Ferguson High School, Ratnapura


Ferguson High School is a National School in Sri Lanka affiliated with the Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya located in Ratnapura District. School has two sections - the Primary section, which serves students from Grade 1 to Grade 5, and the Secondary section, which serves students from Grade 6 to Grade 13.
WWW fergusonhighschool.net

History

1917 : Founded as a "Baptist Missionary English School" by the Baptist Missionary Society of British Ceylon. It was started with only three girls, in the premises of Baptist Church in Ratnapura.
1919 : The classroom was moved to the thatched-roofed spacious hall at the hilltop to accommodate the increasing number of 36 students.
1921 : The school was registered as a 'Grant-in-aid English School'
1924 : The school hostel was started.
1925 : Girl Guide Association was pioneered by C. Balasooriya.
1928 : The school known as Baptist Missionary English School was renamed as Ferguson High School in memory Mr. John Ferguson who helped the Baptist Missionary Society in Ceylon.
1932 : The system of school houses was introduced by the acting principal W. F. Gadge.
1933 : The Old Girls Association was initiated by Miss. Allsop.
1958 : School prize giving was held by the Chief guest Madam Sirimavo Bandaranayaka who was a former student of the school.
1960 : Became a Director Managed Government School and no longer a Christian assisted school
1993 : The school was recognized as a National school and 75th Birthday was celebrated with the participation of President Ranasinghe Premadasa
2010 : “Wisdom 2010” educational and Trade exhibition was held.
2017 : 100th anniversary of the school was celebrated with the participation President Maithripala Sirisena. A souvenir stamp was issued

School Crest

Symbolic Representations
  • Motto - Taken from "Idylls of the King" by Lord Tennyson
  • Hills - 3 peaks seen from the school
  • Double headed Eagle - High soaring free bird looking back with Thankfulness and looking forward with Hope
  • CBC - Ceylon Baptist Council
  • Gems - School houses.
  • Lamp - Intelligence
  • Book - Knowledge
Drawn by Nalini Gunasekara, the art teacher of the school in 1953 and adopted unanimously

School song

Written by Venetia Stemba, with music by Consy Jayasekara

Houses

Students are divided into four houses.

Sports

  • Athletics
  • Chess
  • Table Tennis
  • Taekwondo
  • Karate
  • Swimming
  • Netball
  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Cricket
  • Badminton

Clubs and extracurricular activities

  • Girl Guide Association
  • Science Association
  • Drama club
  • Media club
  • Photography club
  • Announcing club
  • Chess club
  • Astronomical Association

Principals

PeriodName
1917-1922J.D. Radley
1922 - 1949Evelyn A. Allsop
1949 - 1960F. Aurora Brook
1956 - 1971Pearl Bright Perera
1972 - 1974Malini Wijenayake
1974 - 1975Mallika Thambiah
1976 - 1980Pearl Bright Perera
1981 - 1982Buddhi Bamunusinghe
1983 - 1986S. Subasinghe
1987 - 1995Buddhi Bamunusinghe
1995 - 1999Malani Kothalawala
2000 - 2003B. Rani Dariju
2003U. V. Leelakanthi Nissanka
2004 - 2012B. V. R. C. Bandarawatta
2012 to presentMercy Galagama

Notable alumni

Past pupils of Ferguson High School Ratnapura are called Fergusonites. Following is a list of some notable alumni:
NameNotability
Sirimavo BandaranayakaPrime Minister of Sri Lanka - world's first non-hereditary female head of government in modern history
Thalatha AtukoralePolitician, Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka
Rosy SenanayakePolitician, Mayor of Colombo, Mrs. World 1984