HISTORY
OF GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.KANDY
19th Century
In 1873 "the want of a 'Superior' school in connection with the Weleyan misson work was urged by Revd. Samual
Langdon and it was unanimously agreed that a Day and Boarding school should be commenced at Katukelle"
The school was opened in May 1879 at the Wesleyan School Chapel adjoining the Girls' Boarding School, Katukelle, under the management of Miss. Payne, the next Principal arrived in Colombo on 31th July 1879 but left the school in February 1880. In May 1880 Miss Hay came from England and the school which had a 10 on roll at its inception increased to 70 and was registered to obtain a grant-in-aid from the government.
As numbers increased in 1881 the school shifted to the more commodious precincts of the Mission in Brownrigg Street, but boarders remained at Katukelle. Classes were held in a hall behind the church. Heavy pews from the church were moved weekly when classes had to take their turn in writing. There were no games, Guiding, debating or netball, not even a library.
20th Century
With the dawn of the 20th Century., under the guidance of Miss. Sansom who served for 19 years, Kandy High School became one of the leading educational instructions in Ceylon. On March 21st 1917 the First Company of Girl Guides was formed in the Island. Miss Sansom prepared the way for this and Miss Jane Calveriey, the Vice-Principal was the First Captain. This was followed by the 1st Brownie Company and the Ranger Company in 1918 and 1921. In June 1920 plunge broke out in Kandy and 262 students were ordered to leave the premises over-night. The kindergarten and Std 2 shifted to Trinity College, Std 3 and 4 were housed at the YWCA opposite the police station and the senior girls at the YWCA near the Kandy lake. Miss. Calveriey had a busy time cycling from one place to another supervising the classes, so she invested in a scooter which make her day easier.
1920-1946 Exodus from Brownrigg Street YMCA, YWCA and Trinity College
Seven bullock carts and a lorry carried the school furniture back again to the former premises at Katukelle on 21st, 22nd and 23rd October 1920. Classes commenced on 28th October. In 1920 Miss Mallet who was appointed Principal revolutionized the school curriculum. She introduced school uniform, tie, badge and the House and Prefect System to the Island. Miss Ruth Allen the next Principal who piloted the school during World War II had a flair for languages and introduced Latin to Form VI classes. As part of the air-raid practices trenches were dug in the school and military huts were transformed in to classrooms.
1 The 1st Ceylonese Principal Miss from Mt.Holyoake College and the University iniliated the science course in Form VI and erected the main building which was designed by the architect of the Peradeniya University Shirley 'D' Alwis. In 1951 the school which was grade A School opted to join the free education scheme. It was during the the last of thegreat Methodist Principal Mrs.La Brooy that the Mission decided to hand over the school to the government and classes in the A.L's.
1964-1994
Mrs.Jayasinghe the 1st Old Girl to be appointed Principal gave due recognition to all four faiths and introduced a practical bias to the school curriculum. She was followed by her sister, a former School Captain, who had her entire schooling at Kandy High School. The School song was translated into Sinhala and the Western Band was formed in her time. During Mrs.Ekanayake 's tenure of two decades the school expanded in size and numbers and the landscape too changed, with the construction of the Centenary Building, the library block and the Labroory Building. As this educational institute was among the first 21 National schools, it was difficult to take in all who sought admission, so the grade 1-5 were gradually frozen from 1973. In 1990 Mrs.Amunugama who laid stress not only on academic studies initiated 'Colours Eve', 'Hostel Day' and 'Sanka Nartham'. Since fostering unity among the communities was her dream, she brought together all four faiths in workmanship. The Millen, the kindergarten was re-opened once again in 2001 after 28 years and in 2004 grade It was shifted shifted to Dodanwela. 125 years have lapsed since May 1879 but the mission of the pioneers of our school "to train girls to be women of character, to fit them to meet the strains and stresses of a wider life in the world, to be mature women, willing to serve their homes in or out" has not changed.
Unity in diversity
Our school is one of the very few schools which represent a cross-section of our pluralistic community where children from multi-ethnic and multi-cultural backgrounds are trained to live together as one, human family.
Follow on! Follow on! Follow on!
