On September 8, Hillwood College, Kandy celebrated a special event - the dedication and naming of the new primary block by the Rt. Rev. Kumara Illangasinghe, Bishop of Kurunegala.

The modern 3 storey block has airy classrooms, new furniture, up-to-date toilets and equipment for children of Grades 2, 3 and 4.

The building was named after Nandumenika Rambukwella who at the dawn of the 20th Century, in 1903 to be exact, became the first Kandyan girl to pass the Junior Cambridge Examination and in 1905 to pass the Senior Cambridge Examination. The certificate she received indicates that she passed in Religious knowledge, Arithmetic, English language and Literature, History, Geography and Free-Hand Drawing.

The principal of Hillwood then was Miss Bellerby who visited rural homes in the Central Province and persuaded the conservative parents to sent their daughters to the boarding school at Hillwood. She was able to convince the parents in what she believe: "If you educate a boy you educate an individual. If you educate a girl you educate a whole family."

Here was a voice of progressivism in a conservative age.

Accompanied by the principal who stayed in the exam hall till the exam was over, Nandumenika answered her papers diligently. She proved in no uncertain terms that Miss Bellerby's motto was correct, she produced a family of expert sons, rare at that time. Her eldest son Herbert Tennakoon became the Governor of the Central Bank, Victor, a lawyer became Chief Justice, Reggie a lawyer became a Minister of State, George a doctor became Professor of Pathology and Dean of the Medical Faculty, University of Peradeniya and youngest son Kenneth an engineer in England. Her only daughter Dulcie Tennakoon passed the Senior Cambridge Exam and married Chandra Wijenaike, founder of the Central Finance Compnay.

Daughter Dulcie Wijenaike and several of Nandumenika's daughter-in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren graced the occasion, as did many past pupils, teachers, students and well-wishers of Hillwood including the principal Mrs. S. Hettige. Rev. Kumara Illangasinghe blessing the building said, "It is the vision of those who established schools of learning and character building and of dedicated teachers who by their distinctive efforts devoted their care to every child to shine as lights here in this school and all parts of the world."

The plaque was unveiled by Mrs. Ranjani Bulumulla, head of the primary department, who has served the school for 32 years. It reads: "This building is dedicated to the Glory of God by the Rt. Rev. Kumara Illangasinghe, Bishop of Kurunegala on 8th September 2009 in memory of Nandumenika Rambukwella (student 1895-1906) who harmonised tradition with progress so that generations to come may know her".

As the little primary children dressed in white uniforms and white ribbons in their hair walked to their new classrooms with smiling faces, we the past pupils were filled with a sense of pride and thankfulness to our teachers and parents who provided us the opportunity to study in a school that harmonised tradition with progress.