Devi Balika Vidyalaya

Devi Balika Vidyalaya is a public national girls’ school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Girls are admitted at level of grade six, on the results of an island-wide scholarship examination. Like other national schools it is controlled by the central government, as opposed to a provincial council.

History

By 1950 some of the recommendations of the Kannangara report had been implemented but many believed that the opportunities for educational equality were inadequate. So the state took up the recommendation of the White Paper on education (1950), to trifurcate education at grade 8, when compulsory education ended. One of the three streams was the academic. These, in keeping with this policy, Government Girls' College, Castle Street (currently known as Devi Balika Vidyalaya) was set up with classes from grade 9 to 12, catering to academically gifted girls. The Department of Education further intended this new school to be a centre of excellence in science education, an area of knowledge for which there was great demand after World War II.

The school was founded on 15 January 1953, at Castle Street, Borella, constructed with prefabricated material, with 53 students and 5 teachers.

From the very beginning the importance of extra curricular activities was recognized though the emphasis was on academic pursuits. Girl Guiding, dancing (Kandyan, Indian and country dancing), music, sports and drama were introduced.

Mrs. Wimala de Silva (Late Deshabandu Dr. (Mrs.) Wimala de Silva) was its founder principal.

A hostel was established in 1997 with the help of past pupils. On 5 March 1998 a School Multipurpose Auditorium was opened as a result of project undertaken in 1985 by the past pupils. Several fund raising projects were held to swell the fund to match the grant given by the Ministry of Education. In addition, financial contribution received from several other ministries, Pelpola Vipassi Foundation, various Institutions, parents, and past pupils was a major support in doing this task. Engineering and Architectural consultancy and various services received from supporters, free of charge, made the 1st and 2nd stages of the School Multipurpose Auditorium Project a success.

Sources

Devi Archive and PPA news letters by Iresha Wijayabandara