In 1873 "the want of a 'Superior' school in connection with the Weleyan misson work was urged by Revd. Samual
Langdon and it was unanimously agreed that a Day and Boarding school should be commenced at Katukelle"
The school was opened in May 1879 at the Wesleyan School Chapel adjoining the Girls' Boarding School, Katukelle, under the management of Miss. Payne, the next Principal arrived in Colombo on 31th July 1879 but left the school in February 1880. In May 1880 Miss Hay came from England and the school which had a 10 on roll at its inception increased to 70 and was registered to obtain a grant-in-aid from the government.
As numbers increased in 1881 the school shifted to the more commodious precincts of the Mission in Brownrigg Street, but boarders remained at Katukelle. Classes were held in a hall behind the church. Heavy pews from the church were moved weekly when classes had to take their turn in writing. There were no games, Guiding, debating or netball, not even a library.
20th Century
With the dawn of the 20th Century., under the guidance of Miss. Sansom who served for 19 years, Kandy High School became one of the leading educational instructions in Ceylon. On March 21st 1917 the First Company of Girl Guides was formed in the Island. Miss Sansom prepared the way for this and Miss Jane Calveriey, the Vice-Principal was the First Captain. This was followed by the 1st Brownie Company and the Ranger Company in 1918 and 1921. In June 1920 plunge broke out in Kandy and 262 students were ordered to leave the premises over-night. The kindergarten and Std 2 shifted to Trinity College, Std 3 and 4 were housed at the YWCA opposite the police station and the senior girls at the YWCA near the Kandy lake. Miss. Calveriey had a busy time cycling from one place to another supervising the classes, so she invested in a scooter which make her day easier.
1920-1946 Exodus from Brownrigg Street YMCA, YWCA and Trinity College
Seven bullock carts and a lorry carried the school furniture back again to the former premises at Katukelle on 21st, 22nd and 23rd October 1920. Classes commenced on 28th October. In 1920 Miss Mallet who was appointed Principal revolutionized the school curriculum. She introduced school uniform, tie, badge and the House and Prefect System to the Island. Miss Ruth Allen the next Principal who piloted the school during World War II had a flair for languages and introduced Latin to Form VI classes. As part of the air-raid practices trenches were dug in the school and military huts were transformed in to classrooms.
1 The 1st Ceylonese Principal Miss from Mt.Holyoake College and the University iniliated the science course in Form VI and erected the main building which was designed by the architect of the Peradeniya University Shirley 'D' Alwis. In 1951 the school which was grade A School opted to join the free education scheme. It was during the the last of thegreat Methodist Principal Mrs.La Brooy that the Mission decided to hand over the school to the government and classes in the A.L's.
1964-1994
Mrs.Jayasinghe the 1st Old Girl to be appointed Principal gave due recognition to all four faiths and introduced a practical bias to the school curriculum. She was followed by her sister, a former School Captain, who had her entire schooling at Kandy High School. The School song was translated into Sinhala and the Western Band was formed in her time. During Mrs.Ekanayake 's tenure of two decades the school expanded in size and numbers and the landscape too changed, with the construction of the Centenary Building, the library block and the Labroory Building. As this educational institute was among the first 21 National schools, it was difficult to take in all who sought admission, so the grade 1-5 were gradually frozen from 1973. In 1990 Mrs.Amunugama who laid stress not only on academic studies initiated 'Colours Eve', 'Hostel Day' and 'Sanka Nartham'. Since fostering unity among the communities was her dream, she brought together all four faiths in workmanship. The Millen, the kindergarten was re-opened once again in 2001 after 28 years and in 2004 grade It was shifted shifted to Dodanwela. 125 years have lapsed since May 1879 but the mission of the pioneers of our school "to train girls to be women of character, to fit them to meet the strains and stresses of a wider life in the world, to be mature women, willing to serve their homes in or out" has not changed.
Unity in diversity
Our school is one of the very few schools which represent a cross-section of our pluralistic community where children from multi-ethnic and multi-cultural backgrounds are trained to live together as one, human family.
Follow on! Follow on! Follow on!
