The Alma Mater
The World Memon Organisation firmly believes that your Alma Mater plays a vital role in shaping you into the Person you become in Life. Your teachers impart the important lessons for life, you are introduced to your life long friends, you get a taste of your favourite sporting activity, you realise if you are inclined towards theatre and can become the next super star or you are enticed by technology to become the next Bill Gates.
In a nutshell your school is your breeding ground and the world is your stage. You build a foundation in your early years to shape the future and chart your destiny. That is the reason why WMO pays a lot of attention towards the development of this important institution of learning during the formative years of life.
The story of this school began a 100 years ago in the city of Colombo.
The year was 1916, Mr. M.A.C.Mohamed inaugurated the school, named and based on the Denham English School with three teachers and 8 children.
Unfortunately by 1933 there was no one to look after or maintain the school. The government stepped in, renamed it Dharussalaam Maha Vidyalaya and changed the medium of instruction to Sinhalese and Tamil.
With the increasing number of students, the school was conducted over 2 sessions. The school grew in prominence as the students excelled in education, sports and other extra-curricular activities.
However with time and a multitude of reasons including the parents’ lack of interest, local issues and bad administration, the standard of education and discipline dropped. The government was unable to provide a new building and classes were conducted in a temporary shed.
In 2012 the Past-Pupils Association was formed. They joined hands with the Serendib Schools Development Foundation. From this collaboration, a blue print was designed for the development of education and infra-structure for the school.
The World Memon Organization on the initiative of Mr Majid Ali Mohamed of Eurochairty entered the scene in 2013. They organised extra-classes in core-subjects, sports activities and even a breakfast programme for 140 needy children. In addition to this, they funded the majority cost of a new three-storey building to house class rooms.
26th January 2014 marked the beginning of the construction of the three-storey building comprising of 9 classrooms. It was completed in quick time and classes commenced on the 5th of September in the same year.
A computer lab with 35 computers was added in June last year.
On the 100th anniversary, a new wing comprising of classrooms with modern amenities and an auditorium will be built with the support of the WMO and SSDF. The project will cost over Forty Million Sri Lankan Rupees.
On the 25th of January 2016, the foundation stone ceremony will be graced by his Excellency, President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, accompanying him will be WMO trustees Mr M.H. Omar and Mr Eliyas Kareem
In the future there are plans for a library and a science laboratory. With the Grace of Allah we hope to provide an excellent education balanced with appropriate extra-curricular activities to make the students, responsible citizens of the motherland.
Fittingly for the centennial year, the theme is ‘Uplifting Lives Through Education”
Based on this principle, the World Memon Organisation has contributed millions of dollars for over a decade towards educating thousands of students across the globe.
The Dharussalaam Maha Vidayalay is yet another example of WMO’s endeavours to spread the light of education to the far corners of the earth.
