Vembadi Girls’ High School has a long rich history with outstanding achievements. It is one of the oldest schools in SriLanka, founded by British Methodist Missionaries.

Dr Thomas Coke, a British missionary and 6 young ministers left Great Britain from Portsmouth, and after a 6 month long treacherous sea journey and despite losing Dr Coke and Mrs Ault, the wife of one of the missionaries on they way, arrived in Ceylon at Galle. These missionaries were sent to different parts of Ceylon including Jaffna , Batticaloa and Matara.

Rev. James Lynch and Rev. Thomas Hall Squance travelled for 10 days through forests to reach Jaffna and established ‘Wesleyan Methodist Mission’ on the 10th of August 1814.

• In 1816 - ‘Jaffna Wesleyan English school’ was founded, with Rev. James Lynch as Principal. It was originally located in the present Central College premises.
• In 1817 - A Dutch building along Vembadi Road was purchased by the sub-collector.
• In 1824 - This building was handed over to the Wesleyan Mission and the school moved to this premises known as ‘Vembadi Mission House’ (later known as Vembadi Veethi Mandabam and currently Kamaleswary Ponnampalam Block). These premises had a lot of Vembu trees and hence the name.
• In 1825 - The records of Jaffna Wesleyan English school states that there were 40 girls in attendance.
• In 1834 - The need for a separate girls’ school was recognised. The Jaffna Wesleyan English school was renamed ‘Jaffna Central School’ and a new ‘Girls’ School’ was started in the same premises. This Girls’ school was later renamed as Vembadi Girls’ High school in 1897. Rev. Dr. Peter Percival, the Chairman of the District and principal was recognised as the founder of both Jaffna Central Boys School and Vembadi Girls’ High School.
• In 1838 - The boarding school for females was established with 6 Tamil girls as boarders. Curriculum involved a Christian education which emphasised proficiency in book work and needle work.
• In 1868 - The first classroom for the school was built, the Vembu( Margosa) trees were cut but the girls’ school retained the name ‘Vembadi’.
• In 1875 - Music and singing was introduced into the curriculum.
• In 1880 - The school had classes up to 8th standard.
• In 1894 - A white school uniform was introduced for students and teachers. English class was formed to prepare students for the Cambridge local examination.
• In 1896 - A new school bell was brought from England.
• In 1897 - A separate High school was formed, named Vembadi Girls’ High School and the first principal of Vembadi Girls’ High school - Ms Ireson assumed duties.
• In 1899 - The school was elevated to collegiate status. The junior and senior Cambridge examinations were introduced and students attained academic distinctions. Some students went overseas for Higher education. Nallamma Tambu was the first successful candidate in the junior Cambridge examinations. Nallamma Williams Murugesu passed the Calcutta entrance examination with first class honours topping the girls in India and Ceylon. She later became a doctor and also fought for female voting rights in Ceylon.
• In 1904 - The first Old Girls Reunion was organised.
• In 1907 - Domestic science classes and sick nursing classes were introduced.
• In 1910 - Central College moved out of the Vembadi Mission House premises to the new current school premises across Vembadi Road.
• In 1916 - Old Girls Association was formed on the 13th of March.
• In 1920 - The first Head Girl - Jane Thamotharam was appointed.
• In 1921 - The third Jaffna Girl Guide Company was formed.
• In 1923 - Ms Scowcroft was appointed as the first Vice Principal.
  - A Netball pitch was laid.
  - Students took part in its first ever play
  - Shakespere’s ‘Taming of the shrew”. This was the first of many successful dramas that the school has produced.
• In 1924 - The school was made into a secondary school.
  - First Prize giving.
  - House system was introduced with 3 houses named after 3 past principals
  - Lythe (Purple), Creedy (Green) and Hornsby (Red)
  - The first inter-house netball matches were played
  - Motto for the school “Dare to do right”
• In 1925 - First school magazine - ‘Torch Bearer’ was published.
  - The Literary Association was formed.
  - The Junior Girl scouts (The Brownie Pack) was formed.
• In 1926 - First inter-school netball match was played against Chundikuli Girls’ College.
• In 1927 - The school Crest was unveiled.
• In 1930 - YWCA was started.
• In 1937 - Colombo Branch of the Old Girls Association was started.
• In 1938 - Centenery Celebrations were held.
• In 1939 - Scowcroft Home was built.
• In 1943 - The school council was revived and school officers were given more responsibilities and control.
