Hillwood College History
“And God sent me before you to preserve posterity in the earth...”
(Genesis Chapter 45, Verse 7)
When a ship that set off from London on 17th October 1888, sailed to Colombo harbour in January 1889, it brought to our country two young ladies, Miss Elizabeth Bellerby and Miss Ethel Jones who responded to an appeal made to the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society (CEZMS) to send two missionaries to open a school for Kandyan girls.
No one in that ship would have imagined in their wildest dreams that the little lady in her long white dress and prayer book in hand would form a school that would last over a hundred years. But to Miss Bellerby there would have been no fear or hesitation in coming to the East to answer God’s call, for she believed that ‘God moves in a mysterious way; His wonders to perform.’
The Church Missionary Society of England had already formed a college for the education of the sons of Kandyan Chieftains. Then as the need to educate the daughters arose Hillwood was founded.
Hillwood College has a proud history, steeped in rich tradition and culture. Actions of our past Principals, Teachers, and Students with the guidance of God has given Hillwood an enviable history.
Former Principals
Ms. Elizabeth Bellerby (1889 – 1911)
Founding Principal of Hillwood College, Ms. Bellerby arrived in Sri Lanka in 1889 in response to an appeal made by the Church of England Missionary Society to form a girls’ school to educate the daughters of Kandy. Ms. Bellerby upon arrival went to the Christian Mission School, Kotte to learn the language of the children she was to educate.
Arriving in Kandy, she managed to secure a bungalow overlooking the lake and the school commenced between May and August 1890 with seven girls as the first pupils. Ms. Bellerby overcame the prejudice of “not educating girls” by finally convincing the parents that” If you educate a son, you educate an individual but if you educate a daughter, you educate an entire family”. Ms. Bellerby overcame the prejudices and gave the girls an English education for which parents were not reluctant to pay for and Hillwood’s fame as an institute providing a sound education to girls spread far and wide in Sri Lanka.
Ms. Leena Chapman (1911 - 1931)
Ms. Chapman arrived in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in 1900 from Bengal where she was doing missionary work. She was a woman of regal bearing and had the capacity of commanding respect and admiration wherever she went.
Ms. Chapman was the Vice Principal during Ms. Bellerby’s time and had been guided to take up the responsibility of being the principal of a fast-expanding school. Upon Ms. Bellerby’s retirement in 1910 Ms. Chapman succeeded her as the Principal in March 1911. During Ms. Chapman’s time, the school saw progress and expansion. The dining facilities at the school were expanded to meet the increasing demand. Hillwood was the first school to have its own tennis court, isolation block. During Ms. Chapman’s tenure, she recruited Ms. Stainton, who went on to become one of the pillars of Hillwood for her excellence in Music.
The school which grew so rapidly with so many buildings would not be complete without a house of prayer for the Christians. Ms. Chapman set about building the chapel which has remained an iconic building that overlooks the school.
The Old Girls Association was inaugurated in 1922 under Ms. Chapman’s guidance. The Netherwood Hostel also came about during this period.
Ms. Chapman had the innate ability and charisma to convince her listeners by reasoning. She is also remembered for the education she imparted mingling the best of what the West had to offer in arts, music, and literature with the grace and decorum and respectfulness towards elders, which characterized the Orient.
Having placed Hillwood on a firm footing Ms. Chapman retired to take up duties as the Lady Warden and Manager of Evelyn Nurseries until her demise in 1941 after a brief illness.
Ms. Mary Dorothy Rigg (1931 – 1944)
Ms. Rigg, a graduate of Liverpool University came to Ceylon as Vice Principal of Hillwood College. On Ms. Chapman’s retirement in August 1931, she was appointed Principal. When Ms. Rigg became Principal there were 170 boarders, and the number steadily increased. Ms. Rigg fostered a love for Sinhala as a language in the students, and she herself passed the SSC Sinhala examination.
