Sri Sumangala Balika Maha Vidyalaya, located in the historic town of Panadura, is a leading girls’ school with a proud legacy dating back to its establishment in 1924 by a group of distinguished philanthropists and a prominent educationist. Over the years, the school has grown from modest beginnings into a well-established National School with a student population of over 3,500. The year 2024 marked its centenary milestone.
In preparation for the centenary celebrations, the Old Girls’ Association initiated several development activities aimed at improving the school’s infrastructure and creating a more conducive learning environment. One of the key priorities identified was the relocation and upgrading of the school library.
At the time, the library was located on the upper floor of the main Sudharshi Hall, which was not considered a suitable space for effective learning. A decision was therefore made to relocate the library to the ground floor of the Swarnagiri Building, the administrative block of the school, with the intention of establishing a modern and accessible facility for students. However, the Swarnagiri Building, nearly 100 years old, required significant repairs and refurbishment prior to its use.
In this context, the Old Girls’ Association of Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya requested the support of the Tennyson & Vinitha Rodrigo Trust to assist in renovating the proposed library space. Responding to this request, the Trust extended its support towards the project. The Sri Lanka Army also contributed by undertaking the renovation work, thereby enabling the project to be completed without incurring labour costs. This collaborative effort played a vital role in facilitating the successful relocation and improvement of the school library, contributing to a better learning environment for the students.
