About Us

Loyalty to one’s old School seems to me to be of the same nature as our duty to our parents, and when they are in need of help, we must be ready to give it. I feel very confident that this virtue will not be lacking at Bishop’s College in the days to come as it never has in the past.

– Sister Mary Kathleen, March 25, 1942

 

Throughout its life the School has been served by most loyal members of staff who have been concerned with not only establishing a high standard of academic education but also with developing the spirit of the School Motto – Non Sibi Sed Omnibus – a spirit carried out by devoted Members of the Past Pupils’ Association, always ready to give generously of time and money to support the School when need has arisen.

– Sister Celestine, (Principal 1945-1949)

Vision

To develop, guide, encourage and increase a sense of fellowship, goodwill and tradition among past pupils especially the younger generation with one another and with the College.

Mission

To promote activities for the benefit of the College. To make recommendations to the authorities concerned for the better management and administration of the College.

Dear Members,

Bishop’s College is celebrating a very special anniversary in 2025, and we invite you all to be part of it!
Our website will keep you up to date with all the latest news, followed by more information on our social media handles, so do follow and subscribe.

The school has organized a host of events in January 2025. The PPA will present the X1th Sisters of St. Margaret Oration and launch the 150th Anniversary Coffee Table Book on the 22nd of January 2025, while the much anticipated PPA Dinner Dance will be held on September 27th, 2025.

The School 150th anniversary is a very special time for us on the Executive Committee now in our 128th year of the PPA. Since the inception in 1896, the PPA has been a body with long and lively traditions. We are joined by PPA branches in UK, Australia and USA, all using one unified logo to identify our Associations. We are also proud of our Past Pupil groups in Toronto and Dubai who get together to keep the College flag flying high globally.

Wherever you are in the world, you can keep in touch with us through our website and social media. Miles apart but BC will always be in our hearts.

Thank you for your loyalty and support in all our endeavors, this term and beyond!

 

Warm regards,

 

Hasnah Mohideen
President BC PPA (2024/26)

The PPA was inaugurated in 1896. In 1909 the Old Girls Association offered a Scholarship at the School Prize Giving. At the School Prize Day held in 1912 Mabel Roberts received the first Gold Medal presented by the PPA, a tradition that has been continuing since.

 

Excerpts from “Reminiscences” By Grace Van Dort

 

“My Early recollections of Bishop’s Gate School are vague. I must have been about 10 years of age then. Miss. Dawn (Mrs. Drew) was Principal. The School apparently moved to Kent House in Maradana…” “Some of the old girls made a move to form and Association. This did not have much encouragement from the Sisters who were convent bred…” “The enthusiasm of this body however carried the day as it was backed by the Clergy and the Old Girls Association was inaugurated by a Cinderella Dance held at Waverly House to which all old boys were invited…” “With the kind consent of the Principal the Old Girls Association was permitted to meet once monthly in the College Grounds for tea and outdoor sports which took the mild form of croquet and archery there being no tennis courts anticipated at that period.”

 

Message by the Bishop of Colombo in 1918

 

“Please give my greetings to the Old Girl’s Association of Bishop’s College and tell them how much I wish that the Association should grow in life reality and be a spiritual and social bond between them and their old School. I should like them to believe that their Association can be of increasing value to the College and themselves, it is looked at from a high ideal. I should like to thank them very sincerely for the spirit they have shown in helping the College in a material way by their kind contribution towards the new class room; for such sympathy and help is very encouraging to the Principal and to us all.”   –  The Lord Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Revd. E A Copleston, 25th July 1918.

