Vasantha retires on contented note
Nugegoda Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya Principal Vasantha Sarojani Ranasinghe who guided the school to great heights especially in arts, education and sports spheres called it a day last week when she retired from her post having served the education sector for more than 35 years.
The daughter of two school principals was born in the Belikoratuwa village in Matara Thalpawila. Since her childhood she was brought up in a disciplined environment. The then Vidyodaya University graduate got her first teaching appointment in 1976 to Kegalle Tholangamuwa Madhya Maha
“I will certainly miss the wonderful staff and students who worked with me to reach this position. What this school has achieved is amazing,”
Vidyalaya. She served in various parts of the country until she passed the Grade One principals' exam in 1991 after which she was posted as deputy principal in Bandarawela Vishaka Vidyalaya. In 1996 she became the principal of Baddegama Christhudeva Balika Vidyalaya fol- lowed by a stint at Galle Richmond Balika. She took over the reins as Principal at Nugegoda Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya in November 2003. She faced all challenges courageously and brought the school to great
heights making the 96-year- old school one of the most sought after educational institutions in the country. Among her significant deeds was the building of an indoor sports complex at a cost of some Rs. Nine million. It has been aptly named Vasantha Ranasinghe Sports Complex.
“I will certainly miss the wonderful staff and students who worked with me to reach this position. What this school has achieved is amazing,” she said.
“I got the children out of the classrooms and got them involved in various programmes, especially music, singing, drama and dancing. We became the undisputed all-island champs in these spheres every year. Our students excelled in carrom, badminton and swimming too. Our plays like Samudradevi, Padmawathi, Kuweni and Widura won the top spot in allisland schools drama competitions. Even our senior orchestra became the best in the country,” she said with satisfaction.
Her husband Gamini Sisira Kumara passed away eight years ago. Her son Nilusha Ranga Perera is an engineer working in the US. She has also won several awards for her distinguished service as a principal.
“I am grateful to my parents who moulded me into what I am today and for guiding me on the right path. I am also thankful to former education ministers Richard Pathirana and Reginald Cooray and especially all my staff members and students in all the schools I served," she said.