Sri Sumangala College Panadura
An Eulogy On A Centenary
Sri Sumangala College,established on the 3rd of march,1909,had first Head Master,THOMAS GUNARATNE,Esq...supported by Assistant Masters Philip & Michael Bharethi
The first students were the two sons Walter & Richard, of the founder, M.Mathes Salgado, who were then studying in St. John's College, Panadura.
77 students were when the school re-opened after the new Year Holidays. Sri Sumagala College was registered as a Grant-in-aid School on 16th of May, 1911
K.T Wimalasekara who came from St. John's College, joined the School Cricket team, and gained a name as a fast bowler. Mr. & Mrs P. de S.Kularatne joined hands in 1929 to establish Sri Sumangala Girls' School.
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in 1997, Mr. k Somapala of the Grade 01 of Principals' service was appointed the Deputy Principal, and Mr.E.G.A. Sunil appointed the Assistant Principal
1998,September 21 was the MOHOTTIWATTE GUNANANDA COMMEMORATION DAY. On the Morning of December 26, the Tsunami Struck, and whole South Western Coastal belt was ravished
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Sri Sumangala College was not spared.The western wall and the row of class rooms built on the Western boundary of the play ground was devastated.have lot of damages in whole school.. First proposal to shift the College tb better ground came at a meeting.. time ago
found several blocks of land in the Industrial Zone, in the Army Camp and the CTB land adjoining the Army Camp. On September 8, the Army moved on to the College Premises officially. At 8.33 a.m. the moving of the College to Wekada,,began,and with the blessing of the Maha Sangha. September 16 was the Last Day of the Term,as well as the day to bid Good-bye to Nalluruwa premises of Sri Sumangala College
September 27 was a Special Day for Sri Sumangala College.. The Tsunami of December 26,2004 destroyed the buildings of Sri Sumangala College,and the it moved to Walau watta, Wekada.The Opening Ceremony of the Phase 1 of the New Building of Sri Sumangala College was take place on September 27. 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. 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. 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 .
