Cambridge expands Sri Lankan footprint with new legal entity

From left: Moderator Butterfly Effect Training Partners Co-Founder/Partner and Lead Trainer Ranmali Wickramasinghe, XpressJobs Co-Founder/COO Dr. Oshadie Korale, Janashakthi Group Chief Human Resources Officer Wasanthi Stephen, Leeds International School Network and Leeds Campus of Business and Technology Director/Coordinating Principal Malithi Jayatissa, St. John Paul II Institute of Higher Education Director/Principal Fr. Isanka Mihiran and Cambridge University Press and Assessment South Asia MD Arun Rajamani

From left: Moderator Bridge2Peace Schools Program Coordinator Buthmee Fernando, OKI International School Director/Coordinating Principal Denum Abeysekara, Wycherley International School Coordinating Principal Dayan Fernando, Ilma International Girls' School Principal Sarah Hussain and Cambridge University Press and Assessment Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Head Zahara Ansary 

By Divya Thotawatte 

In a move to strengthen its role in Sri Lanka, Cambridge University Press and Assessment has formally established a legal entity in the country, underscoring its long-term investment and commitment to supporting local schools and students. 

The announcement was made at a special event ‘Cambridge in Sri Lanka: Leading the Future’ in Colombo, attended by Cambridge’s global and South Asian leadership, alongside prominent figures from the country’s education sector. Their presence underscored the organisation’s view of Sri Lanka as a key part of its wider regional strategy, and the new legal entity is expected to strengthen collaboration with schools and partners while aligning local education priorities with global standards. 

Cambridge South Asia Managing Director Arun Rajamani said, “This milestone event marks Cambridge’s commitment to delivering high-quality teaching, learning, and assessment in Sri Lanka, with a strong focus on building a robust learning ecosystem that empowers learners to succeed both locally and internationally.” 

Cambridge International Education Group Managing Director Rod Smith said that Sri Lanka held a special place within Cambridge’s South Asian network, where 60-80 of the country’s schools were part of its global community of 10,000 institutions. 

“Our determination, here in Sri Lanka, is to build this community even bigger… not because it’s Cambridge but because as a community we can do a lot more together.”

He added that establishing a legal entity in Sri Lanka marked an important step for Cambridge, as it creates scope to channel greater investment, expand its local team, strengthen collaboration with the 

government, etc. 

During the event, Smith also discussed the publication of a major new report ‘Preparing Learners to Thrive in a Changing World.’ Drawing on responses from 3,201 teachers and 3,840 students worldwide, the report examines how they are experiencing education today and the skills and attributes they think are important in the future. Both learners and teachers recognise the potential of digital technologies to enhance learning, while also highlighting the need to strengthen self-management and communication skills to help students navigate change. 

Cambridge has achieved a significant milestone of over 1,000 Cambridge International Schools across South Asia, with Sri Lanka established as a key region for its international education offerings. Through Professional Development Qualifications (PDQs), Professional Development Programs (PDPs), and a series of workshops to upskill teachers, Cambridge now aims to enhance teacher capacity and boost learning outcomes in classrooms across Sri Lanka. 

These programs focus on inclusive, learner-centred approaches and integrating technology and AI in the classroom. They will also support holistic development, including student well-being, leadership, and social-emotional learning. By equipping educators with these tools, Cambridge aims to foster a resilient, future-ready teaching workforce capable of improving learning outcomes across the country. 

Country Head for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Zahara Ansary said, “Sri Lanka is home to a vibrant and fast-evolving education community. This renewed commitment is a promise to stand alongside Sri Lanka’s schools, educators, and families, to ensure every learner has access to the best education pathways the world can offer.” 

Ansary highlighted Cambridge’s active engagement with schools across Sri Lanka, emphasising hands-on support through school visits, innovative programs such as Early Years and Linguaskill, and initiatives connecting educators, universities, and the wider education community. 

Ambassador Andrew Patrick, who was also present at the event, underlined the deepening educational ties between UK and Sri Lanka, noting that the relationship has expanded far beyond English language teaching and overseas university placements, where it now includes school-level cooperation and transitional education. The Ambassador noted that today, an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 Sri Lankan undergraduates study through partnerships with international universities, with around 90% linked to British universities. 

He stressed that Sri Lanka’s greatest gain from this relationship was access to global expertise through institutions like Cambridge. “We hear about the uncertainties that we all face in the future, and one of the ways of managing those uncertainties is having those international links linking into education in groups like Cambridge, who have a worldwide picture and help schools and universities in this country to reach those global standards.”

Pix by Ruwan Walpola