Sri Sumangala Girls School Panadura
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 .