Her first decade of stewardship saw many improvements but soon there followed a series of hardships. First was the 1930’s Malaria epidemic which was followed by the war years, when the true effects of the war were felt. The rationing of food and essential items became part and parcel of that time but Ms. Rigg by her foresight overcame the problem by allowing parents who owned paddy fields to pay school fees in-kind thus providing a plate of rice at mealtimes to the boarders.
Ms. Rigg had big plans for Hillwood despite the war. She refurbished the Main Hall and organized various money-spinning activities, such as concerts and bazaars to collect funds for construction.
During her tenure, the first batch of students sat for the Local Senior Certificate. Due to the war, many of the European teachers were called back for duty back home thus creating a huge void in the teaching cadre, which Ms. Rigg managed to overcome.
After thirty-two years Ms. Rigg decided to go back to England on furlough. The school was entrusted to Ms. Foss and Ms. Rigg departed after a farewell concert for a well-earned holiday back in Britain. But it was not to be. The ship SS Troilus in which Ms. Rigg travelled was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean. Ms. Rigg lost her life at sea. The news shook Hillwood. A chapel service was held for the repose of Ms. Rigg’s soul. Thus, passed away a versatile teacher who spread the light of learning to many children.
Ms. Elenor M Foss (1944 – 1946)
Ms. Foss came to Ceylon after she had been evacuated from Japan in the latter part of the Second World War. She was a BSc. Hons Graduate from London. Initially, she was placed in Chundukuli Girls’ College in Jaffna subsequently appointed to Hillwood College to act for Ms. Rigg who was due to go back to England on furlough.
After Ms. Rigg’s tragic demise, Ms. Foss took up running of the boarding school, for which she had the courage and leadership qualities. She quickly set about grappling the numerous problems that arose at school.
Setting up a University Entrance Form was a task at Hillwood and was quite problematic as there were no qualified teachers to take up the sessions.
During her time the water problem which prevailed at Hillwood was resolved with tanks being constructed to collect water from the upper lake road catchment.
At the end of 1945, after the war had ended, Ms. Foss went back to England on furlough. She had served the school for 15 months but on her return, she decided to go back to Japan and not to return to Ceylon. Thus saw the end of the era of missionaries as Principals of Hillwood.
Mrs. Somakumari Samarasinghe (1947 – 1964)
Mrs. Samarasinghe was appointed by the Board as the acting principal in 1946. She was the first Kandyan Sinhalese Christian to be appointed to the position of Principal. She was a graduate from Women’s Christian College, Madras and held a Master of Arts from Cambridge. In 1947 she was made Principal of Hillwood College which as described in her own words, was “a well-organized boarding school with about 250 children.”
Mrs. Samarasinghe was dignified, courageous and knowledgeable. She was also quick to discern the talents of her students. She is called the great builder in the Hillwood history as she started off the process by opening the Rigg Memorial Building in 1955 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee, and extended the dining room and kitchen, the Lena Chapman Memorial Hall (in 1955) and the Cave memorial hostel in 1963.
During Mrs. Samarasinghe’s time, the first inter-house athletics meets were held, a tradition continued to this date. To Mrs. Samarasinghe, we owe the present School Song in Sinhala, composed by Mr. P B Illangakoon. Many clubs and societies were revived during her tenure.
The education policies in the country were also changing with Independence. In 1950 she took the decision to keep Hillwood independent, by making it a private fee levying school without state aid. Next came the Swabasha policy to which Hillwood adapted immediately. Religion became a compulsory subject for all children.
Mrs. Samarasinghe’s stewardship spanned for eighteen years. On her retirement in 1963, she chose two old girls from the staff to take on the reins after her. They were Barbara De Alwis and Nimala Thevathasan respectively.
Ms. Barbara De Alwis (1964 – 1977)
With 332 on roll, Ms. De Alwis took over Hillwood which increased to over 500 students by the end of her tenure. During her time the school celebrated the 75th anniversary and the prize giving being graced by the Bishop of Kurunegala Rt. Rev. Lakshman Wickremasinghe, along with his Excellency, the Governor General William Gopallawa and Mrs. Gopallawa.
