Reverend Mother Sebastian.

(1934 - 1939)


                    In 1934, A Branch of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya opened this school to educate the girls of the township of Dehiwala. Four nuns including Reverend Mother Sebastian traveled daily to Holy Family Convent, Dehiwala from Bambalapitiya, until the present convent and school was built. Mother Sebastian took over as the first principal of Holy Family Convent, Dehiwala.

 

As principal she spared no pains with her band of nuns, Sisters Caseema , Nativity Aloysious , Cyril and Paula and their dedicated band of teachers Mrs Marian Ekanayake , Dorothy Reed Zina Silva , the two sisters Elaine and Christine de Zilva.

 

She spent most of her time to bring Holy Family Convent, Dehiwala on par with the other educational institutes of the area. Under her leadership the convent elected the First Captain of the school. She introduced the House System and set-up a prefects body. Rev Fr Theobold Silva, the parish priest of Dehiwala guided the moral and spiritual values of the students during those years together with Rev Mother Sebastian. She will always be remembered by her pupils for her characteristic stooped gait and biscuit paper bonnet, her ardent faith and good discipline.