• In 1944 - Free eduction was introduced nation wide.
• In 1947 - First inter-house Physical Training (PT) competition was held.
• In 1948 - School elevated to a Grade II school.
• In 1949 - Scowcroft (Blue) was introduced as the fourth house.
  - The first native principal - Ms Mabel Thambiah was appointed.
• In 1950 - University entrance class in Arts stream was started.
  - Parents Teachers Association inaugural meeting held.
• In 1952 - Vembadi was elevated to a Grade I school.
  - First Native Lower School supervisor Ms Vadivelu appointed.
  - The school continues to excel in Sports and Drama.
• In 1954 - First Advanced Level Union Dinner held.
• In 1955 - Prefects start to take oath in a solemn installation ceremony.
  - University entrance class in Science stream started
  - A new building for science laboratories, home science laboratories, geography classrooms and the library was built.
• In 1956 - A tape recorder and projector was received by the school for teaching purposes.
  - Pottery classes were started as vocational training.
• In 1958 - International visitors came to the school from Russia and Australia.
• In 1960 - The National Education Bill was passed and Vembadi became a ‘Director Managed School’.
• In 1962 - Vembadi was recognised as “All Island Girls’ school” in the North.
  - Ireson Block was converted into the Principals bungalow.
  - Inauguration of Hindu Association - Saraswathy Pooja was celebrated for the first time.
  - PT squad participated at national level and won the Asia foundation challenge trophy.
• In 1968 - The school's Western music band formed and won national the competition.
• In 1970 - The Mabel Thambiah Block was built, with the assembly hall, classrooms and laboratories.
• In 1972 - The primary section of the school was terminated.
  - Pre-vocational subjects were introduced into the curriculum.
• In 1973 - Saraswathy Block with classrooms and Chemistry Laboratory opened.
• In 1974 - Vembadi Veethi Mandabam was renovated.
• In 1976 - The Eastern Music Band was formed.
  - Western and Eastern music bands participated in the opening ceremony of Non-Aligned Summit Conference represented by world leaders.
• In 1981 - Informal education unit teaching stenography for school leavers was introduced.
• In 1983 - Prize giving ceremonies were reinstated after a long time.
• In 1984 - Became first National school for girls in the North.
• In 1986 - Saw the beginning of difficult years for school due to the shelling and bombing in Jaffna.
  - School buildings were damaged but Vembadi bravely decided to remain and function.
• In 1988 - The three-story ‘Ariyamalar Rajaratnam Block’ with classrooms was opened.
  - Damaged buildings were renovated; laboratories and library received new equipment and books. - 150th Anniversary celebrations were held.
• In 1995 - Mass exodus of people from Jaffna.
• In 1996 - Vembadi functions temporarily in Chavakacheri Ladies College from February to May and returned back to the Vembadi premises.
  - Vembadi buildings were damaged and lost furniture, equipment, priceless literature and photographic records.
• In 1997 - The Mabel Thambiah Block Hall was renovated.
• In 1999 - Damaged Vembadi Veethi Mandabam was reconstructed as a three-storey building and renamed the Kamaleswary Ponnampalam block.
• In 2000 - A basketball court was constructed.
• In 2003 - Rev. Peter Percival block was built, housing the library, the general science laboratory, and learning resources centre.
• In 2004 - The Teachers and Students corner was formed to enhance talents of students in various extracurricular activities.
• In 2005 - A Saraswathy statue was erected
• In 2009 - The Vembadi entrance gate with an arch and crest was renovated.
• In 2010 - A new staff room with modern facilities was constructed
  - Another two-storey block for a library opened
• In 2011 - An Audio-Visual room set up for effective learning and teaching.
• In 2012 - Three computer laboratories were constructed with the support of the Old Girls Associations.
• In 2013 - 175th Anniversary celebrations and Rev. Peter Percival Statue unveiled. It was sculptured by the Art and Design teachers of the school.
  - The technology stream of education was introduced.
• In 2014 - The new sports flag was introduced.
• In 2015 - The Mahindodaya Technical Laboratory building opened.
• In 2016 - New modern toilets were opened.
  - The Students Parliament system was introduced.
• In 2017 - New Bicycle park opened for staff.
  - The Makilakam counselling centre was opened.
  - A new gymnasium was opened.

Students continued to excel in education, securing the highest rankings in national examinations and extra-curricular activities maintaining the grand old traditions of the school.