Southern province or down south is an area that is truly enriched with natural beauty in Sri Lanka. When it comes to the southern province first thing that pops into the mind is the aquatic and salty breeze. The southern province is also the Kingdom of Ruhuna in ancient Sri Lankan history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Province,_Sri_Lanka
The schooling system of Southern province is spread across three districts. According to the census of the Education department, there are one thousand one hundred and ten schools in Southern province. And among them, these are the best schools in the area.
1 Richmond College Galle
Motto – Nisi dominus frustra
School song – Play up boys of Richmond all as one unite
Established date – First May Eighteen Seventy-Six
Founder – Reverend Samuel Langdon
Colours – Maroon / Electric Blue / Navy Blue
Houses
Short name
Type of school – Boys’ School
Prominent past pupils – Hon C. W. W. Kannangara / Mr Wijeyananda Dahanayake / Mr Ramesh Pathirana / Mr Hemakumara Nanayakkara / Chief Justice G. P. S. de Silva / Prof George Dissanaike / Prof M. M. M. Najim / Dr Ediriweera Sarachchandra / Mr Pubudu Chathuranga / Mr Wanindu Hasaranga / Mr Chamila Gamage / Prof Chamila Gamage
2 Southlands College Galle
Motto – Premayenda Sewayenda bandi sitimu
School song – Land of our birth, we pledge to thee
Established date – Eighth February Eighteen Eighty-Five
Founder – Miss. Lucy Vanderstraaten
Colours – Red / Silver
Houses
Short name
Type of school – Girls’ School
Prominent past pupils
3 Rahula College Matara
Motto – Aththānang damayanthi pandithā
School song – Sri Laka nilambarayehi tharindu lesawe manahaaraa
Established date – First May Nineteen Twenty Three
Founder – Buddhists Society
Colours – Blue / Golden orange
Houses – Ashoka / Gemunu / Parakrama / Vijaya
Short name
Type of school – Boys’ School
Prominent past pupils – Mr K. Balapatabendi / Mr Gunasena Galappatty / Mr Suraj Randiv / Mr Amara Hewamadduma / Mr Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena / Mr Isuru Lokuhettiarachchi
4 Sujatha Vidyalaya Matara
Motto – Dalham Pagganha Weeryam
School song
Established date – Eighth May Nineteen Twenty Nine
Founders – Mr. Vilmot P. Wijethunga / Dr V.D. Gunarathna / C.A. Ariyathilake
Colours – Blue / Yellow
Houses – Gothami / Visakha / Yashodara / Janaki
Short name
Type of school – Girls’ School
Prominent past pupils – Ms Susila Kottage
5 Mahinda College Galle
Motto – Khippam Vāyama Pandito Bhawa
School song – Sri Lanka dakshina disha rama
Established date – First March Eighteen Ninety Two
Founder – Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
Colours – Black / Gold
Houses – Pandukabhaya / Gamunu / Thissa / Parakrama
Short name
Type of school – Boys’ School
Prominent past pupils – Mr Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena / Mr Vajira Abeywardena / Mr Leslie Mervyn Jayaratna / Prof Harishchandra Abeygunawardena / Prof David Kalupahana / Admiral Basil Gunasekara / Mr Marvan Atapattu / Mr Upul Chandana / Mr Thikshila de Silva / Mr Vimukthi Jayasundara / Mr Saman Weerasinghe
6 Sanghamitta Balika Vidyalaya Galle
Motto – Sadhu Sabbaththa Sanvaro
School song – Jambudveepa nam manahara maha deshaye
Established date – Nineteenth March Nineteen Nineteen
Founder – Hon. Francis Amarasiri Wickramasinghe
Colours – Green / Yellow
Houses – Mahamaya / Yashodara / Viharadevi / Vishaka
Short name
Type of school – Girls’ School
Prominent past pupils
7 St Aloysius’ College Galle
Motto – Certa Viriliter
School song
Established date – Twentieth June Eighteen Ninety-Five
Founder – Society of Jesus
Colours – Green / Gold
Houses – Cooreman / Murphy / Neut / Standaert / Vanreeth
Short name
Type of school – Boys’ School
Prominent past pupils – Dr Ediriweera Sarachchandra / Dr Cyril Ponnamperuma / Mr R. I. T. Alles / General Shantha Kottegoda / Prof Gihan Wikramanayake / Mr Chandima Weerakkody / Mr Sunil Santha / Mr Patrick Denipitiya / Mr Harsha Vithana / Mr Asoka Abeygunawardana
8 Vidyaloka College Galle
Motto – Suko Pannaya Pati Labo
School song
Established date – Fortheenth January Nineteen Forty One
Founder – Weliwitiye Punyasara Thera
Colours – Maroon / White
Houses – Ashoka / Gemunu / Prakrama / Sangabo
Short name – VCG
Type of school – Boys’ School
Prominent past pupils – Prof Charles Dahanayake / Mr W. Jayasiri / Deshamanya W. D. Lakshman / Mr Lasith Malinga / Major General Renuka Rowel
9 Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya Weligama
Motto – Thumeehi Kichchan Aathappan
School song – Sirilaka Deepe Dina Dina Jaya We
Established date – Twenty Seventh August Nineteen Twenty Seven
Founder – Shasthrabhiwurdhisadhaka Society
Colours – Red / Yellow
Houses
Short name
Type of school – Girls’ School
Prominent past pupils
10 Sri Devananda College Ambalangoda
Motto – Sunatha Dharetha Charatha
School song
Established date – Nineteenth January Eighteen Eighty-Seven
Founder – Theosophical Society
Colours – Blue / Black
Houses – Parakrama / Gamunu / Wijaya / Ashoka
Short name
Type of school – Mixed School
Prominent past pupils
Most of the schools in the Southern province are Buddhist schools. Even the first school in Sri Lanka was located in this province. These schools also carry a unique set of values. These schools also provide the best education to all the students to serve their best in society and to the country.
