Royal Institute celebrates 40 years

Royal Institute (RI) International School of Higher Education, which pioneered international education in Sri Lanka celebrates its 40th anniversary. It has expanded far and wide into a group of schools and stands number one in providing a comprehensive and disciplined education system for students to achieve academic distinction.

The Founder of Royal Institute and current Chairman/Managing Director, G.T. Bandara, a highly recognized educationist who has led to the phenomenal growth of Royal Institute over the years into a group of schools despite the initial setbacks.

Among RI's past pupils are a wide range of successful professionals who have done proud to their Alma Mater. A majority of them have reached the zenith of their respective professions.

As a result of the opening economic policies of the early 80's onwards, a new middle and upper middle class emerged and they preferred to provide international education to their children with a view to send them abroad for further higher education resulting in an increased demand for international education locally. As the parent school in Havelock Town could not accommodate the increased demand, the management of Royal Institute embarked on a program of expansion which led to the establishment of branch schools in the suburbs of Colombo. Its first branch school was started in Nugegoda in 1993 with only 13 students on its roll but today it has a student population of 2,000 and 150 teachers. The school conducts classes from nursery to Cambridge A/Levels and Sri Lankan A/Levels (English medium). In 2006 another branch was opened in Maharagama.

Royal Institute International Girls school commenced operations in 2008 to meet the aspirations of a sizable number of parents who preferred to educate their daughters in a school exclusively meant for girls. This school prepares its students for London (Edexcel) examinations, Cambridge or Sri Lankan A/Levels.

From its inception 40 years ago, Royal Institute has been able to gain the confidence of students as well as their parents as an institution providing excellent education and correct guidance.

Royal Institute pursues a policy of promoting extra curricular activities such as sports, athletics, cricket, football, netball, badminton, swimming etc. The school also promotes arts/craft, drama, music, social and religious work etc which form an integral part of the educational process. Students are encouraged to participate in a range of school clubs and societies designed to promote the talents and interests and to stimulate their thinking and creativity.

The University of London degrees was introduced in 1990 when Royal Institute commenced teaching on a modest scale, for BSc Economics and LLB degrees of the prestigious and internationally reputed degrees of the University of London under the University's International Programme. It ensured that a student enrolling in the nursery class could proceed upto a University of London Degree without an interruption.

Today the programme is conducted by Royal Institute of Colombo, the higher education arm of Royal Institute which has 2,000 students.