History

Tracing the journey of Devi Balika Vidyalaya since 1953.

Inception and Vision

  • Devi Balika Vidyalaya, originally known as "Castle Street Girls’ College", was founded in 1953 by Deshabandu Dr. (Mrs.) Wimala De Silva, a distinguished educationalist and the first female university chancellor in Sri Lanka, with only 53 students and a staff of 5 teachers.
  • The primary aim was to provide quality higher education to academically gifted young girls, especially those interested in science.
  • Dr. De Silva envisioned nurturing honorable, responsible, and gracious women who would bring credit to the nation’s womanhood.

Key Milestones

  • 1953 - Castle Street Girl’s College was founded with a total of 53 students and 5 teachers.
  • 1954 - 5 girls were selected for University out of 8 girls who sat for the exam for the first time.

  • The first batch of Girl guides were initiated.
  • 1954 - Building of the shrine place.
  • 1957 - Birth of the Past Pupils’ Association.

  • 1954 - Building of the shrine place.
  • 1957 - Birth of the Past Pupils’ Association.
  • 1960 - First Science Exhibition.

  • 1972 - Admitting students from the scholarship examination for the first time.
  • 1979 - Start of first grade.

  • 1981 - Registered as a national school.
  • 1983 - Receive adjacent land in the school name.
  • 1989 - The renovated shrine place was opened.

  • 1992 - The first prize giving held with Deshabandu Dr.(Mrs.) Wimala De Silva as chief guest.
  • 1995 - Opening of the computer labs.
  • 1997 - Donation of the hostel building by Mrs. Pushpa Hewawitharana to the school.

  • 1998 - Opening of the school’s multi-purpose auditorium.
  • 1999 - Achieving all island Athletics championship for the first time by Kalani Seneviratne.
  • 2000 - Renaming the multi-purpose auditorium as “Wimala De Silva Auditorium”.

  • 2001 - Celebrating the devi archival day and exhibition for the first time.
  • 2001 - Opening of the new library, dental and “Devi Archives”.

Past Principals

Meet the esteemed past principals of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, who have shaped the school's legacy and guided generations of students.

Dr. (Mrs.) Wimala De Silva

1953 to 1966

Mrs. Kalyani De Zoysa

1967 to 1985

Mrs. Mercy Edussuriya

1986

Mrs. Soma Subasinghe

1987

Mrs. Jayanthi Pinnagoda

1988 to 1995

Mrs. Kalyani Lakshman

1995 to 2004

Mrs. Ranuka Malalasekara

2004 to 2008

Mrs. W.D.P.K. Samarasinghe

2009 to 2023

Ms. Subhashini Dematagoda

2023 to 2024