Southlands College is a girls' school located in Galle, Sri Lanka, founded in 1885 by the Wesleyan Methodist missionaries.

Long before Sri Lanka came under Western Rule, education was primarily in the hands of the priests in the village temple.

Under Portuguese and Dutch rulers the prevailing system was changed and gradually the church started running elementary schools in villages.

She travelled to college from the Wesleyan Missionary headquarters at Richmond Hill and is credited with opening up a hostel in a residence at Light House Street in Fort with four pupils and a teacher.

The name was chosen mainly to honour Miss Westlake for her distinguished work in the school since she had he training at Southlands Methodist College in Wimbledon, England.

In addition to the normal primary education of the school, Southlands pupils had the privilege of learning music, singing, western and eastern drama, dancing physical training and a number of sports as tennis, netball and cricket.

1902–1907: Southlands College started her rapid development during the period of Mrs. E. Ludovici, a past pupil, a member of the tutorial staff, who rose to be the Principal in 1902.

Westlake, the much devoted Principal, who had her missionary training at Southlands College, Wimbledon before her arrival in Sri Lanka.

Much later in 1996, the O.P.A Colombo branch presented a felicitation volume "Golden Heart of Southlands" to her on her 96th Birthday in U.K. She was 99 years old when she died on 11 December 2002.

Queeni Abeywardena, loyal past pupil and devoted teacher for many years was appointed as the acting Principal for a short period.

Advanced Level Science classes were introduced to pave the path for students to enter Medical College.

During Mrs. Nanayakkara's period the government commemorated the Educational Centenerary and Southlands College too celebrated it in a grand way.

Fine Arts were revived and Mrs. Nanayakkara too encouraged producing many Sinhala stage drama with the assistance given by Mr. Herman Perera, keeping the old tradition of the school alive.

For the first time in the School's history Southlands was fortunate enough to bring "Kusa Jathkaya" the stage drama on the boards at Lumbini Theatre to a full house.

She rendered 10 years of devoted service to the upgrading of the school and left having been appointed Principal of Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo.

The school Hewisi Band was formed, the aesthetic unit improved and children participated in several all-island competitions.

1976–1991: Another memorable period dawned when an experienced teacher Mrs. Daniel, assumed duties as Principal and devoted her services for 15 long years for the betterment of the school.

During her time many significant events occurred and Southlands College became popular due to continued academic achievement.

"Volanka" another large building adjoining the school was bought with the financial assistance given by renowned southern philanthropist Mr. B.R.

The primary school children who were studying in the afternoon session for lack of accommodation had the privilege of having the best of facilities in modern class rooms again in the morning from 1984.

Southlands College completed 100 years of service in the field of education during Mrs. Daniel's time and the school celebrated the centenary in a very grand way.

Remarkable progress was made in the academic field as well as in all other activities during her 15 years of devoted service and Southlands College gained popularity in Southern Sri Lanka.

During her short stay the school was able to own a bus to provide traveling facilities to the student through the efforts of the OGA as one of their projects.

Karate was introduced to the school curriculum and a building which was nearing completion was finished and declared open during her time.

She made arrangements to build a modern auditorium for the college as the present assembly hall could not accommodate the increasing student population.

Educational indoor games were encouraged and most valuable historical school magazine "First decade of the second century" was published.

This record was maintained in the following year when yet another student was able to gain this place again in the same examination in 2000 in the Arts stream Such performance of academic excellence seem to be pursued by emerging generations when the second and third places at ordinary level Examinations were secured by Southlands in 2003 In year 2002 a modern auditorium was handed over to the school by the Ministry of Education.

The "Resteric" hostel which was 70 years old was renovated with the assistance of the Education Ministry and reopened to help accommodate the students who attend school from distant localities.

Mrs. H L T Gunawardena left the school after getting a promotion as the ADE of Science and Maths in the Southern Province 2006–2007: Mrs. P A D Suneetha became the principal in 2006.

Mrs. P A D Suneetha left the school after getting a transfer to Horana Sripalee Vidyalaya 2007–We should be happy to have a devoted past pupil; Mrs Geethani Wijegunasinghe as the present principal.