President          :     Mrs. H. M. Wanigasinghe

   Secretary          :    Mrs. G. W. Shyamali, Mrs. M. A. G. K. A. Menike

   Vice President  :    Mrs. Malani Yapa Rajapaksha, Mrs. Theja Hewamanna

   Treasurer          :    Mrs. S. W. A. Upashriya

   Editor                  :    Mrs. Niluka Nishanthi Silva

The dawn of the 20th century saw the decimation of the Buddha Sasana and the Sinhala Language  at an alarming rate as a result of years of foreign rule and colonial suppression.  As a matter of fact, many young men and women, crazily racing to learn English, became converts to Christianity in order to find white collar jobs or even to get any kind of favour. Converts got the preference to get an English education “free of charge”. Thereby the Buddhist children were debarred from learning English.

The Sinhalese themselves began to look down upon their mother tongue. They even honoured and respected English and emulated western customs, culture and the life-style that emerged in its wake. This was the pathetic background  and the pitiful state of affairs that prevailed in the south of Sri Lanka.

This distressing hour of grave need awakened the eyes of many a patriot and an ardent Buddhist to rise to the occasion and unite to find an immediate solution to this burning problem.

Dr. V. D. Gunaratne,  the most suitable of the many erudite scholars who volunteered to step in, took the initiative to form a society, “The  Matara Buddhist Council” (MBC) of which he became the President with supportive committee members and well wishers. He brought forth the magnificient idea of opening a Buddhist Girls’ school in Matara with the aim of giving an English education within a background of Sinhala life-style, traditions, manners and customs.  

Consequently, this concept bore fruit in no length of time and on the 23rd of May, 1929 (although established in May, the school’s Anniversary is celebrated in June) the doors of this long needed and priceless institute, housed in the old ‘Nosegaha Walawwa’ at Nupe, Matara, were opened by Mrs. W. A. De Silva of Shravasti, Colombo to the great joy of all Buddhists. The ‘infant girls’ school was given the noble name of ‘Sujatha’. On this occasion Mrs. A. E. Mathews, brought down from India, was introduced to the crowd as the first principal of the school  which unfurled with 37 students and 4 teachers.

The institution, opened thus, progressed rapidly with the unstinted, generous backing and co-operation of the council members, the nobility and well-wishers.  As the number of pupils on roll increased more space and many other amenities were required.  More stalwarts became necessary to support the weight of the  school. At this instance mention needs to be made of  Messrs. E. T. Gunawardhana, M. D. T. Kulathilake, W. P. Wijetunga, D. N. J. Weerasooriya, T. F. D. Abeygunawardhana, C. A. Ariyatilake, W. P. A. Wickramasinghe, George Weeratunga, C. A. Harischandra and A. Dayaratne who made valuable contributions in money and kind for the maintenance  and upliftment of the school. 

With the amazing rise in the attendance of the school other necessities also emerged forcing the authorities to take steps to move the school to larger premises. About the year 1932, Sujatha Vidyalaya was shifted to a more spacious but antiquated house called “Mohotti Walawwa” on Gabadaweediya. Immediate steps were taken to expand the school by putting up temporary classrooms.  It was about  this stage that   the school got registered as a Recognized Educational  Institution.

I cannot refrain from mentioning the fact that there were three hostels existing at a certain period around mid 1930 in the history of Sujatha Vidyalaya. Plymouth House for the little ones on the Station road, Annex House for the teen - agers on Rahula road and Mohotti Walawwa on Gabadaweediya for extra teen - agers. Boys too studied up to standard three.

With the sudden demise of Dr. V. D. Gunaratne, the Spearhead of the institute, causing untold loss, the upward trend turned round to unforeseen chaos. The school funds dropped amazingly disabling even to make ends meet.  The Matara Buddhist Council also became inactive. Its members failed to pay promptly their membership fees. Sujatha faced a great set back on her path to progress.

However,  there was one benefactor who stood by in rain and sunshine.  The Accountant of the M.B.C. Mr. C. A. Ariyatilake, a great hero and man of the hour, rose to the occasion, took over the management of the school,  supplying the necessary requisites and covering  up the wages of the working staff all at his own expense. Thus the school was saved from a dreadful calamity, Mr. Ariyatilake goes into the annals of Sujatha Vidyalaya as a great ‘Savior’.