During her time, both Christian and Buddhist children were encouraged to engage in religious activities by example. Children participated in netball, tennis, basketball and of special interest were the drill displays that were held. Twenty students passed the exams of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
Social service activities continued with the school supporting the children of the Gregory school.
Ms. De Alwis’s sudden death was a great blow to Hillwood, she was the second principal to die young whist in the harness of office. Ms. De Alwis was loyal to her old school and maintained its traditions and harmony between children of diverse faiths.
Mrs. Nimalathevi Perera (1977 – 1990)
Upon the sudden demise of Ms. De Alwis, Ms. Nimala Perera was appointed principal. The Change in government policy to admit children at the age of five was the first problem faced by Mrs. Perera in office, which demanded more classrooms to accommodate the children. The Wedgewood Block was a result of this.
Many concerts, music recitals, fairs, food fiestas, dramas were organized to collect funds for the school projects. The Rosewood block also was built during her time. There was a dramatic increase in numbers on roll reaching 1200.
Ms. S.R. Ratnayake (1990-2005)
Educated at Ladies College and a graduate of the University of Peradeniya, Ms. Ratnayake’s entry into the domain of public education was through the government system. She redefined the traditional identity of Hillwood as a “Finishing School for young Kandyan ladies” and created a school that was modern and competitive. During her tenure, the school was the proud winners of several national and international awards in the fields of Sports, Music, Drama, Literature and Painting. The school was also placed on the island rankings for academic excellence during her time.
Ms. Ratnayake took the stewardship of the school in 1990 and steered the school through unchartered waters for a period of 15years.
Mrs. Sudharshani Kumari Hettige (2007 – 2015)
Mrs. Sudharshani Kumari Hettige (B.A Eng. Sp/M.A./ PG dip (TESL) MSc psychology)
Hillwood College is an institution that has been growing stronger and stronger for 126 years preserving its values and upholding the traditions ever since its inception.
Mrs. Sudharshani Hettige, an old girl of Ladies College Colombo joined Hillwood in the year 2000 as the Vice Principal. She was inducted as the 8th Principal of Hillwood College on the 12th of January 2007. She took a step forward to join the journey through excellence during her tenure. Keeping up to its motto” UTMOST FOR THE HIGHEST, she contributed immensely to increase the student populace, examination results, foreign links, and participation in sports. There were many achievements under her stewardship. She further went ahead and changed the outlook of Hillwood. Refurbishing the chapel which fosters peace and harmony and completing the much-needed renovations in the school premises. Most of all she was a great teacher who had a passion for teaching.
Mrs. Kumuduni Nelum De Alwis (2016 - 2024)
Mrs. De Alwis served as the Vice Principal from 2008 to 2015 and as the Principal from 2016 to 2024. Throughout her tenure, she led with unparalleled dedication and vision, fostering an environment of excellence to all. Under her leadership, the school witnessed significant advancement in academic excellence and student engagement.
During her time as the principal, the school consistently achieved results above the national average in public examinations, ranking within the top five schools in the province and among the top 50 schools in the country. Mrs. De Alwis was instrumental in introducing the _International Advanced Level (IAL) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) curricula, aligning the school with modern educational trends. These efforts contributed to an increase in university admissions and produced many island rankers.
She also initiated the establishment of several clubs and societies, including the Gavel Club, Young Inventors, Aflatoun Club, the Research Unit, and the Police Cadetting programme. During her tenure, the completion of major infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a new state-of-the-art auditorium and the renovation of the tennis court to international standards, are noteworthy. ___ Additionally, significant improvements were made to the primary school, including the addition of a new hall and several new classrooms.
Her leadership and vision have left an indelible mark on the school, shaping it into a beacon of excellence and innovation.