Nuwara Eliya’s first private school, Republican International, marks 36 years, unveils major expansion plans

Republican International School, the first private school in Nuwara Eliya, located at Bakers Farm, Mahagastota, has completed 36 years of service and announced major expansion plans for the future.

The school is planning to invest in a new four-storey building, launch a website, refurbish the school conference hall, and introduce several other new facilities.

The founders and mentors behind the school, A.T. Mariyasoosai (JP), K. Vijaya Kumar, Suba Malarwannan, and Priyadarshan Rajapalan, said they identified a significant gap in access to quality education in Nuwara Eliya, particularly for middle-class families, which led to the establishment of the institution.

“There was a great deal of red tape at the time, and it was also challenging to convince parents to entrust their children’s future to a new school,” he said. “To build credibility, I recruited S. Krishnan, a retired government school principal from the area, and formed a consortium of local investors to launch the school in 1990.”

He noted that the school initially had classes from Grade 1 to 5 and offered the London syllabus in collaboration with the British Council, which helped build confidence among parents and attract students. “We also had several foreign students, including children of NGO staff, planters, and expatriate workers,” Mariyasoosai added.

He recalled that the consortium of investors raised around Rs. 10 million for the venture, and today has invested around Rs. 350 million in the school.

With the school gaining popularity and recognition, and existing students wishing to continue their education, the need for expansion arose.

“The management then acquired and redeveloped a one-acre property in Nuwara Eliya, which previously housed an abandoned power loom facility, relocating the school in 1995 and offering education from Grade 1 up to Advanced Level.

Following the move, student enrolment surpassed 100 for the first time, and today we have nearly 800 students and a staff of around 100. In a bid to provide transport for staff and some students, we also purchased two buses,” Mariyasoosai said.

With an impressive track record of students gaining university admissions and securing top corporate sector jobs both locally and overseas, more parents are seeking to enroll their children at Republican International School.

“This demand prompted us to open our first branch school in Ragala in 1995, and today it offers classes from Grade 1 to 9 with a student population exceeding 500.”

The second branch was opened in 2005 in Holbrook, Agarapathana, and this school today has about 250 students.

“We have received more requests to open additional branches, but we are keeping our plans on hold as we do not receive adequate government assistance for our venture.”

The present Principal of the school, Neel Subasinghe, who previously worked at Oman Sri Lankan International School, said that several new features have been introduced to the education system, along with expanded sports activities, including an annual school bicycle race, which has become very popular.