The S.De.S Jayasinghe Central College, Dehiwela is situated in a serene and natural setting, offering a tranquil atmosphere even though it is situated within the bustling urban surroundings of the Colombo District, within a stone’s throw of the busy Galle Road.
The school’s origins trace back to the British Era when it was founded in 1942 on the same premises that also accommodated the Alethea School run by Catherine Hapugala situated on Vihara Lane in Wellawatta.
While the girls from Alethea School utilised the premises in the mornings, the classes for students of S.De.S Jayasinghe Central College commenced at 1 p.m. in the afternoon. This arrangement, however, quickly proved to be inconvenient for all parties involved.
Principal R. M. J. P. B. Idamegama
Jayaweera Bandara, a former educator at the renowned Royal College in Colombo, assumed the role of the first principal of the school. Proficient in Sinhala, Pali, and English, he initiated efforts to provide students with education in all three languages. Alongside Bandara, the school initially had seven teachers on its staff.
Over time, the school was relocated a 9.5-acre land near the Dehiwala Zoo, a generous donation from philanthropist Elina Rupasinghe, the wife of then Prime Minister J.R. Jayewardene. The Rupasinghes were a well-established business family in the Nedimala area of Dehiwala.
When the school opened its doors in 1946, students from Ratmalana, Moratuwa, and Panadura were enrolled.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck when the school was completely destroyed by a fire during the August 1953 Hartal, but it was subsequently rebuilt.
The establishment of S.De.S Jayasinghe Central College, Dehiwela in its chosen location was driven by the absence of a co-educational institution in the vicinity, with the primary goal of providing education to the children in the area while instilling Buddhist values in them.
After a long and challenging journey, the school has evolved into a 1AB Grade co-educational institution within the Dehiwala Education Zone and earned the designation of a National School in 2021.
Currently, with a 77-year history, the school is under the leadership of Principal R.M.J.P.B. Idamegama, a Grade II officer in the Sri Lanka Principals Service (SLPS).
Excelled
The school’s students have excelled not only in academics but have also showcased their sporting talents in various disciplines, including athletics, rugby, soccer, cricket, volleyball, chess, carom, karate, boxing and netball.
Among the recent achievements of the college, notable accomplishments include securing the third place in the under-14 second division rugby tournament, advancing to the second round in both the under-15 and under-19 cricket tourneys, and achieving the runner-up position in the boys’ zonal tournament for team sports.
The school’s under-16 boys’ volleyball team clinched the championship, while the under-18 girls’ volleyball team secured third place, and the girls’ cricket team emerged as runners-up.
In addition to these achievements, the police cadet group achieved a significant milestone by securing the second place at the battalion level, which marked their return to success after 13 years.
This accomplishment has also qualified them for upcoming provincial competitions. The school’s scout group demonstrated excellence by winning the first place for their entrance gate design at the 54th Scout Camp held in Piliyandala, Moratuwa.
In addition to their remarkable victories in sports competitions, the school has also excelled in the arts.
They secured the regional first place and the provincial second place in the All-Ceylon Dance Competition, specifically in the beauty category dance competitions.
Moreover, the school’s students achieved first place in the regional level competition in the music category, showcasing their talent and dedication in the arts as well.
The school also has several active societies and groups, including the Buddhist Society, Literary Society, English and Commerce Society, Western Band, Student Troops, Scouts, Media Unit, and Environmental Troops.
These groups play a crucial role in fostering both subject knowledge and personal character development among the students.
Highlighting current educational achievements, three students from the Commerce section in 2020, two students from the Technical/Technology stream in 2021, and one student from the Technical/Technology stream in 2022 have successfully secured university placements based on their outstanding results in the national level (A/L) examinations.
To enhance educational achievement, the school employs various strategies. Students are grouped based on their performance levels, with extra classes provided to those who lag behind in certain subjects such as Science. University students organise workshops, particularly focusing on mathematics, to support students with difficulties. Goals are set for teachers and students on an individual basis, and seminars are conducted by outside resource persons for various subjects.
Opportunities
The school actively implements programs designed to create learning opportunities, where bright students assist weaker ones to improve their academic performance.
The College’s future aspirations include raising the percentage of students qualifying for A-levels through the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination to 70 percent and increasing the percentage of students eligible for university admission through A-level subject streams to 25 percent.
Guided by its vision of “Gifting Virtuous and Creative Sons and Daughters to the Motherland,” it has set ambitious goals for the future. These include becoming the premier green school in the Western Province within the next five years, establishing itself as the top mixed sports school in the Piliyandala region, and attaining recognition as the school with the most exemplary Police cadetting troop in the area. The school aims to initiate English medium classes for Grades 6 to 11.
The school rapidly switched to the online mode during the pandemic, which enabled students to continuously focus on their studies from their homes. Teachers volunteered extra time for additional classes during the pandemic, so that students who were weak in some subjects could pick up important lessons. The school has become the educational destination of choice for students in the area who excel at the Scholarship Examination due to its reputation for imparting not just book knowledge but also discipline and moral values, which are vital for producing good citizens. S.De.S. Jayasinghe Central College indeed has a bright future.
Principal with the teaching staff
Cricket pool with the teacher-in-charge and coaches
The cadets
Scouts and Girl Guides with the teachers-in-charge
The rugby team
