Hillwood College, Kandy:

THANK HISTORY FOR HILLWOOD

Ridma Dissanayake

The Past Pupils’ Association (PPA) of Hillwood College performs a vital role in the development process of the school.

Principal, H C K Sudarshani Hettige	Patron, Rani Abeyratne

The Colombo Branch of the PPA recently celebrated its Golden Jubilee. The Colombo Branch of the Hillwood PPA was established in 1963 by the efforts of Edith Ratwatte with the able assistance of Seela Gopallawa and Dulcie Wijenaike. Ms. Ratwatte’s main objectives in forming the association were to bring together; foster friendship and service among past pupils of Hillwood living in and around Colombo, while working closely with the parent body in Kandy to support their Alma Mater by promoting projects of benefit to the school.

Sharmini Wickramasinghe, the current Chairperson of the Hillwood College PPA (Colombo Branch), explained that the Colombo Branch intends to continue to contribute their services and work on strengthening their relationships with the parent body in Kandy and the College. They would also join hands with the parent body in Kandy in supporting the school in all its development activities.

“We are organising a massive event in the coming year in order to support the school in renovating the school chapel,” said Wickramasinghe.

The history

President, Sharmini Wickramasinghe

Secretary, Nelika Rajapakse

Treasurer, Anushani Narangammane

On October 17, 1888 a ship set off from London and reached Colombo in January 1889, bringing with it two young ladies of the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society (CEZMS) named Elizabeth Bellerby and Ethel Jones who had responded to an appeal made by the Church of England to set up a school for Kandyan girls which would provide the opportunity for them to be educated along the same lines as the boys school, Trinity College, founded in 1872 to educate the sons of Kandyan chieftains.

No one on that ship would have imagined in their wildest dreams that the little lady in her long white dress with a prayer book in hand would form a school that would last over a hundred years. But to Miss Bellerby who believed that “God moves in a mysterious way; His wonders to perform” there would have been no fear or any hesitation in coming to the East to answer God’s call through the Church Missionary Society of England enabling the mission to find Hillwood College.

Hillwood College in Kandy was founded in 1890 and has now become one of the prestigious girls’ schools in the Central hills of the country and is among the leading girls’ colleges in Sri Lanka. Steeped in a rich history and tradition, the school has stood the test of time to complete 123 years of scholastic education to generations of young women in the country. Throughout this period Hillwood College has produced a number of eminent daughters who have brightened Mother Lanka.

The first principal

Elizabeth Bellerby was the first principal of the Hillwood College, Kandy and served as the principal from 1889 to 1911. Following Miss Bellerby, a number of great ladies held the position of Hillwood College Principal. According to the school history Lena Chapman (1911-1931), Mary Dorothy Rigg (1931-1944), Elenor M Foss (1944-1946), Somakumari Samarasinghe (1947-1964), Barbara De Alwis (1964-1977), Nimalathevi Perera (1977-1990) and S R Rathnayake (1990-2005) served as principals of Hilwood College with a great sense of dedication. Miss. Sudarshini Kumari Hettige, who took over the reins in 2005, has led the school on a well-planned track of development since she began her responsibility as Principal of Hillwood College.

During the past eight years, all aspects of the school including the academic, aesthetic, sports and other extracurricular activities have grown and developed under the leadership of Principal Sudarshini Hettige.

“We have a strong academic and non academic staff in both primary and secondary levels. The teachers of these levels and the academic results which they have helped to obtain are a pride and joy to us. Hillwood has become a leader in the sports arena as well. The great support and dedication of our Vice Principal Nelum De Alwis, all sectional heads, all academic and non academic staff are a great encouragement to me and have made Hillwood College a most prestigious girls’ school in the country,” Sudarshani Hettige said.

Breaking through barriers

A strong determination and a desire for excellence can do a great deal in the time space of 123 years. Hillwood College which started with just a handful of students and teachers certainly has done ‘a great deal’ and written a story of tremendous progress and phenomenal success in its pages of history. Under the dedicated leadership of the current principal Ms. Hettige with the support of the hardworking staff, the students of Hillwood are being guided to a glowing future.

Breaking through barriers and overcoming obstacles which invariably crop up on the way forward, inspired by the vision of Sudarshani Hettige and spurred on by the dedication, commitment and perseverance of all who are a part of the school’s extended family, Hillwood College has grown from strength to strength, climbing step by step; not simply fulfilling, but surpassing expectations. Success stories of Hillwood students are abound. Climbing their way up the ladder of success they have distinguished themselves as illustrious citizens of Sri Lanka.

High standards in education

While maintaining high standards in education and recording the best overall performance in the Grade Five Scholarship Examinations, GCE A/L and O/L examinations, Hillwood College also encourages its students to participate in Sports, Girl Guiding, Performing Arts and Aesthetics - creating an enabling environment for them to discover and showcase their latent talents.

The school prefects 2013

The current committee

The preeminence of any educational institution is derived from the invisible but potential strength of its Alumni, who by their involvement contribute greatly to the growth and well being of their Alma Mater. The aim of the PPA is to keep alive in the hearts of the Alumni, memories of the College, its ideals, values and achievements. It serves as a bridge, linking the college with its daughters who are scattered all over the world. During the last year the PPA has assisted Hillwood financially by organising film shows and musical events for the benefit of the school.

The Colombo Branch

The Colombo Branch of the Hillwood PPA was inaugurated in 1963, under the patronage of Seela Rambukwella Gopallawa, wife of the then Governor General Sir William Gopallawa. The office bearers of the first committee were, Seela Rambukwella Gopallawa, who held the position of Patron while Dulcie Dunuwilla Wijenaike, Lois De Silva, Indrani Ratwatte Kehelpannala and Anthea Jonklaas held the position of Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Recoding Secretary respectively at the beginning of the PPA branch of Hillwood College.

A number of distinguished daughters of Hillwood College PPA have contributed greatly to the development of the society with the leadership of Dulcie Dunuwilla Wijenaike (1963-1983), Chitra Molagoda Wedande (1984-1986), Tilaka Karalliyadde De Silva (1987 - 1992), Mavis Gurusinghe Dabare (1993-1994), Ranee Karalliyadde Abeyratne (1995-1996), Hermie Liyanage Walatara (1996- 1997), Dr.Sheila Halpe Navaratne (1997 - 1998), Padmini Pethiyagoda Jayasinghe (1998 - 1999), Venetia Weeratunge (2000 - 2002), Ira Weerakoon Dayaratne (2003 - 2006), Dr. Irenie Wegodapola Ratnayake (2007 - 2012) and Sharmini Bandaranayake Wickramasinghe (2013 - to-date).

The present office bearers of the Hillwood College, PPA Colombo Branch comprises Sharmini Bandaranayake Wickremasinghe - Chairperson, Veronica Madawala - Vice Chairperson, assisted by Nelika De Soysa Jayasooriya Rajapakse and Kishali Mendis who hold the positions of Secretary and Assistant Secretary while Anushani Narangammana and Thanuja Madawala Gooneratne hold the positions of Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.

The committee members are Shanika Talwatte, Dinukshi Tennekoon, Hemanthi Bulathwatte, Sharlene Muthumudalige, Premali Munasinhe, Shrijitha Dissanayaka, Madumali Jayasundara, Dinoo Jayawardena, Shashikala Pieris, Brenda Jacob, Nadeesha Aluwihare, Himeshi Fernando, Lalani Aluwihare, Upamallika Nanayakkara, Loretta Weerasinghe, Udayangani Bulumulla, Asha Perera, Thanuja Gammampila, Vidya de Saram, Sachini Alwis and Janani Rajanayake.