31st anniversary of Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda

 Kumudu Pieris

It is with great satisfaction and happiness that Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya looks back at the past 31 years of her contribution to the field of education in Sri Lanka. Amidst all the obstacles and difficult periods that she had to undergo, she seems to be emerging better than her previous years to celebrate her anniversary on the 1st of February.

Established on February 1, 1977 under the patronage of Ven. Weerangule Sri Saranatissa Thera, Vehera Devi stands against a disciplined Buddhist background making her students face the society with courage, wisdom and good moral values.

The brainchild of the late President J. R. Jayawardene, Vehera Devi was blessed with generous contributions of the well-wishers who wanted to have a good girls' school in Kiribathgoda area. There were lots of other people behind this Herculean task of making a new school come into action. R. S. Perera, the former MP, the then Director of Education P. Kariyawasam, and the former Circuit Educational Officer P. Piyasena are some of them.

At the same time, Vihara Maha Devi was gifted with the most talented Mrs. Amara Wickramasinghe, who had already marked herself as an eminent educationist, as her first principal.

It might not have been an easy task for her, as most of the parents of the area had their doubts in the newly opened school. Yet, with her commitment and dedication, Vehera Devi could reach the pinnacle of her success at 31 years of age, having produced the 1st place in the Advanced Level Examination within her short history. Now, Vehera Devi cannot accept the large number of applicants for Grade 1, and many parents are disappointed having being refused.

The credit of the success of the school should go to all the principals who held office at Vehera Devi, and we cannot forget the utmost dedication and commitment they showed in making the school a much sought after girls' school in Gampaha district.

The second principal Kumari Weerasooriya did not have much time to serve, yet she is always remembered as one of the most important people in the history of Vehera Devi.

The next principal, Mrs. Sumana Premadasa, took Vehera Devi under her wing and served for 14 years and she was determined to make the school complete with all the privileges enjoyed by the students of popular Colombo schools.

It was not an easy task to make the dream swimming pool a reality, but she could do it with the generous co-operation of the Old Girls' Association of the school and the well-wishers.

At the same time, we must not forget the dedication and the commitment of the teachers of the school who act as the facilitators in bringing up the best in every student.

Vehera Devians have excelled themselves in both academic and extra-curricular areas. While giving the best results in both GCE O/L and A/L, they have shown their talents in other areas such as chess, karate, general knowledge, Guiding and swimming. Surrounded by the majestic row of weeping willows in a serene atmosphere, Vehera Devi today faces the future with confidence and determination under the wings of the new Principal, Mrs. Anoma Shyamalee Abeyratne, who took office after a brief spell of Neelamani Malaviarachchi. She assumes her duties with utmost courage and commitment to steer the school towards the latest developments in the arena of education.

To mark the anniversary, the school health society has organised a blood donation campaign, there will be an alms giving to 31 bhikkhus, and a web site on the school will be launched.

With the statue of Princess Vihara Maha Devi in front of the school showing what courage, commitment and determination is, Vehera Devians are hopeful to take up another year of excellence and to mark her name as one of the most sought after girls' school in the country. Let's wish her all the luck and May all the dreams of her come true!