EVENTS
VVOGA 75th Anniversary
Some moments from the anniversary celebrations.
Merry Making!
A packed hall
Cutting of the Anniversary cake by Manel Ratnatunga (Most senior Past Head girl of VV present) & Miss Sumana Saparamadu (Most Senior Vice President of the VVOGA)
Anula, Ajitha, Kumudini, Asangi, Srini & Priya singing along
Three cheers to the VVOGA by the young Old Girls
Some of the Award Winners with President of VVOGA
Anoja Wijeyesekera (Platinum Award for Community Service), Neela De Zoysa (Platinum Award for Architecture), Sandamali Aviruppola (President of the VVOGA), Sumithra Peries (Life Time Achievement Award), Anula Wijesundera (Platinum Award for Medicine & Health) & Ira Thabrew (Platinum Award for Education)
Platinum Award winners not present in person to receive awards –
Upeka Chitrasena de Silva (Performing Arts), Binodh de Silva ( Science & Technology), Shirani Damindra Dias (Industry & Entrepreneurship), Kishani Jayasinghe Wijeyesekera (Performing Arts), Shanika Karunasekera (Engineering) & Kamini Mendis (Medicine & Health)
An Evening in Harmony
Exhilarating performance by the Visakhians:
Article published in Sunday Observer. 29 April 2009.
Amidst the continuing chorus of Global Economic crisis, hardships and conflict situations, in contrast it was a pleasant evening the other day when the Western Music Unit of the Visakha Vidyalaya presented "An Evening in Harmony" with song and dance. For all those who sat through the performance at the Visakha's Jeremias Dias Hall a clear message delivered was that "Singing and Music "is a great leveler that has neither religious or ethnic barriers nor room for conflicts. Visakha owes this rich legacy to late Kalasuri Lylie Godridge, a teacher cum guide par excellence that served as a beacon to the young Visakhians in the formative days of the western music unit and the maestro is still fondly remembered as Uncle Lylie by Visakhians young and old. Taking the mantle from his father it was Willie Godridge who took great pains to mould this choir to a unit of talented performers. For well over 12 months every Wednesday and latterly on Fridays too Willie sweated for hours with the girls in the "Godridge" home a haven for music while his beloved mother Ms. Irma Godridge who graced the occasion as the guest of honour giving all the support.
The evening began with" That's what Friends are for" by the senior choir that gave a smooth take off. Seniors set the tempo that kept the audience glued to their seats through some master pieces such as "What a Wonderful World, And so it goes, Bridge over Troubled waters, Born free, In the still of the night, The Rose, Can you feel the love tonight". The juniors chipped in with "Lion Sleeps to Night, You Gotta Be, and part of your world and to live the world.
To cap it all the combined choirs of Visakha and Royal gave a masterly performance adding more colour to the evening. It was highly talented Nilushka Perera who showed much promise (perhaps reminiscing Kishani Jayasinghe another Visakhian artiste of international fame who performed in Colombo recently) conducted the choir admirably with support from Rochana Cooray. Nilushka and Rochana joined up with Sandani in local melody "Sulang Kirilliye". It was not singing alone and add to the variety were the performances of the Ballerinas and the cha/cha and the Samba Dance while the little kids too joined the concert.
Encouraging to note were the supporting performances from the old Visakhians Geethika, Nilupuli, Samadhi and Shonaka.
All credit for this wonderful performance should go to the teacher-in- charge Vajira Dias Nanayakkara an icon at Visakha (ably assisted by Natalie Gunaratne who handled the juniors) for well over two decades who left no stone unturned and was with the girls throughout the rigorous training sessions.
Her contribution and the inspiring leadership no doubt would be much in demand at Visakha for years to come.
Not to be outdone the performers too should be complemented for their commitment and determination amidst the rigors of a highly competitive environment of today's education system.
One would hope that Visakha will continue to provide this charming aesthetic treasure to calm the minds generating optimism and hope in a troubled world.
Sunil K
VVOGA Re-union Trip 2009
At Villa Ocean View Wadduwa on 21st of Feb. 2009.
VISAKHA DINNER DANCE 2008 DANCING TO RAISE FUNDS…
Article published in Daily Mirror, 20th June 2008
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Friday the 13th! And I am at the Visakha Dance 2008, organized by the Old Girls Association. And I cannot help chuckling to myself - just like us Visakhians to choose a day feared by many to host a dance! The venue is the Oak Room at the Cinnamon Grand, and the hall packed to capacity with 500 guests!
