Ladies College, Colombo
| C.M.S. Ladies’ College, Colombo | |
|---|---|
| File:C M S Ladies' College Crest.jpg | |
| Location | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent Private |
| Motto | Haec Victoria Nostra Fides Latin - (This is our victory, even our faith) |
| Established | 1900 |
| Founder | Lilian Nixon |
| Principal | Nirmali Wickramasinghe |
| Gender | Girls |
| Age | 6 to 18 |
| Enrollment | 1700 |
| Colour(s) | Red White |
| Website | www.ladiescollege.lk |
C.M.S Ladies' College is a private girls' school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is located at 66 Sir Earnest De Silva Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
Foundation
The college was founded by the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S) in 1900. It's motto is "Haec Victoria Nostra Fides", meaning "This is our victory, even our faith".
History
Lilian Nixon (Principal 1900 -1923)
The Ladies College began with Lilian Nixon, an Irish woman of 26, fired with a belief in the importance of education for women, and with the courage and the vision to come out to a far-flung colony of the British Empire Ceylon to found a school for women. Ladies College was founded by her in 1900 in a large bungalow in Union Place, Slave Island, Colombo, with two students enrolled.
In 1914 Lilian Nixon resigned due to ill health and the college registered as a Grant in Aid school.
Gwen Opie (Principal) 1917-1944
The period 1917 – 1944 for Ladies College marked the stewardship of a new Principal, Miss Gwen Opie.
Once Ladies College was established as a Grant-in-Aid school, Miss Opie began new buildings for the school.
Miss Opie died in 1944 and was buried in General Cemetery Kanatte. Miss Rita Opie took over as Acting Principal.
Mabel E Simon (Principal 1946-1968)
In 1945 there was a push towards abolishment of tuition fees in state aided denominational schools. Facilities in terms of teachers and equipment would be determined by the state which would bear the cost of the running of the school.
“The efforts to mitigate the evils of division inherent in teaching in three languages in a multi racial school, have proved effective. The fellowship engendered in Ladies” College remained unbroken during the may riots: only friendliness, co-operation and helpfulness were shown among pupils, staff and servants.”
In 1964 Miss Hitchcock was appointed Acting Principal. Miss Simon pushed to set up pre-vocational guidance services that would lead on to vocational guidance and help students find new careers.
Olive Hitchcock 1964-1968
Olive Hitchcock was appointed Acting Principal in 1964 on the retirement of Miss Simon. She was Miss Simon’s trusted lieutenant and advisor during the difficult years of shifting educational policy.
Mrs. Sirancee Gunawardena (Principal 1968-1998)
The decade that followed Mrs. Gunawardena’s appointment as Principal saw a further change of course in the country, to a policy of increasing State control. It was followed eight years later by an about turn to a liberalized economy that encouraged private enterprise.
Together with encouragement of sports activities there was the development of aesthetics. A rich tradition of music, drama and singing in English and more recently in the second half of the century in Sinhala and Tamil was encouraged. Whilst the need for English was downgraded in state schools, Ladies College saw fit to continue to view English as a modern living language. English therefore continued to be used as the medium of communication in the school.
"The most important fund raising project was in 1975 when the OGA collected money to establish the Department of Vocational Studies. This was to serve both the school and the community. It arose out of a need to cater to students who did not wish to continue at the universities. It also catered to a need in the wider community and society at large – equipping young people with the necessary skills to function effectively in their workplaces." [1]
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Dr Sriyanie Miththapala (Principal 1998 - 2003)
In 1998 Dr. Sriyanie Miththapala was appointed to succeed Mrs. Gunawardena. The centenary Anniversary celebrations started on Founders day and continued throughout the year with various events.
It can be said that at Ladies College the Principal is required to entrench whatever changes she brings about within a deeply rooted tradition and customs. This is indeed a complex challenge, but the school needs to surmount this seemingly paradoxical situation if the institution is to continue to play its role it has for the past 100 years.
The existence of an institution for over a century in itself demonstrates its ability to survive. To go a stepfurther, vigorously thrive within a turbulent period indicates a remarkable ability to adapt and adopt. Ladies College similar to other institutions could not escape the shifting patterns of time. “In the year 2000 we look back with pride and see an institution so deeply rooted, that it was able to weather the storms of a century. The effects of the changes that are being introduced at present can only be judged by future generations.” [2]
The College Today
This file may be deleted after Sunday, 29 November 2009.
C.M.S. Ladies' College is today located at 66, Sir Earnest De Silva Mawatha, Colombo 07. The current Principal is Nirmali Wickremesinghe, who was appointed as Principal in 2003.
