Vihara Maha Devi BV strives to bring victory through education
Vihara Maha Devi Girls’ College, Kandy which was initiated as Kandy Girls’ Primary school has come a long way creating an international image with her academic, sports and extracurricular activities. Marked as a small dot on the map in the City of Kandy she does a tremendous job to produce global personalities who are able to face the challenges and issues of the present world with ease.
The school was initiated on January 15, 1973 as a primary school. The first principal was Mrs. D. A Jayaratne and the staff consisted of only three teachers. Indika Priyadarshani Ekanayaka was the first student of the school. Mrs. D. A Jayaratne held the post of principal for 22 years and rendered her services to develop the school in education, sports and extracurricular activities. The school motto is: ‘Victory through education’. The school badge and the flag were introduced by her. The students have been able to show their colours in both education and sports from the early ages. The first batch of students sat for G.C.E Ordinary Level Exam in 1989. The school was named as Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya in 1992.
With the passage of time Mrs. C. K. Edirisooriya ( 1994- 1996), Mrs. G.N. Silva (1996-2000), Mrs.P.K.Yapa Bandara(2000), Mrs. L. D. K. De Silva (2000-2003), Mrs. L. A. Vitharana (2003-2005) and Mrs. K. P. C. T. G. Mayadunne (2005-2010) have devoted excellent services to uplift the standard of the school. The Advanced Level Arts and Commerce Sinhala medium classes were launched and 81 students have faced the Advanced Level exam during the period of Mrs. P. K. Yapa Bandara. The Tamil medium Advanced Level classes were started in 2003. Swimming was introduced and the English Medium classes were started during the period of Mrs. L.A. Vitharana. The present Additional Directress and the former principal Mrs. K.P.C.T.G. Mayadune assumed duties in 2005. Boxing and football are major games which were introduced and the Under 17 football team won the first place in National Level Games and the Rajiv Gandhi trophy in India. AchiniIshara Waligampola captained the National Football team and participated in tournaments in Maldives and Bangladesh in 2008 and 2010 and ushered in a golden era for Vihara Maha Devi. Vidushika Prabhadi is a brilliant boxer of the school who has won many tournaments whilst representing the Island.
Due to the untiring efforts of the present principal Mrs. D. M. J. K. Dissanayake it has risen to the position of a 1 AB school with the introduction of Advanced Level Science in 2012. The school has now developed rapidly and has a student population of nearly 2500 whilst 125 are in the academic staff. This institution has become a leading education center in the Hill Capital amidst limited space.
The students have brought immense glory to the school by achieving high marks in scholarship examinations from the early stages. K.A.H.P.N. Priyankara obtained 182 marks; 16 Sinhala medium students and 6 Tamil medium students entered the record books because of the boundless support they received from the staff. They have brought recognition to the school at the G.C.E(O/l) Examinations by qualifying for the Advanced Level with an average of 88% in 2012; 3 Sinhala medium students and 7 Tamil medium students were able to obtain 9As. The English medium O/L results have secured 100% success this year too. Four students from the Sinhala medium and seven students from the Tamil medium have obtained 9As.
The results of Advanced Level have also been remarkable with 62% in the Commerce section and 52% in the Arts section.
Most Vihara Maha Devians have done well in sports such as Foot Ball, Netball, Boxing, Swimming, Karate, Table Tennis, Chess and Carrom. Dilusha Godagama has won many events at All Island swimming meets. D. M. K. U. Dissanayake, M.K. Ekanayake, N.S. Gunasekara, Dumali Madushani, Malika Perera, Nisansala Lyanage, Ruvani Hettiarchchi and Ruvani Karunarathne have obtained All Island places in Karate tournaments. Students have also been able to win many places in Table Tennis tournaments from 2000 onwards and Irushika Hewavitharana, Dhananjani Perera, Tharanga Jayasekara, Malsha Dangolla and Janani Handakumbura have represented the school at the National Games. Indika Priyadarshani Ekanayake, Hashara Abeysinghe, and Chamodya Yapa Bandara are among the outstanding chess players who have brought glory to the Alma Mater by winning many AllIsland and International Chess championships.
In order to build up a total personality the students are encouraged to engage in the Sinhala Literary Association, Tamil Language Society, English Literary Association, Commerce Society, Buddhist Association, Islamic Association, Media Society, Girl Guides Association, Astronomical Society, St. John’s Ambulance Service, Philatelic Association, Interact Club, Science Society, Agricultural Society, Anti Narcotic Club, Student Parliament, Eastern and Western Band and the Connecting Classroom Club.
Every year students have been able to win National Awards in arts. The school dancing team was able to represent the National level dancing competitions every year and they have been awarded with the third place in 2012. The Poetic Drama team was able to represent the school at the National Level English Day Competitions in 2010 for the first time in the history of the school. Every year they secure places in National Level English Day competition and Islamic Day competitions as well
Presently the academic staff, the school management committee, together with the Deputy Principals Mrs. Asoka Kumari, Mrs. Samantha Kumari, Mrs. P. D. Nadunge and the Assistant Principals K. Karunapala and Mrs. R. Indira Gandhi and Prefect of Games Mrs. A. M. R. A. Kumarihami work hard and conscientiously under the guidance and direction of madam principal Mrs. D. M. J. K. Dissanayake.
Vihara Maha Devi will continue her journey by providing the students with immense courage, leadership, cooperation, collaboration, experience, team spirit, self-confidence and knowledge to mold a balanced personality to face the world at large.