Cambridge International School, Matale, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, marking more than three decades of providing quality English-medium education while remaining firmly rooted in discipline, character and values.

The school was founded in Matale in 1991 by educationist K. M. Sahabdeen, following his decision to take premature retirement from public service. At a time when international education in Sri Lanka was still relatively new and largely concentrated in Colombo, his vision was to make quality English-medium education accessible to children outside the capital.

The inspiration was also deeply personal. Unable to find the kind of English-medium education he wanted for his four-year-old daughter in Matale, Sahabdeen asked himself a simple question: “Why can’t I start an international school in Matale?”

That idea became Cambridge International School, which opened with 92 students and became the first international school in the Central Province and the 16th international school in Sri Lanka.

K. M. Sahabdeen, Founder and Chairman, said, “When I started Cambridge in 1991, my wish was to give my daughter and the children of Matale access to a quality English-medium education.”

Over the years, the Cambridge educational footprint expanded beyond Matale. A school was established in Nikaweratiya as a 10-year Corporate Social Responsibility initiative led by Sahabdeen’s late wife, Misrul Nazeera Sahabdeen, Vice Chairman, who was the driving force behind the growth and development of Cambridge, providing educational opportunities to children in an underserved community.

In 2005, his eldest daughter, Shanaz Nazreen Sahabdeen, established Cambridge International School in Anuradhapura, becoming the first international school in the North Central Province. The Cambridge identity subsequently expanded through franchise partnerships, extending its standards and educational philosophy to a wider network.

More than 2,000 students have passed through Cambridge and its wider network over the years.

Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Shanaz Nazreen Sahabdeen, Cambridge is looking towards its next phase of growth, responding to a rapidly changing educational landscape while remaining committed to the principles on which it was founded.

“Cambridge has been part of my life from a very young age, so carrying forward the legacy built by my father and late mother is deeply personal to me. As education evolves through technology, AI and a changing world, our focus is on preparing children for the future while keeping them grounded in strong values,” Shanaz Nazreen Sahabdeen said.