St. Paul’s Balika celebrates 120th anniversary
St. Paul’s Balika Vidyalaya, Milagiriya which was inaugurated on January 14, 1889 as a Parish School affiliated to the Church of England celebrated its 120th anniversary recently.
The school which started with 24 students and four teachers now has nearly 4,000 students with 140 teachers on the staff.
St. Paul’s Balika Vidyalaya is located at the Portugese Church premises known as the Church of the ‘Miracle’. The word is derived from ‘milegro’ miracle, which later come to be known as Milagiriya.
By the time the school reached its 50th year in 1937, the number on the staff had risen to 15 with 225 students. At its centenary (1989) the number of the staff was 116 and the students on the roll were 3,365.
At the inception, the majority of the students were Burgher girls and the medium of instruction was English. Gradually Sinhala and Tamil too were added to the school curriculum. From 1962, the medium of instruction remained Sinhala.
A new epoch dawned in the history of the school with it being taken over by the government on December 16, 1961. Then onwards the gates of the school were opened to girls of every nationality and religion.
The first Principal was Miss. Stella Norman who has been succeeded by 13 principals. The services rendered by the Present Principal, Mrs. Geetha Abeygunawardena is noteworthy. Her devotion to maintain the prestige of the school is highly commendable. She has introduced several new subjects that would enable students to face the challenges of the modern world. She is very keen in improving the standard of English among the students.
Victory Through Difficulties
Through the clouds to the stars