THE FOREVER RECORDS OF KANDY GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL
First Lady Graduate in the island - Priscilla Marshall (1898)
First Lady Doctor to obtain the L.R.C.P. & S.(Edinburgh) Nelly R. Jardine (1898)
First Guide Company to be formed in Sri Lanka - (1917)
First Brownie Company to be formed in Sri Lanka - (1918)
First Ranger Company to be formed in Sri Lanka - (1921)
First Sri Lankan Guide Captain - Gladys Vanderstraaten (1921)
First Guide in Sri Lanka to obtain the 'All round cord'- Gladys Vanderstraaten (1921)
First Malay girl to matriculate in Sri Lanka - Moodah Chunchie (1925)
First Chinese girl to graduate - Dorothy Angie (1925)
First girl in Sri Lanka to be awarded the University Scholarship - Lily Fernando (1926)
First Kandyan Lady Graduate and the first to win the 'Tripos' of the Cembridge University - Soma Seneviratne (1927)
First girl in Sri Lanka to be trained in Physical Education at Lady Willingdon College - Nora Perera
First Sri Lankan Lady to get a Masters Degree in BioChemistry - Ratnabai Arulanaadham (1953)
First and only Sri Lankan to obtain a Ph.D. in Human Genetics - Eugene Jayasekera(1968)
First Sri Lankan Lady to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons - Nalini Ekanayake(1976)
First Sri Lankan to be elected Secretary of a Y.W.C.A - Margueratie Piachaud
First Home Science Inspectress - Lynda Oorloff
First Sri Lankan Lady Drughtsman - Stella David
First Sri Lankan Lady Auctioneer - Matilda de Silva
First Sri Lankan to be trained in the Montesssori System of education and also to establish the first Montesssori School in the island and to obtain a Doctorate in Montesssori Method - Lena Wickremaratne
First Sri Lankan Catholic Journalist Nun - Rev. Sister Norberta Wickremaratne
First girl acepted from Srilanka to the Y.M.C.A College of Phisical Education - Flora Rajapakse (1947)
First Lady to be Precident of a Multi Purpose Co-operative Society - Anula Ellepola Udalagama(1970)
-to serve on the National Sports Council,
-to serve on the University Council, Peradeniya.
First Deputy Director/Administration, Department of Animal Production and Health - Lalitha Dissanayake(1979)
First School to introduce Science to the School Curriculum(early 1920s)
First School to introduce Domestic Science to the School Curriculum(early 1920s)
First School to introduce the House System(1921)
First School to introduce the School uniform(1922)
First School to introduce the School tie(1922)
First School to introduce the School Badge
First School to introduce Kandyan Dancing to the School Curriculum(1952)
First Lady Doctor to obtain the L.R.C.P. & S.(Edinburgh) Nelly R. Jardine (1898)
First Guide Company to be formed in Sri Lanka - (1917)
First Brownie Company to be formed in Sri Lanka - (1918)
First Ranger Company to be formed in Sri Lanka - (1921)
First Sri Lankan Guide Captain - Gladys Vanderstraaten (1921)
First Guide in Sri Lanka to obtain the 'All round cord'- Gladys Vanderstraaten (1921)
First Malay girl to matriculate in Sri Lanka - Moodah Chunchie (1925)
First Chinese girl to graduate - Dorothy Angie (1925)
First girl in Sri Lanka to be awarded the University Scholarship - Lily Fernando (1926)
First Kandyan Lady Graduate and the first to win the 'Tripos' of the Cembridge University - Soma Seneviratne (1927)
First girl in Sri Lanka to be trained in Physical Education at Lady Willingdon College - Nora Perera
First Sri Lankan Lady to get a Masters Degree in BioChemistry - Ratnabai Arulanaadham (1953)
First and only Sri Lankan to obtain a Ph.D. in Human Genetics - Eugene Jayasekera(1968)
First Sri Lankan Lady to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons - Nalini Ekanayake(1976)
First Sri Lankan to be elected Secretary of a Y.W.C.A - Margueratie Piachaud
First Home Science Inspectress - Lynda Oorloff
First Sri Lankan Lady Drughtsman - Stella David
First Sri Lankan Lady Auctioneer - Matilda de Silva
First Sri Lankan to be trained in the Montesssori System of education and also to establish the first Montesssori School in the island and to obtain a Doctorate in Montesssori Method - Lena Wickremaratne
First Sri Lankan Catholic Journalist Nun - Rev. Sister Norberta Wickremaratne
First girl acepted from Srilanka to the Y.M.C.A College of Phisical Education - Flora Rajapakse (1947)
First Lady to be Precident of a Multi Purpose Co-operative Society - Anula Ellepola Udalagama(1970)
-to serve on the National Sports Council,
-to serve on the University Council, Peradeniya.
