Visakha Vidyalaya
| Visakha Vidyalaya | |
|---|---|
 The crest of Visakha Vidyalaya | |
| Location | |
|
Colombo Sri Lanka | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto |
Pali: Paññaya Parisujjhati ((by wisdom is one cleansed)) |
| Established | 1917 |
| Founder | Celestina Dias |
| Principal | Mrs. Sandamali Aviruppola |
| Grades | Grade 1 - 13 |
| Gender | Girls |
| Color(s) |
Gold and Blue |
| Affiliation | 100% Buddhist |
| Website | Official Website |
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
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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:
- Dawes -
- Dias -
- Jayatilake -
- Motwani -
- Pulimood -
- Weerasooriya -
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
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|
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Past principals
| Name | Entered office | Departed office |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Bernice T. Banning | ||
| Miss J. Ganguli | ||
| Miss H. Westbrook | ||
| Miss D. C. Devereaux | ||
| Miss E. L. Fletcher | ||
| Miss G. H. Pearse (Acting) | ||
| Miss S. E. Lowe | ||
| Miss G.H. Pearse | ||
| Mrs. MacDonald (Act.) | ||
| Mrs. C. L. Motwani | ||
| Mrs. S. G. Pulimood | ||
| Mrs. H. S. Jayasinghe | ||
| Mrs. S. E. Siriwardhana | ||
| Mrs. M. N. Edussuriya | ||
| Mrs. R. M. L. Jayasekara | ||
| Mrs. M. D. I. N. Siriwardhana | ||
| Mrs. R. N. Amarasinghe | ||
| Mrs. C. R. Gunarathne | ||
| Mrs. B. M. Weerasooriya | ||
| Mrs. Sandamali Aviruppola |
Notable alumni
- Deepali Wijesundera - Judge of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
- Sumitra Peries – filmmaker and Sri Lanka's Ambassador to France
- Jayathri Samarakone - Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Singapore
- Inoka Sathyangani – film director and producer
- Ruchira Silva – fashion designer
- Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo
- Kamalini de Silva – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice[2]
- Hirunika Premachandra - politician
See also
References
- ↑ "Clara Motwani". ancestry.com.
- ↑ "New Justice Ministry Secy. assumes duties tomorrow". sundaytimes.lk.