C.M.S. Ladies' College today has established itself as one of Sri Lanka's leading schools with a multi-etchnic and multi-religious student population. It has a long tradition of empowering girls, of all races and creeds, through education. Currently, the school has about 1700 students on its roll, almost 200 staff. It offers education from pre-school through to the G.C.E. Advanced Level (local and London exams). [3]
At the GCE A/Level (local) Examination in 2007, 82% of the students qualified for university admission while over 50% of the students scored a final average of over 80% at G.C.E A/Level (London) Examination held in June 2008.[4]
Values
Its founder, Ms Lilian Nixon, stated that the school must be a place for three things:
"A place for sound learning, a place for a full, varied and natural life and a place for spiritual growth within the life of the church."[5]
School Hymn
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Our Father, by whose servants
Our house was built of old,
Whose hand hath crowned Her children
With blessings manifold,
For Thine unfailing mercies
Far- strewn along our way,
With all who passed before us,
We praise Thy name to-day.
The changeful years unresting
Their silent course have sped,
New comrades ever bringing
In comrades steps to tread;
And some are long forgotten,
Long spent their hopes and fears;
Safe rest they in Thy keeping,
Who changest not with years.
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They reap not where they laboured,
We reap what they have sown
Our harvest may be garnered
By ages yet unknown
The days of old have dowered us
With gifts beyond all praise:
Our Father, make us faithful
To serve the coming days.
Before us and beside us
Still holden in Thine hand,
A cloud unseen of witness,
Our elder comrades stand:
One family unbroken,
We join, with one acclaim,
One heart, one voice uplifting,
To glorify Thy name.
Houses at C.M.S. Ladies' College
- Nixon House - Motto: Excelsior
- Dale House - Motto: No attainment without effort
- Whitney House - Motto: Nothing less than the best
- Loos House - Motto: The utmost for the highest
Uniform
The school uniform of Ladies' College is a white, square-neck sleeveless dress.
Notable alumni
- Sivagami Dassanaike - former Minister of Health
- Dr Anila Dias Bandaranaike - former Assistant Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka [6] [7]
- Dara Wijetilleke, former Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Sri Lanka[8]; currently Secretary to the Ministry of Policy Planning and Implementation
- Manel Abeyratne - Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Germany and Thailand
- Aruni Wijewardene, Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Austria, Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations (Geneva); currently the Director-General of the United Nations and Multilateral Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [9]
- Prof Ryhana Raheem - Professor of English at the Open University of Sri Lanka[10] [11], Former Chairperson of Sri Lanka English Language Teachers Association (SLELTA)[12]
- Isankya Kodithuwakku, writer; winner of the Gratiaen Prize for Creative Writing (2006); winner of the State Literary Award (English, Short Story) 2006 [13]
References
- ^ Obeyesekere, Ranjini (ed); Ladies’ College, A Centennial Narrative 1900 – 2000
- ^ Obeyesekere, Ranjini (ed); Ladies’ College, A Centennial Narrative 1900 – 2000
- ^ The CMS Ladies' College Website, "The Principal's Report 2008"[1] Retrieved on 22 Nov 2009
- ^ The CMS Ladies' College Website, "The Principal's Report 2008"[2] Retrieved on 22 Nov 2009
- ^ Obeyesekere, Ranjini (ed); Ladies’ College, A Centennial Narrative 1900 – 2000
- ^ The Ladies' College Old Girls Website, "Board of Trustees"[3] Retrieved on 23 Nov 2009
- ^ De Silva, Harsh Dr, "Cabral The Joker Who Is Not Funny"[4] LankaNewspapers.com, 20 April 2009, Retrieved on 23 Nov 2009
- ^ Malalasekera, Sarath, "Ceremonial sitting to welcome President, Judge of Appeal Court"[5] Daily News (Online Edition, 28 April 2004, Retrieved on 23 Nov 2009
- ^ The CMS Ladies' College Website, "The Principal's Report 2008"[6] Retrieved on 22 Nov 2009
- ^ Raheem, Ryhana and Dr Dushy Mendis, "Researching Sri Lankan English through a corpus"[7] The Sunday Observer (Impact), 10 Feb 2008, Retrieved on 23 Nov 2009
- ^ Raheem, Ryhana, "Ladies' College 1900-2000: a centennial narrative"[8] The Daily News (Online Edition) (Book Review), 05 Jan 2004, Retrieved on 23 Nov 2009
- ^ SLELTA, "SLELTA Committee"[9] Retrieved on 23 Nov 2009
- ^ Eye-Features, "Isankya Wins Gratiaen Award 2006"[10] The Nation, 01 April 2008, Retrieved on 23 Nov 2009
External links
- Obeyesekere, Ranjini (ed); Ladies’ College, A Centennial Narrative 1900 – 2000
- Ladies college Web site
- Ladies College Oga web Site