First Deputy Director/Administration, Department of Animal Production and Health - Lalitha Dissanayake(1979)
First School to introduce Science to the School Curriculum(early 1920s)
First School to introduce Domestic Science to the School Curriculum(early 1920s)
First School to introduce the House System(1921)
First School to introduce the School uniform(1922)
First School to introduce the School tie(1922)
First School to introduce the School Badge
First School to introduce Kandyan Dancing to the School Curriculum(1952)
HIGHLIGHTS
First School to introduce the School Badge
First School to introduce the House System ----------------------(1921)
First School to introduce the School uniform----------------------(1922)
First School to introduce the School tie------------------------------(1922)
First Lady Graduate in the island - Priscilla Marshall ------------ (1898)
First Lady Doctor Nelly R. Jardine -------------------------------------(1898)
First Guide Company to be formed in Sri Lanka ------------------- (1917)
First Brownie Company to be formed in Sri Lanka --------------- (1918)
First Ranger Company to be formed in Sri Lanka ----------------- (1921)
First Sri Lankan Guide Captain - Gladys Vanderstraaten---------(1921
First School to introduce the School uniform----------------------(1922)
First School to introduce the School tie------------------------------(1922)
First Lady Graduate in the island - Priscilla Marshall ------------ (1898)
First Lady Doctor Nelly R. Jardine -------------------------------------(1898)
First Guide Company to be formed in Sri Lanka ------------------- (1917)
First Brownie Company to be formed in Sri Lanka --------------- (1918)
First Ranger Company to be formed in Sri Lanka ----------------- (1921)
First Sri Lankan Guide Captain - Gladys Vanderstraaten---------(1921
Photo Gallery
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HOUSES
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| SANSOM HOUSE |
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| LANGDON HOUSE |
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LAWRANCE HOUSE |
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| EATON HOUSE |
SCHOOL SONG
Forty year on when we think of times olden
Memory will picture our girlshood’s bright years
Forty years on in the dim distance golden
Laughter still ringing,forgotten the tears
Smiling again as the outline grows bolder
Going once more through our work & our fun,
visions will leave us. Though foty years olden
Proud to the last of our school honours won
Chorus ....
Follow on, Follow on, Follow on, Follow on!!
Working hard now with book and with pens,
& thus earning the right to rest then
Follow on, Follow on!!
Meeting with zest, our opponents at netball,
Those where great matches we played on the pitch
Dancing & games & debates in he school hall
If but our lives could be once more so rich!
Greeting the goals scored with cheers that rang loudly
Watching the passing with joy or with fears
These be the memories that we’ll recall proudly
As we iook back through the dim distants years
Chorus...
Forty years on when afar & asunder
Parted are those who are singing to day
What we look back & foretfully wonder
What we were like in our work and our day,
Then it may be, ther will often come o’er us
Glimpses of notes like the catch of a song
Vision of girl hood shall float then before us
Echoes of dreamland shall bear them along
Chorus...
NEWS
BAND FIESTA
running around busy as bees. It was the day of ‘Maestoso 2007’, the indoor Band Fiesta organised by Girls’ High School, Kandy. The school’s senior band, consisting of 30 members along with the junior A and Junior B bands performed at this event. The Western bands of St. Anthony’s College, St. Anthony’s Convent, Mahamaya Girls’ College, Pushpadana Girls’ College and Ranabima Royal College from the Central Province and the Western bands of St. Paul’s Milagiriya and Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo also participated in this event held on April 2. This was the first time that the school had organised an indoor Band Fiesta and they hope to hold it every year.
With just minutes away from the opening of the grand performance, a few girls from the school’s senior western band stepped aside to share their views with Daily News Teen.
