Visakha Vidyalaya

Infobox_University
name = Visakha Vidyalaya


caption = The crest of Visakha Vidyalaya
motto = Pannaya Parisujjhati
Pali ("by wisdom is one cleansed")
established = 1917
type = Public
principal = Mrs. R. N. Amarasinghe
faculty = 150
students = 4000
colors = Gold and Blue
city = Colombo
country = Sri Lanka flagicon|Sri Lanka
website= [http://www.visakhav.org/ Visakha Vidyalaya]

Visakha Vidyalaya is a leading girls school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is a Public School controlled by the Central government providing primary and secondary education.

History

The school was established in 16th of January, 1917 by the late Mrs. Jeremias Dias as Buddhist Girls College in a house called 'The Firs' in Turret Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was the desire of Mrs Jeremias Dias to train the school girls according to the Buddhist moral values and principles through this institute. In 21st of November 1927 it moved to its present premises in Vajira Road, Colombo and named Visakha Vidyalaya(Visakha College) by Lady Herbert Stanley the wife of the Governor of Ceylon at that time. From its humble beginnings, it has risen to the position of the leading girls' school in this island.Fact|date=October 2007 Science subjects in to its curriculum in 1946, for the first time in a girls school in Sri Lanka.

chool Motto

The school's motto is from the Alavaka Sutta in the Sutta Pitaka of the Tripitaka. When the yakkha Alavaka first confronted Lord Buddha, he threatened to exterminate Lord Buddha unless He, Lord Buddha where to answered all his questions. One of the questions asked was "Kathansu Parisujjhati" (how is one cleansed) to witch Lord Buddha replied, "Pannaya Parisujjhati" (by wisdom is one cleansed).

Houses

There are 6 houses at Visakha. They are,
*Motwani
*Weerasooriya
*Pulimood
*Jayatilake
*Dias
*Dawes

ports

Sports played at Visakha are,

* Athletics
* Badminton
* Basketball
* Chess
* Chinese Wushu
* Cricket
* Diving
* Gymnastics
* Hockey
* Kabaddi
* Karate
* Netball
* Scrabble
* Squash

* Swimming
* Synchronized Swimming
* Table Tennis
* Tennis
* Volleyball
* Waterpolo

The current school captain is Ayumi Manawadu,a grade 12 Maths student.Deputy school captains are Rochana Cooray(science section) and Lakmini Diwakara(commerce section)

Clubs & Societies

* Interact Club of Visakha Vidyalaya
* Debate
* Drama
* Model UN
* Sinhala Literary Association
* & many more societies...

Past Principals

*Dr. Bernice T. Banning - Jan. 1917 - Dec. 1917
*Miss J. Ganguli - Jan. 1918 - Mar. 1920
*Miss H. Westbrook - Mar. 1920 - Jan. 1921
*Miss D. C. Devereaux - Feb. 1921 - May 1922
*Miss E. L. Fletcher - May 1922 - May 1924
*Miss G. H. Pearse (Act.) - May 1924 - May 1925
*Miss S. E. Lowe - May 1925 - Sept.1926
*Miss G.H. Pearse - Sept.1926 - Apr. 1933
*Mrs. MacDonald (Act.) - May 1933 - Jun. 1933
*Mrs. C. L. Motwani - Jun. 1933 - Apr. 1945
*Mrs. S. G. Pulimood - May 1945 - Jul. 1967
*Mrs. H. S. Jayasinghe - Jul. 1967 - Jun. 1983
*Mrs. S. E. Siriwardhana - July 1983 - Dec. 1987
*Mrs. M. N. Edussuriya - Jan. 1988 - Oct. 1999
*Mrs. R. M. L. Jayasekara - Oct. 1999 - Nov. 2001
*Mrs. M. D. I. N. Siriwardhana - Nov. 2001 - July 2003
*Mrs. R. N. Amarasinghe - July 2003 - July 2007
*Mrs. C. R. Gunarathne - July 2007 - Present

Distinguished Old Girls

*Sumitra Peries - Filmmaker and Sri Lanka's Ambassadar to France
*Inoka Sathyangani - Film director and producer
*Ruchira Silva - Fashion designer

See also

*Education in Sri Lanka

External links

* [http://www.visakhav.org/ Visakha Vidyalaya]