St. Paul’s Girls' School
Location
Milagiriya, Colombo

Information
TypeNational School
MottoLatin: Per Aspera ad Astra
Established14 January 1887 (1887-01-14)
FounderSt. Paul's Church of Milagiriya
Staff140 academic staff
GenderGirls
Age5 to 19
Enrollment4,500
HousesBhakti, Deepthi, Keerthi, Maithri, Pragathi, Shakthi
Colour(s)Red and White
Former pupilsOld Paulians

St. Paul’s Girls' School is a National school for girls situated in Milagiriya, Colombo. The school was founded on 14 January 1887 as a Parish school affiliated to St. Paul's Church (Milagiriya) with 24 students and 4 teachers and the first principal was Stella Coban (1887 – 1892). In the early years of the school the majority of the students belonged to the Burger community and the medium of education was English. In 1957 the school provided education in Sinhala, Tamil and English mediums.

The school was taken over by the state on 15 December 1961. The school was announced as a Buddhist school in 1964. The annual pirith chanting program was inaugurated in 1966 during the administration of principal, Barbara Gunaasekara. In 1984 a sapling of the Sri Mahabodhi was planted in the school grounds, during the time of principal, K. Pitigala.

In February 1993 during the administration of principal, Gothami Fernando, the school was declared a National School. Today the school has more than 4,500 students with 150 academic staff and 25 non-academic staff.

Principals

The following are principals from the time of foundation to the present:[1]

  • Stella Coban (1887-1922)
  • Eda Ondatchi (1922-1937)
  • Agnes Spittel (1937-1940)
  • Honor Rover (1940-1947)
  • Thelma Bud Jansz (1947-1955)
  • E. P. Roper (1955-1958)
  • Grace Paul (1958-1964)
  • Pearl Ratnayake (1964-1967)
  • Barbara Gunasekera (1967-1985)
  • K. Pitigala (1985-1989)
  • Hema Wellalage (1989-1990)
  • Gothami Fernando (1990-1995)
  • I. P. Alahakoon (1995-2004 )
  • Geetha Gunawardena (2004-2014)
  • Sumedha Jayaweera (2015–2023)
  • Chandi Siriwardene (2023 to present )

Notable alumni

Name Notability Honors and awards
Chandani Seneviratne Actress Dubai International Film Award, a Presidential Award, a Sarasaviya Award, a Lanka Live Award and a Hiru Golden Film Award
Kaushalya Fernando Actress
Yashoda Wimaladharma Actress
Menik Kurukulasuriya Actress
Damitha Abeyratne Actress
Paboda Sandeepani Actress Raigam tele award, Sumathi award
Umayangana Wickramasinghe Actress
Sujani Menaka Actress
Uresha Ravihari Singer
Abhisheka Wimalaweera Singer

General References

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