Trinco Ladies College celebrates 80th anniversary

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 May 2003, 00:16 GMT]
The Founder’s day and the Eightieth anniversary of the Trincomalee Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College were celebrated Wednesday with the Northeast Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Mr.R.Thiagalingam unveiling the statue of the founder Mrs. Thangamma Shanmugampillai, sources said.

NE Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Mr.R.Thiagalingam unveils the statue of the Founder of the Trincomalee Sri Shanmuga Hindu ladies College

Provincial Director of Education Mr.S.Mahalingam participated as the guest of honour. Trincomalee Zonal Director of Education Mr.K.Thilakaretnam and Colombo Hindu Ladies Society President Ms Jamuna Ganeshalingam were special guests. College Principal Ms Chandra Balasubramaniam presided over the event.

The founder Ms Thangamma Shanmugampillai established the school on 20.10. 1923 in memory of her husband Mr Sittampalam Shanmugampillai and the English section of the school was declared open by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan. A leading poet in Jaffna Chunnakam Kumarasamy Pulavar compiled the school song, sources said.

The founder Ms Thangamma Shanmugampillai was born in 1863 in a respectable farmer family in Paddimedu, a hamlet in Thampalakamam, a traditional Tamil village in the Trincomalee district, sources said.

After her husband’s death in 1917 Ms Thangamma dedicated her entire life to the women's education. She started the school with twenty-three students when she was sixty years old. Later English section was started. She passed away at the age of ninety in 1953.


Sri Shanmuga Hindu College with founder 's statue


“The memorial monument to her husband in Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College stands before us, eloquently reminding us of her dedication and determination. Education at Sri Shanmuga Hindu College has seen consistent progress enhancing its status today as a National School,” said a former Principal Ms T.Arumugam in her message to the 80th anniversary souvenir.

The present Principal is Ms Chandra Balasubramaniam.

Minister of School Education Mr.Suranimala Rajapakse in his message has said, “the school which was started with 23 students and one teacher now has 67 teachers and about 1850 students. The school has established a tradition of its own and has earned a name for excellence. It has also become one of the best schools in the locality.”


Chief guest Mr. Thiagalingam, Special Guest Mr.S.Mahalingam, Special guests Mr .Thilakaretnam and Ms Yamuna Ganeshalingam, College Principal Ms Chandra Balasubramaniam arrive at the venue of the celebration