The posts of principals of the school  passed down in succession to Mrs. Doreen Young (wife of doctor S. A. Wickramasinghe)  Mrs. C. Amirthalingam, Mrs. Kamalan Graig, Miss F. D. L. Hastings,   Miss Mamen, Mrs. M. M. Perera and Miss de Seram (Mrs. Weerasinghe). Each one’s tenure of office was short lived.  During Miss de Seram’s term she brought down from Colombo  the creator of our National Anthem  Mr, Ananda Samarakoon, once a week or so to teach us singing.  We were taught the exact way to sing ‘Namo Namo Matha (beginning in the original way) with emphasis on words and phrases that arouse one’s National feelings.   He also earns the honour of composing, together with staff member, Miss Kusuma Abeywicrama,  the school Anthem  “Sathathina Lakambara Helicara Vajambe,” to the strain of “Bharata Jathika Geeya” during the last phase of my school career.  Thus their names also gain a notable place in the records of Sujatha Vidyalaya.

After Mr. C. A. Ariyatilake the reins of the management were handed over to Mr, David Wanigasekara.  During his tenure the Golden Age of Sujatha Vidyalaya dawned with Mrs. Regina  Balasuriya from Hikkaduwa, taking over the post of principal at the end of the term of  office of Miss de Seram (Mrs. Weerasinghe).

Thereafter, Sujatha was reborn, given a new life and became active again.  Under Mrs Balasuriya’s able guidance and skilful administration the school  rose to the top of the ladder of fame.  It was her treasured dream to see Sujatha Vidyalaya housed in its own premises and in its  own buildings.  She left no stone unturned to achieve this end.  With this great ambition rooted in her heart   Mrs. Balasuriya set out to collect more funds to suffice for the fulfilment of her  noble task.

At this juncture, permit me to take you off the track to enlighten you readers the ties that I, the writer, have with the school I am writing about.  During the period of Mrs. C. Amirthalingam, I was admitted to the Lower Kinder garten in January, 1934 when the school was housed in the premises then known as “Mohotti Walawwa” on Gabadaweediya.  There onwards I had my education up to the S.S.C form when I left the school  after  successfully  completing my Examination in 1945 and came back in January, 1949, to serve my Alma Mater on the staff until 1956.   It was on some date within this period that the S.V.O.G.A. was inaugurated on the instigation of Kamala Ponnukone, Jasmin Dheeraratne and myself.  We bear the honour of being the first joint secretaries, Kamala and I, the hony. treasurer, Jasmine, and Mrs. R. Balasuriya the first Patron of the S.V.O.G.A. It was while I was a student that the House System came into existence with their initial names Visakha, Viharamadevi , Kusinara and Lumbini. The Guide company  and Brownie Pack were also introduced during this era.

Coming back Mrs. Balasuriya, together with her loyal staff and Mr. Wanigasekara, the Manager, in collaboration with many well wishers, organized the “Sujatha Ulela” (Carnival).  It ran for two weeks with many supporters, not forgetting these outstanding names of Messrs M. P. Gunawardhana, C. A. Ariyatilake and A. Perera, helping it in numerous ways.  The name of Miss Cynthia Abeyratne, the hostel matron, who was a live wire, needs to be gratefully mentioned and remembered for participating and helping in every  sphere of work  apart from her own duties.

The “Sujatha Ulela” was thus a tremendous success. A property at Hittetiya, belonging to one Mrs, Thilakaratne, in close proximity to Rahula College, was bought  at a cost of Rs.16,000.00. 

Soon after, on a very fine day, I happened to accompany Mrs Balasuriya to see the land.  Standing under the shade of a coconut tree she made this remark, “How happy I feel to be under the shade of even a coconut tree that we can now call our own”.  These words still ring in my ears. Soon many new buildings came up. It was a dream come true!  On a very  auspicious  day and time, in accordance with Buddhist rites and customs, the new buildings were declared open by the then Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake.

