The Royal College Union (RCU) has unveiled an ambitious initiative aimed at converting The Royal College in Colombo into a fully integrated Smart School, with the backing of MAS Holdings and Brandix Lanka.
Valued at 180 million Rupees, this project seeks to foster a more engaging, accessible, and forward-thinking educational atmosphere for students. It will also provide teachers with essential technology, training, and resources to enhance the learning process.
The proposed changes encompass the establishment of 141 smart classrooms, a comprehensive fibre-optic network throughout the campus, an integrated Learning Management System alongside a School Management System, high-speed internet connectivity, cloud infrastructure, a specialized teacher training center, virtual collaborative classrooms, and a digital content creation studio.
This initiative has been made feasible through financial support from MAS Holdings and Brandix Lanka, spearheaded by Mahesh Amalean, Chairman of MAS Holdings, and Ashroff Omar, Group CEO of Brandix Lanka, both of whom are esteemed alumni of The Royal College. Their investment signifies a collective dedication to broadening educational opportunities and equipping youth for a fast-evolving, technology-centric landscape.
“As the pace of change accelerates globally, it is vital for education to evolve in tandem. This initiative aims to provide students with more engaging learning experiences, helping them develop new skills and a deeper sense of curiosity, while also equipping teachers with enhanced teaching tools. Notably, it will create a practical framework that can eventually assist schools throughout Sri Lanka,” stated Mahesh Amalean.
“Sri Lanka boasts an abundance of talent; what our youth require is the right environment and resources to compete on a global scale. A Smart School offers precisely that—an opportunity to learn more efficiently, think critically, and adapt to an unpredictable future. Mahesh and I are aware of the benefits The Royal College has provided us, and we see no greater investment than in the next generation,” commented Ashroff Omar.
The Smart School initiative aims to go beyond merely integrating technology into classrooms. It will promote more interactive and tailored learning experiences, enhance digital literacy and critical thinking, facilitate access to educational resources beyond traditional settings, ensure continuous professional development for teachers, and assist them in crafting and delivering more enriching educational content. Two senior classrooms will be set up as collaborative teaching spaces, allowing other invited schools to virtually participate in sessions conducted at Royal College in real-time.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mahesh Amalean, Ashroff Omar, MAS Holdings, Brandix Lanka, and the John Keells Foundation for their pivotal role in bringing the Smart School Project to fruition. Their generous support will revolutionize our students’ learning experiences and empower our teachers to provide more interactive and meaningful education. This is a significant investment in our students’ futures, benefitting generations of Royalists to come,” said Mr. Athula Wijewardhana, Principal of Royal College.
“This initiative exemplifies the unwavering commitment of Old Royalists to enhance the institution that shaped their lives. We express our sincere appreciation to Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean, Ashroff Omar, MAS Holdings, and Brandix Lanka for their visionary contributions. Their support will benefit not only future Royalists but also students across Sri Lanka,” remarked Pasan Wanigasekara, Secretary of the Royal College Union.
Furthermore, the RCU plans to leverage the insights gained from the Royal College transformation to create a practical Smart School “playbook.” In a subsequent phase, this model could be adapted to assist selected schools across Sri Lanka through collaborations with educational authorities, donors, technology providers, and other stakeholders.
