Devi Balika Vidyalaya has fulfilled her responsibility to society
Being one of the leading schools in the Island, Devi Balika Vidyalaya which was commenced on the January 1, 1953 with the patronage of Deshabandu Dr. ( Mrs) Wimala De Silva, has turned out to be a place which endows blessed ladies who would spearhead the nation in the near future.
Today, the school which had its humble beginning celebrates her 61st anniversary and proudly boasts of a student population of over 2,750, a teaching staff of 116 assisted by a non- academic staff of 34. Madam Principal W.D.P.K. Samarasinghe was a huge pillar and the strength behind all these achievements, supported by a wellqualified teaching staff.
At present Devi Balika is providing essence of true education where the classes are conducted with the utmost dedication of the teachers in both Sinhala and English mediums from grade 6 – 11 and in Science, Arts and Commerce streams in the A/L Section. Furthermore, the Technology stream was introduced last year with the intention of bestowing students to suit the current demands of the society.
Devi Balika Vidyalaya provides education to gifted students coming from various parts of the country mainly based on the grade 5 scholarships examination.
What one expects from Devi Balika is to see each child obtains knowledge. They are unbeaten in obtaining that target.
The majority out of nearly 300 A/L candidates are students from the Science Section of the School gets the opportunity to enter to the local universities and the island ranks are gained frequently.
Education is the preparation of a child intellectually emotionally, spiritually and physically for life and for eternity with the vision “to contribute to the co-operate world to fulfill the objectives”, it was an incredible feeling of Mother Devi to gift three top island rankers of the G. C. E. A/ L Examination 2012 to the nation. As proud daughters of Mother Devi, who had been nurtured and guided Shehani Gunathilake, Upeksha Sewwandi and Samali Liyanage emerged first in the fields of Commerce, Arts and other stream respectively.
The strength of Devi BalikaVidyalaya was further verified by the Schools’ performance Index issued by the Department of Examinations which equaled the school as the top performer in the Commerce and Arts streams and the 2nd best in the Science stream in 2012.The performances and the ranks of 2012 G.C.E.(A/L) brought the fame as follows: Sinhala, Biology, Accounting, French, ICT-All Island 1st Rank Economics & European History -All Island 2nd Rank Po l i t i c a l Science, Hindi, Japanese, English Literature - All Island 4th Rank Arts -All Island 5th Rank Physics -All Island 6th Rank Furthermore, in 2013 Methsarani Lokuge achieved the highest performance in Arts stream offering the subjects English Literature, French and Economics obtaining a remarkable Z-score.
Mother Devi is blessed with some superb achievements by students in extra-curricular activities as well. The Shakespeare Drama gained first place at the All Island level while others bagged second and third places and Merit awards at the 10th Youth SAARC Festival Photographic competition.
The college band has won many awards, showing their capabilities to the nation. “Wind Ensemble Group” won the 1st place at the Dance Competition (2012/2013) organised by the Ministry of Education, the Senior Brass Band won the 1st place (2013) in the Outdoor Band competition organised by the Old Royalists Cadet Association and Junior Melodic Group – A category won 2nd place at the All Island Western Music and Dance competition ( 2012/ 2013) organised by the Ministry of Education.
The college Girl Guides achieved the President Guides’ Badges. The Sinhala drama troupe was selected as one of best Sinhala drama among ten dramas at the State Children Drama Festival while two members of the English drama troupe captured the best actress and best supporting actress awards. The “Drum Orchestra” won the All Island 2nd place in the dancing competition.The All Island (open) lyrical drama and the All Island Senior Sitar (Solo) gained the 1st place.
The students also show their talents by par- ticipating in many sports such as handball, rifle shooting, badminton, table tennis and athletics. The Under 16 TT team emerged runners up at the All Island inter school division D & E competitions and the Under 18 tea, won 3rd place in the Division E. Under 14,16,18,20 Handball A& B teams emerged Plate and Bowl champions. The Under 15A team grabbed the 3rd place.
The Rifle Shooters bagged the Girls’ Championship in 2012 and the Best shooter award. The College was able to bag the Badminton All Island runners up ( A – Division).
The exemplary character of Madam Principal has been a terrific motivation and stimulation for Devi Balika which accommodates thousands of budding students who are satisfied with nothing, but the best. Her strict discipline gives nothing but strict discipline upon students.
The school is now being developed under the 1000 secondary schools modernisation project by the Ministry of Education.
Devi Balika Vidyalaya is not just another school, but it is blessed and strengthens the nation with well moulded ladies. The school has fulfilled her responsibility to society by producing the best professionals in all fields.