The hall looks amazing with a digitally designed neon backdrop and very innovative table décor! The best bands in the dance business, Misty and Sohan and the Xperiments are in attendance, and the dance takes off from the very minute the floor opens! The Dance Committee comprising of some very capable members of the OGA has pulled out all the stops to repeat the success of the first ever dance held last year.
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The Dance Committee of Visakha Dinner Dance 2008
Normally, the words 'Visakhians' and 'dancing' would not be coined together in one sentence! During my days in school during the late '70s, a Visakha dance would have been completely out of the question! A little bit of history will show you why! Founded in 1917 by Jeremias Dias as a school for Buddhist girls, under the name “Buddhist Girls' College", in a house called 'The Firs' at Turrent Road, Colombo, it was renamed 'Visakha Vidyalaya' when it moved to its present premises at Vajira Road in 1927. Visakha which started with just 20 students has around 4000 on her roll today, and towers unchallenged as the top girls school in the island for academic excellence. From humble beginnings, Visakha has risen to the position of one of the most sought after school for girls in Sri Lanka, and the only girls' school to be identified amongst the first National Schools in the Island.
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Super decor!
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Baila winners,
So when my friend Lena, who hails from India, asks me, "is this the school where all the students are brilliant?", I am almost tempted to answer in the affirmative! And I do so later on, when I come across dozens of top professionals in every field at every table! No wonder then, that to most outsiders, Visakha, our Alma Mater, come across as a nerd factory!
But, as I look around me, at the packed floor, it shows clearly that we are nerds who love to party! The committee has organized innovative games - men had to turn up wearing heels to grab a prize, a baila competition won by a very agile couple - and topping it all, 'An Appetizer from Dushyanth' - who stole the show with his fab dance moves, aka Michael Jackson! We sure have come a long way from when I was a school girl , thirty years ago!And after some delicious food - a super menu serving both Indian and Italian, the party rocks on till 4 am, when the bands stop playing!
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Dushyanth as Michael Jackson!
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Man in heels!
The Visakha Dinner Dance was organised as a fundraiser to set up an English Medium Study Development Fund to uplift and improve the English stream of study set up a few years ago. The proceeds from the dance exceeded the target aimed at by the OGA. Congratulations to the efficient and dedicated Dance Committee, who raised Rs 2.5 Million towards this worthy cause.
To invest in our young, is to invest in our future! On that count, the Visakha Dance 2008 was a runaway success!
Visakha Vidyalaya Swimming Pool
Opening of the Visakha swimming pool on the 22nd May 2008 by the Hon Minister of Education. A pool of our own, now a reality.
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Vesak Project - donation to the Paediatric ward of the Cancer Hospital, Maharagama
There was pirith chanting by monks, Cash donation of over Rs 100,000/ for the purchase of drugs & distribution of parcels of fruit to the children.
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Soiree
The 'Evening of Fun' was a resounding success with both young and old having an enjoyable time together.
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The lovely backdrop |
Fashion Show |
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Past Pupil's Choir in action |
Sing-along session |
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From the Daily Mirror "Hi" Magazine, 29th May 2008
'Cure 4 Life'
In a society where people are getting self-centered the younger generation is attempting to show us an example by being generous and facilitating, believing that it is the duty of mankind to serve its own kind.
Taking the wheel of a journey where the destination would be a place full of peace and prosperity, the members of the Interact Club of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo launched their main community service project under the theme ‘Cure 4 life' recently at the Public Library auditorium. Wife of the Secretary to Defence Ayoma Rajapaksa graced the occasion.
The President of the Interact Club, Visakha Vidyalaya, Nadeesha Samarasinghe while addressing the audience, on behalf of her team said, “With the dawn of the new year we drew our attention to find out away to contribute our potentials to serve the country realising the responsibility as the youth of mother Lanka.
As a result we have decided to project the ‘cure 4 life' by helping some of the children of the Army families by providing stationery equipment, school bags, shoes, uniform material etc.
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“We have realised that it isn't necessary for us to be adults to change the world, and that a project of this sort can make a big difference to another's life”. She thanked the Seva Vanitha Unit of the Defence Ministry for making this innocent dream a reality”.
Doing what is possible is always possible there is nothing new in it. Doing what is possible but doing it wrong is very easy.
Doing what is impossible is also possible. Doing what is impossible and right is also possible but it's not easy as one would think of.
This is what I had figured out while witnessing the attempt made by the young Visakhians and did what is needed and the right to the country.
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Before ending this short note let me share the Interact Club invocation that I had jotted down in a hurry and hope with that I would leave something for all to think of, “Let us know that we have not lived in vain” .
- Extracted from the Sunday Observer 25th May 2008.
Members Day - November 2007
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