St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo

St. Bridget's Convent is a private girls' school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was founded on February 1, 1902 by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd order, making it one of the earliest mission schools of the Roman Catholic Church of Ireland in Ceylon.

The patron saint of the school is St. Bridget, the patron saint of Ireland, whose feast is commemorated in the 1st of February of each year.

The Good Shepherd congregation were the founders of the school and administer it to this day. The school is situated in Colombo 7 on C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha. The motto of the school is gently and firmly and the school colours are green and white. The first site of St. Bridget’s Convent was 'The Firs’, a rented house in Turret Road not far from its present site. In addition to the school buildings, a chapel and a Montessori Training centre also occupy the present school grounds.

The school today consists of a Montessori school, a primary school and a collegiate school. It comprises 1324 students taught by a staff of 105 teachers.

There are 4 houses in the primary school and the collegiate school:

Borgia House - motto "Charity to All, Malice to None"
Coudert House - motto "Fidelity to Duty is the Path to Glory"
Griaux House - motto "Onwards and Upwards"
Melizan House - motto "United We Stand, Divided We Fall"

The houses are named for Dr. T.A. Melizan, Mother St. Francis Borgia, Father G. Griaux and Dr. A. Coudert, who were involved in the development of the school from the start.

Extracurricular activities are always encouraged among the students and they have always maintained a high standard in them. English Literary Association, Sinhala Literary Association, Tamil Literary Association, Science Society, Commerce Society, Health and Nature club, Astronomical Club, Drama Society, Debate club, scrabble club, choir, girl guides association, interact club & UN club are the clubs and societies which provides facilities to the students to gain the knowledge and experience from the extracurricular activities.

The School Emblem

The school emblem depicts in essence the heart of the school. The rationale for its functioning and for its role within and without is reflected in the school motto ‘Gently and Firmly’.

The Code of Ethics, the rules that govern the behavior of students, the goals and objectives of discipline are embedded in the very soothing words, ‘Gently and Firmly’. Notwithstanding the texture of softness, it commands and holds within it the meaning of education for the whole community.

History of St.Bridget's Convent

On 1 February 1902, at the request of his grace the most Rev. Dr. T. A. Melizan O.M.I, Archbishop of Colombo, 'St.Bridget's Convent' was established as the second house of the Good Shepherd congregation for the education of young ladies, in a rented house in Turret Road called 'The Firs'.

Two sisters Sr.Mary of St.Francis Borgia and Sr.Mary of Our lady of Lourdes came from the Kotahena Convent to undertake this work. With the opening of the school by the sisters of the Good Shepherd, the long cherished wish of Most Reverend Dr.T.A Melizan became a reality.

Notable alumni

Chandrika Kumaratunga – former President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike – former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and the world's first female Head of State.
Sunethra Bandaranaike – former politician and founder and chair of Sunera Foundation.
Ezlynn Deraniyagala - Sri Lanka's first woman Barrister and feminist.
Yvette Kahawita - architect
Mignonne Fernando – singer, songwriter and pianist.
Indu Dharmasena - stage director.
Menaka De Silva – swimmer at the 2004 Athens Olympics
Deshmi Perera - swimmer at SAARC.
Rapthi De Zoysa - Sri Lanka's First Lady Tea Auctioneer 1991
Deshabandu Jezima Ismail - Social Activist and Educator - Lion’s Award – Educationist of the Year in 1991 and 1993, Zonta Women of Achievement Award [Education] in 1992, Presidential Award for Education by Women’s Ministry in 1999 and National Award of the Sarvodaya Trust Fund in 2009
Shikanthini Varma - Athlete at the 1987 SAF Games [Calcutta, India]

External links