Sujatha Vidyalaya is a girls' school in Matara, Sri Lanka. The Matara Buddhist Society founded the school as a private Buddhist institution in 1929.[2] It was the first Buddhist girls' school in Matara. Today, the Government of Sri Lanka operates Sujatha Vidyalaya as a national school; it was one of the initial group of schools to receive this designation.
| Sujatha Vidyalaya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
Rahula Road | |
| Information | |
| Type | All-Girls government school, started as a private Buddhist |
| Motto | Dalham Pagganha Weeryam (Pali for “Try Hard”) |
| Established | 1929[1] |
| Principal | Hemanthimala Wanigasinghe |
| Grades | 1–13 |
| Number of students | 5,000 |
| Color(s) | Blue and gold |
| Affiliation | Matara Buddhists' Society (1929) |
| Website | sujathavidyalaya.org |
In the beginning, Sujatha Vidyalaya was a small school. In the seventy years since its inception, it has become one of the leading girls' schools in the south of the country.
History
editThere was a large population of Buddhists in Mataraa at the beginning of the 20th century. The Matara Buddhist Society took the main role in providing an English-style education which was in fashion at the time. Vilmot P. Wijethunga, co-secretary of the society, advocated for the establishment of an English education institute. Dr. V. D. Gunarathna, president of the Matara Buddhist Society, the led movement for a school.[3]
On Poya day in May 1929, the school was inaugurated with Gunarathna as its director. Sujatha Vidyalaya was the first Buddhist girls' school in Matara.[4] The school opened with four teachers who were all Buddhists. Mrs. A. E. Mathives came from India to be the school's principal.[4]
Doreen Young, who was later to marry Communist leader S. A. Wickremasinghe, became the school's principal in 1930.[4] She was responsible for young women from Buddhist Theosophical schools joining the anti-imperialist and socialist movements.[5]
After the death of Gunarwardana, the school experienced some instability, especially as the Matara Buddhist Society was disrupted during World War II.[4] C. A. Ariyarathna became the school's principal and personally paid the teacher's salaries.[4]
The members of the Matara Buddhist Society who took the main role in continuing the school include:
- E. T. Gunawardana
- W. P. Vijethunga
- M. D. T. Kulathilaka
- D. N. J. Weerasooriya
- T. F. D. Abegunawardhana
- C. A. Ariyarathna
- W. P. A. Wickramasinghe
- Jorge Weerathunga
- A. Dayarathna
In 1958, Sujatha Vidyalaya became a government school.[4]
Campus
editOriginally, the school was located on land owned by Gunarathna that was formerly part of a coconut plantation, at the junctions bordered by the Hakmana Road leading to Veragampita.[4] The secondary school included an office, three upper school classrooms, a small hall, a hostel for the senior girls, and a hostel for the juniors.[4] There were two semi-permanent structures used for the primary section.[4] These buildings had cement floors, walls made from planks, and roofs thatched with cadjan.[4] There was no water on tap, so a broad was created in the back for washing purposes.[4]
In 1936, land and an existing house in Gabadaweediya were converted into a new school facility.[4]
Student population
editWhen Sujatha Vidyalaya opened with 36 students; all were Buddhists.[4] In addition to its female students, the school admitted boys under the age of ten years old.[4] The girls wore a white uniform with a blue and gold tie pinned at the collar and white shoes.[4] The boys wore navy blue shorts, white shirts, and white shoes.[4]
By 1936, the student population had increased beyond the capacity of its buildings.[4] Once the campus increased in size, the student population steadily increased from class to class. As of 2023, the school has some 5,000 students.[4]
Faculty
editThe faculty includes 188 teachers.[4] There are also 35 non-academic staff.[4] Hemanthimala Wanigasinghe is the current principal of Sujatha Vidyalaya, replacing W. A. Nandawathi in 2010.[4]
Past principals include:[4]
| Name | Dates | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mrs. A. E. Mathives | 1929–1930 |
| 2 | Doreen Young | 1930–1932 |
| 3 | Mrs. C. Amirthalingam | 1932–193x ? |
| 4 | Mrs. Comalan Crain | 193x ?–1937 |
| 5 | Mrs. F. D.Lovel Hestings | 1937–1938 |
| 6 | Mrs. M. M. Perera | 1938–1942 |
| 7 | Mrs. R. Balasooriya | 1942–1968 |
| 8 | Mrs. L. Wedahitha | 1965–1975 |
| 9 | Mrs. Windser | 1976 |
| 10 | Mrs. D. P. T. Dharmasiri | 1977–1989 |
| 11 | Mrs. M. I. Weerathunga | 1989–1993 |
| 12 | Mrs. R. N. Amarasinha | 1994–2000 |
| 13 | Mrs. D. Bambarawana | 2000–2002 |
| 14 | Mrs. C. H. Pinidiya | 2000–2005 |
| 15 | Mrs. W. A. Nandawathi | 2008–2010 |
| 16 | Hemanthimala Wanigasingha | 2010–present (as of 2023) |
Academics
editOriginally, the school day was conducted in two sessions, with a lunch break of 45 minutes.[4] Lessons were taught in English, using textbooks were imported from England.[4] Reading and Thinking was the reader used in the primary section.[4] In addition to the standard curriculum, students learned the Sinhala language, music, dancing, and drama.[4] Almost every term ending was marked by a concert presented by the students.[4]
In 1945, Sujatha Vidyalaya joined all schools in Sri Lanka in teaching lessons in vernacular languages.[4] Today, the school is divided into primary and secondary sections. Sujatha Vidyalaya Primary serves students from grades 1 to 5, while Sujatha Vidyalaya Secondary accommodates students from grades 6 to 13.
Student activities
editStudents participate in national and international chess competitions.[6][7] They also compete in the Brain Busters quiz program.[8] Students athelets compete in netball, badminton, and track.[9][10][11][12]
Affiliated institutions
editSujatha Dhamma School
editSujatha Dhamma School was started in 1995 by principal Mrs. R. Gunawikcrema.[4] It has around 400 students and fourteen teachers [4] Godawela Pamarathana Thera is the school's principal.[4]
Sujatha Primary
editSujatha Primary is located in Welegoda.[4] It was established in 1991 where the former Sudarshana Model School was.[4] It includes grades 1 to grade 5 and about 1,500 students with 42 teachers.[4] Samarasinghe is the school's principal.[4]
Notable alumni
edit- Susila Kottage, actress
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Tradition, modernity and elite formation, Sunday Times
- ^ "SUJATHA VIDYALAYA MATARA | SRI LANKA". sujathavidyalaya.org. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- ^ "Administration". Sujatha Vidyalaya Matara. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "About Us". Sujatha Vidyalaya Matara. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ Douglas Allen, Religion and political conflict in South Asia: India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1992; ISBN 0-313-27309-X, 9780313273094
- ^ "Co Curricular". Sujatha Vidyalya Matara. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ Weerasooriya, Sahan (2022-06-19). "Shenal, Desandi, Sethumsa win silver medals". The Island. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ "'Brain Busters with SLIIT –Season 2' crowns winners at Grand Finale". Sunday Observer. Sri Lanka. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ "Centenary Celebrations Invited Schools Netball Tournament - Rahula College". 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ Weerasooriya, Sahan (2023-05-11). "Action from Junior National Athletics Championships". The Island. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ Weerasooriya, Sahan (2022-09-28). "St. Sebastian's and Sangamitta Balika clinch 'Super A' team titles". The Island. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ "Lyceum and Musaeus U-13 badminton champs". Sunday Observer. Sri Lanka. 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
External links
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