The University of London awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Mr. Gamagedara Tikiri Bandara, Founder and Chairman of Royal Institute of Colombo (RIC), in recognition of his exceptional contributions to education in Sri Lanka. The presentation took place during RIC’s Convocation ceremony for the Class of 2024, held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Sri Lanka on Sunday, 16 February 2025.

About the Honorary Fellowship Award

The Honorary Fellowship recognises Mr. Bandara’s role in bringing world-class higher education opportunities to Sri Lanka through his five-decade leadership of RIC. Following a visit to the University of London’s Bloomsbury campus, Mr. Bandara established RIC in 1990  with the vision of providing Sri Lankan students access to prestigious international qualifications.

Hear from Mr. G.T. Bandara

Mr. G.T. Bandara, Chairman of Royal Institute of Colombo, said, “’This recognition is a tribute to our students, whose accomplishments stand as a testament to the transformative power of accessible, world-class education. Their success proves that when given the right opportunities, Sri Lankan students can compete, contribute, and excel on the global stage. It is their achievements that are the true measure of this recognition.’”

Hear from Professor Phil Allmendinger

Professor Phil Allmendinger, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of London, who presented the Honorary Fellowship, said: “Gamagedara Tikiri Bandara’s passion and drive to open up education here in Sri Lanka has seen the Royal Institute of Colombo go from strength to strength over the past 35 years. His exceptional dedication to education has created opportunities for generations of students and teachers for the last 50 years and helped to establish the Royal Institute as one of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished educational institutions.” 

Under Mr. Bandara’s leadership, RIC has become one of the region’s leading international education providers. The institute offers 16 University of London programmes, with academic direction from leading institutions including the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), King’s College London and University College London (UCL).

Mr. Bandara’s own academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science from the University of Peradeniya, an LLB with qualification as a UK solicitor and an MBA. His career began as a mathematics teacher and his commitment to education has since helped thousands of students unlock their potential across all educational levels, from nursery through to university.

The Honorary Fellowship ceremony took place during the University of London’s Convocation Ceremony at BMICH, where hundreds of successful graduates and their families gathered to mark their academic achievements.

About the University of London

The University of London is the UK’s largest provider of international online and distance education, which it delivers in partnership with 17 federation member universities, to improve access to higher education around the world.

The University’s purpose is to increase access to education, champion research excellence and deliver social good.

More than 40,000 students in over 190 countries around the world are studying University of London programmes.

The federation of the University of London is made up of 17 renowned higher education institutions. Collectively this federation contributes to making London the global capital for Higher Education; London is home to more top-ranking universities than any other city worldwide.

While rooted in London, the University was founded on the ideals of inclusivity, diversity and collaboration and its global community is united by a common belief: that the power of collective expertise can transform people’s lives.

About Royal Institute of Colombo (RIC)

At Royal Institute of Colombo (RIC), collaboration, transformation, and innovation are at the core of its mission. RIC fosters a culture of shaping ideas, embracing flexibility, and encouraging forward-thinking, ensuring that its teaching and research remain cutting-edge. With strong connections to industry leaders and academic pioneers, the institution prepares students to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape. With over 35 years of academic excellence, RIC offers higher education opportunities from world-renowned, top-ranked UK universities at an affordable cost. Its programmes span foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.

RIC stands as a proud extension of the Royal Institute legacy—an institution that has been nurturing young minds for over five decades with international-quality education from nursery to Advanced Level, across Cambridge, Edexcel, National, and AMI curricula. Royal Institute operates through five branches located in Havelock Town, Nugegoda, Gampaha, Maharagama, and Maya Avenue (Girls’ School), providing exceptional education across Sri Lanka.

RIC offers a diverse range of degree programmes in partnership with the University of London, including Law, Psychology, Economics, Politics, Finance, Accounting, Digital Innovation, and Data Science, all guided by academic direction from top 50-ranked universities, such as LSE, King’s College London, and UCL. The graduating class of 2024 from RIC’s Law and Business Management programmes achieved 25 First Class Honours degrees and a 90% module pass rate, surpassing the global average of 81% at the University of London examinations. Applications for the March 2025 intake are now open, including for students with pending A/L results. For more information, visit www.ric.lk.