Mrs. Balasuriya made no hesitation to put in all her might and main to develop  the school in all aspects.   Sujathians received their English Education in an entirely Buddhist environment and in the English Medium under dedicated and devoted teachers who always had the welfare  of the pupils at heart. I need to mention one such revered teacher  Mrs. Nelly Gunasekara nee Kahaduwa of Kithulampitiya, Galle  now 96 years old  and living in her last stages in Perth, Australia.

At this cross road, Mr. Wanigasekara who was getting feeble handed over all responsibilities  and management of the school to the safe hands of the State. Gradually a great deal of the school’s inadequacies were met with.

With a heart glowing with happiness and an ambition fulfilled Mrs. Balasuriya retired handing over to Mrs. L. Wedahita the full responsibility  of the school she so lovingly nurtured.  The name of Mrs. Regina Balasuriya will ever remain in the hearts of Sujathians with great Pride and Gratitude.  It will be inscribed in letters of gold in the annals of Sujatha Vidyalaya!  True to the word Mrs. Wedahita kept the school flawlessly going and the school flag flying high.

As the years went by and the attendance increased, the primary section had to be shifted to Welegoda housing them in buildings that already existed there.  Now it has progressed immensely.

Sujatha Vidyalaya developed and progressed speedily equally well in the fields of Sports and studies with more buildings coming up, allotting separate sections for the various branches in every field of learning opened to the children. There are plenty of  avenues for students to select from in accordance with their abilities and aptitudes. Classes run up from year 1 to the University Entrance.  Their final results are mostly gratifying and those who outshine step  out into society and the world spreading their radiance in their paths of life to the great pride of their Alma Mater and Mother Lanka.

Many were the Principals who subsequently followed in line contributing to the upliftment  of the school.

Permit me to say adieu for now to my Dear Readers leaving any balance and the future progress of the school to the next generation to put them into print.

In conclusion,  I sincerely wish my  Alma Mater all  success in every sphere of work  to rise to the place of the most illustrious and prestigious school in Southern Sri Lanka.  May the Sujathians be Noble, well Disciplined and exemplary  daughters, serving Mother Lanka as useful citizens!

May the Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem always be with You to guide Thee along!

Post Script   

A  random recall of just two stanzas vaguely remembered from the old School Anthem.

“My own Dear School wherever my footsteps wander, 
To thee alone my heart still turns again,
For thee my love grows fonder ever fonder,
Till in its mite it is akin to pain.

Ever to Thee I am bound by love and duty,
No place to me so dear in all the earth,
By all sweet ties of home and love and Duty,
I cling to thee Dear School that gave me birth”.

Indu Sedara Gunasekara 
33/1, Beach Road
Matara.
041-2224224
071-8164519

PROJECT REPORT FOR SCHOOL BUILDING & EQUIPMENT MAINTANACE COMMITTEE

Objective’s of the Committee – (According to Constitution)

        Repair all buildings & equipments and support to

       develop the infrastructure facilities of the school.

 References

Function has been completed during the years 2003, 2004 & 2005.

• Repair the toilets situated nearby the Senior class rooms.
• Fix the rare site gate.
• Repair two pianos.
• Repair the drainage system situated nearby the grade 8 class room.
• Repair the musical instruments for year 2005.

 

Projects which are in pipe line during this year.

• Supply, sound System for main hall.
• Support to settle the dues incurred to repair the buildings for year 2005.

 Fund Raising System

• Committee members’ fee.
• Special donations.   

 All financial transactions will be done through the bank accounts.

 Functions has been completed during the years 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009.

• Repair the school communication System.
• Repair the school bell System.
• Repair the ceiling of the office (Facing the play ground).
• Repair the 8 year class room.
• Demolished the old building to construct the new 03 storied building.
• Donated sale proceeds of lotteries to construct the new 03 storied building.

 Fund Raisings System for the Projects.

• Membership fees – Rs.3000/-
• Income from book marks.
• Income from lotteries.

 Objectives of the Committee has been preserved actively, happily more than eight years and dedicated to support as Old-Girls’ of the Committee in future also.

 

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          PRINCIPAL
SUJATHA VIDYALAYA
         MATARA