Band leader Ajanee Ranasinghe, 18, said she had been the band leader for one and a half years. She said the
 Tilani |  Udari |  Shalini |
“We play a variety of instruments: trombones, baritones, trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, side drums, tenor drums, tambourines and the bass drum. Our instrumental music includes English songs such as Bride of Seto, Elcondo Pasa, and Lapaloma.
We have Sinhala songs such as Kandula Ithin Sama Weyan and Sithin Prema Wadana, aimed at the younger crowd. A special item includes the song Ru Rasay Andina Lesay where our Kandyan dance troupe would join us on stage. We are all looking forward to the performance,” Ajanee explained.
Tilani Subasinghe, 19, says the fiesta would provide a good opportunity for all participating schools to recognise better means in improving their music.
“Lots of students will be inspired to join their school band after this function. This would encourage them to take part in aesthetic activities,” she said.” I have been captivated by music from childhood. I play the jazz drum
 Prabuddhi |
“We have been planning this event from August 2006. We stopped practises for a brief period because of our examinations and started again from January. Our practice sessions were held after school and during weekends.
All our members can play their instruments well,” smiled Sureni Sumathipala, 17, the side drum soloist. Sureni handled the drum role of some parts of a song all by herself while the other side drummers accompanied her with a stick drill.
Nimalshi Fernando, 16, handles the clarinet of the western band. She sees ‘Maestoso 2007’ as an opportunity preparing students to display their talents before others. This would aid them in their socialising process, she pointed out.
Nimalshi said: “I hope to proceed in this field. My father plays the drum and my grandmother can play the organ. My brother is also interested in music. I have taken part in school dramas and I can deliver speeches. I will give the vote of thanks at this event.”
Manthika Dissanayake, 18, plays the trumpet. Though she is a member of the Western band, Manthika does Eastern music as a subject. She expressed that ‘Maestoso 2007’ made way for them to take up responsibilities in organising the function.
 Nimalshi |  Manthika |
Prabuddhi Edirisinghe, 18, who handles the trombone and likes to play piano music as well was also looking forward to the event.
Udari Wickramasinghe, 18, believes that taking part in the annual Prashasthi indoor band fiesta organised by Ananda College, Colombo, had helped the girls to improve their abilities. She pointed out that opportunities to display teen talent are as beneficial as taking part in competitions. Udari keeps the band’s rhythm intact with the bass drum.
Shalini Ratnayake, 18, plays a dual role in the school’s Western band. She handles the saxophone as well as
 MERRIMENT IN HARMONY: The Senior Western Band of Girls’ High school, Kandy |
Not forgetting to give a thought to all those who have been supportive of them, the teens said they wish to convey their spacial thanks to the principal of Girls’ High school, Malkanthi Abeygunasekara, past principal, H.M. Wattaliyadda, teachers in charge, Ramani Wijesekara, the teacher in charge of the Kandyan dance troupe, Lalith Dissanayake and W.P.C. Weerakoddy, the two instructors, parents and friends. Then off they went back to practices and making arrangements for the grand event.
2009 Trip to Nuwaraeliya
( 13HL/13SSB )
Girls High School, Kandy, excelled at the National Table Tennis Championship organised by the Sri Lanka Table Tennis Association
2008 Social Science Day
Girls High School Chess champs
Girls High School, Kandy (under-19) and (under-14) were champions at the All Island Inter-School Chess Championship conducted by the Sri Lanka School Chess Association held recently at St. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela and St. Thomas’ Girls School, Matara.
The under-16 team were runners-up.
They were also runners-up in the under-15 and under-19 at the Sri Lanka Schools Games conducted by the Ministry of Education at Isipathana College, Colombo recently.
All teams were coached by Sarath Eriyagama.
Under-19 champions team (Standing from left): Ajani Gunasekera, Hansamali Aluwihare, Dulmini Karunatilake, Nihavi Pathirannnehe, Chathurika Kuruppu, Thilini Kaumadee. (Seated from left): Thilini Koswatta (Captain), Vineetha Abeykoon (Deputy Principal), Manel Wasala (Deputy Principal), Malkanthi Abeygunasekera (Principal), Padma Samarakoon (Deputy) Principal), Amitha de Alwis (Prefect of Games)
Nirmala Eriyagama (Teacher-in-Charge)
