Mrs. Rushira Kulasingham, first female Principal of Vaddukoddai Jaffna College

For the first time in the two centuries long history of Vaddukoddai Jaffna College, Mrs. Rushira Kulasingham has been appointed as the first female principal of the school with effect from January 1 next year, the Board of Directors of Jaffna College announced this week. 

Prior to the new appointment, the Principal Designate of Jaffna College served on the Board of the CMS schools and held the post of Manager of Chundikuli Girls’ College, Jaffna.  Mrs. Rushira Kulasingham received her early education at Methodist College, Colombo and Chundikuli Girls’ College, Jaffna. She later obtained a BA degree with English as a subject from the University of Jaffna and an MA degree in Linguistics from the University of Kelaniya.

Mrs. Kulasingham held the positions of Instructor and Lecturer at the English Language Teaching Centre of the University of Jaffna and the English Language Teaching Unit of the University of Colombo respectively. She also served as the Head of the English Language Teaching Unit of the University of Colombo, Director of the King Sejong Institute at the University of Colombo and Head of the Department of Languages at the Saegis Campus, Nugegoda. 

Mrs. Kulasingham contributed to various initiatives on teaching English conducted by the Ministry of Higher Education in her capacity as consultant. In addition, she served on the Presidential Task Force on IT and English in 2011. Mrs. Kulasingham’s expertise in the field of Teaching English was sought by the University of Peradeniya, South-Eastern University of Sri Lanka, SLIATE, and SLIM and several other institutions, schools and companies in Sri Lanka, according to a statement issued by the Jaffna College Alumni Association welcoming her appointment. 

Her publications and presentations focus on Business and Professional English, curriculum development and oral communication, among others. She also conducted teacher training programs at Jaffna College, Uduvil Girls’ College, St. John’s College, Jaffna and Chundikuli Girls’ College. (Pix and News N. Lohathayalan)