For thirty-eight years, I walked through the same gate on Galle Road, Colombo 06, entering an all-girls’ school where I began my career as a teacher and eventually rose to the position of Assistant Principal by the time of my retirement. This inspiring journey began at none other than St. Lawrence’s School (SLS), Wellawatte, now known as Colombo 06. My memory often returns to my first day of work on January 1, 1980, under the leadership of Sr. Lynette.

During my first few years at SLS, I taught Mathematics to Grade 7 and Grade 8 students. In addition, I had the opportunity to teach the Sinhala Language to Tamil-medium students in Grades 8 and 9. This experience gave me a strong platform to build positive teacher–student relationships across both mediums.
As my passion was teaching mathematics across the secondary grades, in 1986, I received the opportunity to attend the Mathematics Training Program at the Teacher Training College in Maharagama. This experience strengthened my content knowledge and pedagogical skills, which greatly enhanced my teaching. It opened the door for me to teach Grade 10 and 11 Mathematics for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level from 1990 to 2017, in both Sinhala and English mediums.

Throughout my tenure at SLS, I dedicated my time not only to classroom teaching but also to extracurricular activities. These included holding various positions in the PTA and Teachers’ Guild from 1981 to 2017, serving as Teacher-in-Charge of Lima House from 1982 to 1990, and playing a key role in preparing the annual prize-giving lists, ensuring that students were recognized fairly for both academic achievements and extracurricular contributions.
Beyond these responsibilities, I took the initiative to help SLS become a semi-government school for the benefit of both students and staff. This involved arriving at the office of Education Minister Lalith Athulathmudali at 3 a.m. with my husband to secure an early appointment and discuss the preliminary steps required for the transition.

During Sr. Chandrika’s tenure as Principal, I worked to establish SLS as an examination centre for both A/L and O/L students. The primary goal was to allow students to sit national examinations in a familiar environment, reducing the stress of navigating unfamiliar facilities such as toilets, canteens, and other amenities.

I was appointed as Vice Principal in September of the year 2004. As Vice Principal, I also worked closely with Sr. Teresa to extend the Commerce A/L stream to English and to introduce Science A/L classes for students completing the G.C.E. O/L examination. This initiative helped retain many of our top students who might otherwise have transferred to other schools for their A/L studies. In this process, I collaborated with local universities and the Past Pupils’ Association to recruit qualified graduates for the program.

On a personal note, during my 38 years of service, I took no more than 20 days of leave. Even after getting married in 1988, I never neglected my duties. During my maternity periods for my three sons, I took only 84 days of leave for my two older boys and 42 days for my youngest. I remained deeply committed to my role, serving the school with passion and enthusiasm to create a meaningful learning environment for both students and staff.
My legacy at St. Lawrence’s School was not mine alone—it was the result of teamwork, family support, and above all, the guidance and strength from God, our Almighty Father.

My dedication continued even after retirement. Instead of resting at home, I began teaching Mathematics at Hejaz International College, nurturing students in both the Cambridge and national curricula. I remain grateful for the experiences, leadership opportunities, and lifelong friendships I gained at St. Lawrence’s School.

My advice to all of you is to carry out your responsibilities with passion and dedication. In keeping with the school motto Corde Magno ad Gloriam, may your actions always bring Glory to God.