanimously agreed that a Day and Boarding school should be commenced in Katukelle, Sri Lanka.

The school was opened in May 1879 at the Wesleyan school chapel adjoining the Girls' Boarding School, Katukelle, under the management of Mrs Langdon. Miss Payne, the next principal arrived in Colombo on 31st of July 1879 but left the school in 1880. In May 1880 Miss Hay came from England and the school, which had a mere 10 on roll at its inception, increased to 70 and was registered to obtain a grant-in-aid from the government.

As numbers increased in 1881 the school shifted to the more commodious precincts of the Mission in Brownrigg Street, but boarders remained at Katukelle. Classes were held behind the church. Long desks and forms without backs and heavy pews from the church were moved weekly when classes had to take turn in writing. There were no games, Guiding, debating or netball, not even a library.

[edit] 20th century

This school became very famous when it produced the first uniform, school song, girl guide and girl graduate. The four houses in this school are Langdon, Lawrance, Eaton and Sansom. With the dawn of 20th century, under the guidance of Miss Sansom who served for 19 years, Kandy Girls' High School became one of the leading educational institutions in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). On March 21st 1917 the First Company of Girl Guides was formed in the island. Girls' High School was the first to start the game Netball in Sri Lanka.

[edit] Notable alumnae

Jean Arasanayagam^[1]

[edit] Maps

• Map Location Of Girl's High School

[edit] References