BCPPA Executive Committee 2024-2026

 

Ms. Chemali Goonetileke Herath – Principal (Ex-Officio)

Hasnah Mohideen – President

Lakmali Wickremesooriya- Vice President

Wathsala Aluthgedara- Vice President

Kavindi Wijesekera- Jt. Secretary

Nimmi Ariyaratne- Jt. Secretary

Ashvini Perera- Treasurer

Madurika Samarasekera- Assistant Treasurer

Zahara Maruzook- Advisor

Sonali Dias- Advisor

Michele Wickramasekera- Rep. to the Board of Governors

Delani Pietersz- Hon. Membership Secretary

Sunella Dissanayeke-Mohotti- Immediate Past President

 

 

 

Committee Members:

 

Charika Muttiah
Shyama Perera
Tharanga De Silva
Minal Ranatunga
Farah Faleel
Udara Hettiarachchi
Angie Dep
Sumangaly Sithamparam
Afrah Saheed
Tenuki Samaranayake
Khaalisha Ilham
Saandra Senanayake
Anushly Sithamparam
Priyanganie Fernando

 

BC PPA Patron & Vice Patrons

 

Patron: Mrs. Mohini Thambiah

12 Vice Patrons:

Mrs. Mirza Jaafer
Mrs. Ann Anthonis
Mrs. Malkanthi Perera
Mrs. Kamini De Soysa
Mrs. Nimala Attygalle
Mrs. Clarice Dias
Mrs. Veena Jayasundara
Mrs. Indrani Athukorale
Mrs. Lindley Jayasuriya
Mrs. Valarie Roland
Mrs. Mifthia Hussain
Mrs. Ramola Sivasundaram

Past Presidents of the Bishop’s College Past Pupils Association

 

1896- 1915   –
1916/1917 – Rt. Revd. E A Copleston
191819/19 – Rt. Revd. E A Copleston
1920 – 1937 –
1938 – Lady Hilda Obeysekera
1941– Mrs. E L F De Soysa – Kandy PPA Branch
1942– Mrs. E G Jonklaas – Kandy PPA Branch
1943 – Mrs. B K De Silva
1944 – 1954   –
1955 – Vice President Mrs. M. Toussaint
1956/1957 – Mrs. Nalini Wickremasinghe
1958/1959 – Mrs. Mohideen Cader
1960   –
1961/1962 – Mrs. Lolita Cooke
1963 – Mrs. Lolita Cooke
1964 -65   –
1966 – Mrs. E T De Mel
1967/68 – Mrs. E R De Silva
1969 – Mrs. Shirley De Silva
1970/1971 – Mrs. Carmen Gunasekara
1972/1973 – Mrs. Sita Seneviratne
1974/1975 – Mrs. Sita Seneviratne
1976/1977 – Mrs. Glen Perera
1978/1979 – Mrs. Pamela Fernando
1980/1982 – Mrs. Goolbai Gunasekera
1982/1984 – Mrs. Manelle Wanigatunga
1984/1986 – Mrs. Sithy Ossman
1986/1988 – Mrs. Sunetra Illangakoon
1988/1990 – Mrs. Manel Perera
1990/1991 – Mrs. Jennifer Ingleton
1991/1993 – Mrs. Fathima Sadique
1993/1995 – Mrs. Kamini De Soysa
1995/1996 – Mrs. Irene Wanigaratne
1996/1997 – Mrs. Ann Anthonis (Acting)
1997/1999 – Mrs. Ann Anthonis
1999/2001 – Mrs. Charika Muttiah
2001/2003 – Mrs. Ramola Sivasundaram
2003/2004 – Mrs. Indrani Dias
2004/2005 – Mrs. Asma Jeevunjee
2005/2007 – Mrs. Mazeena Luckmanjee
2007/2009 – Mrs. Shyama Perera
2009/2011 – Mrs. Savitri Wijesekere
2011/2013 – Mrs. Michele Wickremasekere
2013/2015 – Mrs. Sonali Dias
2015/2017 – Mrs. Delani Pietersz Mitchell
2017/2019 – Mrs. Prashanthi Mallawarachchi
2019/2022 – Mrs. Minal Ranatunga
2022/2024 – Mrs. Sunella Dissanayeke-Mohotti

 

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