ඉතිහාසය

IN ENGLISH.

During the colonial period in the 19th century of Sri Lanka, Matara was administrated under the catholic missionary education. As a consequence of this missionary education system, Mahanama Viduhala (then it was named as S.C.P) was founded in a temporary building at the latter part of the 19th century. It was governed by the Anglican Church (Lanka Sabhawa) and it was popularly crown a great service to the people in Walgama area with the ulterior motives that the catholic missionary had established. The school thus continued providing a great education for the students who were from Polhena, Walgama, Madiha, and Wewahamanduwa.

     With the increase of student population, the Department of Education entrusted the missionary commission to obtain the necessary land for the school. Mr. Don Gabrel Dias was appointed as the principal in 1905. Since the missionary commission was unable to fulfill the needful, then the well-known Philanthropist Muhandiram (an honourable title) D.N. Weeratunga constructed a respective building for the school. Afterwards, the missionary school under the administration of the Anglican Church (Lanka Sabhawa) was only restricted for the boys and the classes were remained only up to Grade 08. The Pundit, Mr. K.D. Kulathilaka, who came from Kurunegala, was appointed as the principal on 25th November, 1925 and he was the principal until 31st of March, 1944. It was a period of renaissance so he commenced a class for the Senior School Certificate in 1937 and a bug turnout of students for the above matter was aroused. As the result, most of the students, who got through this examination, were turned out to be the teachers.

     Mr. M.L Darmish was thereafter appointed as the principal of the school on 1st of September, 1944 and his tenure lasted only for a short period until 12th May, 1952. Since 12th May, 1952, Mr. G.L. Peiris was deputizing as the principal until 12th December, 1952. On 12th December, 1952, Mr. K. Manamperi was appointed as the school principal and he sustained his service until 9th October, 1964. It was quite a golden era of the school as he re-launched the classes for the Senior School Certificate which contributed on producing teachers, clerks and other government employees. The cad jam thatched roofing of the building was replaced with the tiles during his period with the unwavering assistance of the village. At the same time, the Philanthropist and an Inspector on sudden deaths, Mr. Arthur Weerathunga donated his adjacent land to the school as the school playground and it is also currently regarded as one of the best playgrounds in the Matara Educational Division.

In 1959, the parliament passed a bill to acquire semi-government school, so S.P.S.M became a government school on 1st December, 1960. By then, this alma mater was contented of having produced outstanding citizens to Sri Lanka. Significantly, as the landmark of the history, the school was upgraded with its name to “Maha Viduhala”.

     This educational institute has been proud to have produced luminaries in different fields of professions with the better results in the Senior School Certificate Examination and in the Ordinary Level Examination. In 1963, the school was then elevated as to a “Maha Viduhala”. The Principal, Mr. K. Manamperi, the MP who represented Matara, Mr. Mahanama Samaraweera and some other elites in the area greatly contributed in this progress. An Old Students’ Association was also established in the school in the year of 1963, as the result of this contribution in advance. The old students, who gathered at that occasion, donated a building for the school.

     Consequently, Walgama Viduhala was converted into “Maha Viduhala” and being the first principal, Mr. K. Manamperi headed the school and he is considered as a great principal who was committed for the development of the school. Then, the classes from Grade 06 to the Advanced Level classes were housed in Maha Viduhala and the primary section was retained with the classes from Grade 01 to Grade 05 in the building opposite to the Girls’ school. Several months later, the two schools were amalgamated. In 1964, the Advanced Level classes in the Arts Stream were commenced and the school was well-staffed with veteran teachers for Arts, Music and Handicrafts. The same year was succeeded to that eight students were selected through the university entrance examination and they have professioned as the new top grade executive officers.

     The first-ever sports meet was held under the able-guidance of the principal, Mr. K. Manamperi in 1964 and it was a huge celebration and attraction to the area. The demise of the principal Mr. K. Manamperi was stamped in 1965 and after his death, Mr. M.K. Martin was appointed as the principal in 09th October, 1964 and his service was continued until 10th February, 1965. His successor was Mr. B.D.B.K. de Silva who governed the school from 10th February, 1965 to 01st May, 1965. Mr. H.G.S. Rathnaweera was then appointed as the principal, who revived the glory of the school and his tenure stretched from 03rd May, 1965 to 29th September, 1969. During his period, a student brought a great honor to the school by winning the first prize; a gold trophy in World’s Art Competition of Shankar and it highly influenced the students entering to the university from then on.

     Mr. H.M. Wickramarathna, a leading figure in the history, was the principal from 01st January, 1969 to 21st May, 1970. At the time, the Independence Day was planned to celebrate in Matara with this event and all the schools in Matara were to be repaired and restored. Mr. C.A. Wijeweera was thereafter appointed as the principal from 22nd May, 1970 to 03rd October, 1975. During this period, “Maha Viduhala” (Seniour School) and “Kanitu Viduhala” (Juniour School) were administrated as two separate entities. With the new school reform bill passed by the parliament on 20th October, 1970, these two administration entities were amalgamated. The classes for the Commerce Stream were subsequently commenced on 01st January, 1971. With this amalgamation, a new PTA (Parents’ & Teachers’ Association) was established and the association yet remains as an active partner in the developments accessed by the school.

     During the period from 1970 to 1977, more improvements were assimilated in the school. A new building for a library was constructed with the assistance of the Rural Development Society in Walgama area and the Parents and Teachers’ Association. Then, the classes for the Science Stream were commenced on 01st January, 1972. In 1977, the classes for Commerce and Management Studies were initiated. The collaboration of the villagers and the elites in the area was resulted with constructing a building for a science laboratory. It should appreciated that of the great contribution of the vice principals, Mr. Sarath Wimalasinghe and Mr. H.T. Dayananda.

     Mr. B.Y. Thudawa, the Deputy Minister of Education from 1970-1977 greatly supported for the development of the school on providing the financial support of constructing a building for the students of Commerce Stream, a laboratory building for the students of Advanced Level Science Stream and some other buildings. The Philanthropist, Mr. E.W.Richard contributed in equipping a Buddhist Shrine room in the school. With the retirement of Mr. Sarath Wimalasinghe on 16th May, 1997, Mr. H.T. Dayananda administered the school.

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