Devi Balika Vidyalaya: a remarkable story heading for a catastrophic end?

by Jayanthi Edirisinghe

(nee Witanachchi), Professor Emeritus, University of Peradeniya

The current developments about the future of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Borella, are heartbreaking to any student who passed through its portals. The Colombo Telegraph of May 2, 2021 reports of “alleged efforts to shift a reputed all–girls’ school situated in Colombo-8 to a new location outside Colombo city limits”.

This no doubt refers to Devi Balika Vidyalaya in Borella. The underlying story is that it stands on prime land coveted commercially in the present context of rocketing land value. A multi-millionaire has proposed to donate 100 million LKR to the school to develop a new facility for the A/L science stream by shifting it to a new location elsewhere.

Devi Balika Vidyalaya, founded in 1953, is a government school with Dr. (Mrs.) Wimala de Silva appointed as the founder principal. The school at its inception was named Government Girl’s College, Castle Street and later as Devi Balika Vidyalaya, the first school in Sri Lanka to emulate the noble Vihara Maha Devi concept.  In establishing Devi Balika, the vision was to produce such brave females whom the country would be proud of. Such was the foresight of the founders of Devi Balika that had a humble beginning with classes conducted from Grade 9-12 for a student body of 53 girls with five teachers.

The school presently stands on a land area of 2.5 hectares. Right in front of the school is the Borella cemetery or Kanatta, that gave rise to its popular name– ‘Kanatta Central’ by students in boys schools. At the inception of the school, it had classes from Grade nine to 12, and in later years, more grades were added on up to Grade six to accommodate students who have successfully passed the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. A hostel was established in 1997 with the help of alumni to house scholarship students who entered the school from distant places. Their presence added a new dimension to the school, giving a new life to bright children from remote schools.

I was fortunate to be admitted to Devi Balika in 1962 on passing the entrance test to the school. I had to leave my former school, a leading Buddhist school in the outskirts of Colombo that did not teach especially zoology as it involved dissection of animals. Hence, students intending to do medicine and allied sciences left for either Visakha or Devi Balika.

Going to Devi Balika was a whole new experience for me and a turning point in my life. There I met girls of different ethnic backgrounds; Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, of different religions; Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Catholic and students from different social backgrounds, all of whom are friends to date. The strong friendship bonds made at a very tender age with girls of similar ages but of different backgrounds was what is unique about Devi Balika Vidyalaya, not seen in any other leading government girls school in Sri Lanka even today.

Even the teachers at Devi were multi-ethnic and multi-religious. I vividly remember our English teacher, whom we all loved then and even now, who taught us not only English but many lessons in life. She was a newly graduated young, pretty Muslim lady, well known in society today. The chemistry teacher, yet another young fair lady who wore a black ‘pottu’ on her forehead was admired by us for her beauty, colourful sarees and the way she taught the subject.

Our zoology teacher wore a huge red ‘pottu’on her forehead but spoke flawless Sinhala. These teachers along with many other Sinhala teachers who taught other subjects moved in harmony. The teacher’s room was full of chatter and a variety of sweet meats of several ethnic origins during the tea interval. Such was the setup at Devi Balika Vidyalaya where a truly cosmopolitan society existed.

Of the extra-curricular activities, Girl Guiding needs special mention. Late Mrs. Venetia Gamage who was our very first class teacher at Devi was our biology teacher and the teacher in charge of Guiding. Training under her as a Girl Guide added a new dimension to us then and even now. She inspired me to be what I am today- a biologist by profession. The school thus gave us the opportunity and confidence to trust, befriend and help all communities in Sri Lanka. That friendship, which we are proud of was carried through life, passed on to our children and even to grandchildren, a feature unique to Devians. 

The discipline and the good qualities that Dr. Wimala de Siva inculcated in us made us balanced citizens and professionals. In my working life at the university, I have taught undergraduates of all ethnic, religious and social backgrounds. I guided many of them through research to earn their postgraduate degrees and they later joined universities and research institutes here and abroad. They carry the spirit that was kindled in me at Devi Balika. The school may not have produced leading politicians, but certainly professions and mothers that society can be proud of.   

The current scene

The world now is a different place compared to what my generation experienced as school children. We are at a stage in human history where people, degrees and many other things in life can be bought for money. Tragically, we see that even schools can be bought. A well-structured school on the lines of equality and equanimity geared to produce many generations of responsible girls, who later become mothers and professionals cannot be compared to a commercial venture that may even be a gamble under the prevailing Covid-19 context.

More than half a century has elapsed since the school was founded. Sri Lanka is gifted with thousands of patriotic, talented and skilled daughters dedicated to duty and service to their motherland, who have brought fame to their school in return. If the school is shifted to a new location (even in part) it will no longer be the same. The children that pass through the new gates will not be the same. The teachers would no more be the same and would not have the same enthusiasm.

It will be a slow death to the‘ Kanatta Central’ if it has to leave the Kanatta area. The saying goes that the location of Devi Balika is testimony to our journey in life, starting near the Castle Street Maternity Hospital in Borella and ending near the Borella Kanatta. What is going to happen to the school under the present circumstances is unclear. As the Buddhist saying goes, aniccavata sankara – all things are impermanent,

As the Devi motto goes –

“Manasa Sanvutha Dheera – They who are restrained in mind are wise”, I appeal to all Devians to be restrained and cautious at this hour of need. We need to save our school from this great calamity by peaceful means.

On behalf of all Devians, I appeal to the First Lady of this country to save this unique leading all Girls school in Colombo from impending catastrophe.