There are two main types of schools in Sri Lanka, governmental and non-governmental schools; most of these schools provide primary and secondary education.
Governmental schools are categorized into two main types: national schools and provincial schools. The former are controlled by the Ministry of Education of the central government follow the local curricula languages of Sinhala, Tamil and in a few schools English, and the latter are controlled by provincial councils.
Non-governmental schools are also categorized into two types: private schools and international schools. Private schools are not directly controlled by the government but follow regulations and the local curricula set up by the Ministry of Education in the languages of Sinhala, Tamil and English.
International schools are schools which have English as the primary language of instruction and mostly follow a foreign curriculum, with a very few non-international schools opting to have both local and foreign curricula. A unique feature is that, unlike the private schools governed by regulations of the Ministry of Education, international and other non-international schools are listed under the Board of Investment (BOI) and not under the ministry of education.
Colleges in Sri Lanka are not tertiary level educational institutes, but primary and secondary level schools. All of the elite colleges were established in the colonial era while others have been established in later years.

National schools

Colombo

Ananda Balika Vidayalaya, Colombo 10
Ananda College
Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte
Anula Vidyalaya
Asoka Vidyalaya, Colombo 10.
Colombo Hindu College
Defence Services School, Colombo
Devi Balika Vidyalaya
Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya
D.S.Senanayake College
Girls' High School, Mount Lavinia
Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo 10
Hameed Al Hussainie College
Hindu College, Colombo 04
Isipathana College
Lindsay Collage
Mahanama College
Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda
Muslim Ladies College
Nalanda College
Presbyterian Girls' National School, Dehiwala
President's College (Sri Lanka)
Prince of Wales' Maha Vidayalaya, Moratuwa
Princess of Wales' Maha Vidayalaya, Moratuwa
Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College, Colombo 04
Royal College, Colombo
Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya
St. Lucia's Maha Vidyalaya, Kotahena, Colombo - 13.
St. Pauls Girls' School, Milagiriya
Thurstan College
Veluwana Vidyalaya, Colombo 09
Visakha Vidyalaya
Vivekananda College
Yasodara Balika Vidyalaya


Kandy

Beravats College Ampitiya -Kandy
Dharmaraja College
Girls' High School
Kingswood College
Madina National College, Madawala
Mahamaya Girls' College, Kandy
Nugawela Boys' College, Kandy
Pushpadana Girls' College
Ranabima Royal College
St/Sylvester's College
Swarnamali Girls College
Vidyartha College, Kandy
Zahira Muslim Mahavidyalayas, Gampola
Teldeniya National College,Teldeniya[Teldeniya]
Azhar College, Akurana
Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy
St/Anthony's College, Katugastota
Trinity College, Kandy


Galle

Ananda Central College
Anurudda kumara maha vidyalaya
Dharmasoka College
Mahinda College
Richmond College
Sacred Heart Convent
Sangamitta Balika Vidyalaya
Southlands College
Sri Kalyanatissa Vidyalaya,Batapola
St. Aloysius' College
Vidyaloka College
G/Zahira college
G/Malharus Sulhiya Cantral Collage


Jaffna

Hindu College, Chavakachcheri
Jaffna Central College
Jaffna Hindu College
J/ Ilvalai MeiHandan Mahavidyalayam
Kokuvil Hindu College
J/ Mahajana College, Tellipalai
Tellippalai Union College
J/Thuraiyappa Vithiyalayam, Columbuthurai, Jaffna
Vembady Girls High School
Jaffana College,vaddukoddai


Kurunegala

Central College Kuliyapitiya
Holy Family Convent
Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya]
Maliyadeva College
Maliyadeva Model College
St. Anne's College
Wickramashila National School
Wayamba Royal College
Lakadas Maha Vidyalaya
Nissanka Navodya pasala
Sir jhon Kothalawala college


Matale

Ajmeer Madhya Maha Vidyalaya
Amina Maha Vidyalaya
Christ Church College, Matale
Govt Science College,Matale
Matale Hindu College
Sri Naga National College
Sri Sangamitta Balika Madhya Vidyalaya, Matale
St Thomas' College, Matale
Vijaya College, Matale
Weeraparakrama Central College, Yatawatta, Matale
Zahira College, Matale


Ratnapura

Ferguson high School,Ratnapura
Sivali Central College, Ratnapura
St'Aloysius College, Ratnapura
Sumana Balika Vidyalaya, Ratnapura

Matara

Narandeniya Central College, Kamburupitiya
Rahula College
St Chearch College
St. Servatius' College, Matara
St Thomas' College, Matara
St. Thomas Girl's School, Matara
Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara
Thihagoda M.M.V
Sri Sumeda M.V,Malimbada,Matara

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura Central College
Swarnapali Balika Maha Vidyalaya
Niwaththaka Chethiya Maha Vidyalaya


Polonnaruwa

Ananda Balika Vidyala
Aralaganvila Vilayaya Central College
Madirigiriya Central College
Minnariya Central college
Polonnaruwa Rajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya


Kalutara

Tissa National School, Kalutara
Kalutara Vidyalaya National School, Kalutara
Kalutara Balika National School Kalutara
Jeelan Central College, Panadura
Kalutara Muslim Maha Vidyalaya Kalutara
Miriswatta Maha Vidyalaya,Dodangoda
K/Sri Devananda Vidyalaya Kalutara
Sri Sumangala College, Panadura
Holy Cross College, Kalutara
Welapura Maha Vidyalaya, Kalutara

Gampaha

Galahitiyawa Central College,Ganemulla
Anubadda Vidyalaya,Malwatta
Bandaranayaka College
Baudda Maha Vidyalaya, Nittumbuva
Central Collage,Veyungoda
Kalagedihena Mahavidyalaya
Nalanda Boy's School, Minuwangoda
Sri Dharmaloka College
Thakshila college,Gampaha
Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha

Kegalle

Pinnawala Central College
Dudley Senanayake Central College - Tholangamuwa
Kegalu Balika Maha Vidyalaya
Kegalu Vidyalaya
St Joseph's Convent
St Mary's College
Zahira College, Mawanella,
Bandaranayaka Central College - Hettimulla

Puttalam

Ananda National School, Chilaw
Anamaduwa National College, Anamaduwa
Andre College, Puttalam
Al/Aqza National School, Kalpitiya
Dankotuwa Balika, Dankotuwa
Dhammissara National College, Nattandiya
Holy Family Girls School, Wennappuwa
Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa
Senanayake National College,Madampe
Zahira National School, Puttalam

Negombo

Ave Maria Convent
Maris Stella College
St.Mary's College

Badulla

Badulla Central College, Badulla
Badulla Dharmadutha College, Badulla
Bandarawela Central college
Halpe National School, Halpe
Kahagolla National School, Diyatalawa, Bandarawela
B/Kuda Kusum Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela Visit URL/
Naulla Central College, Demodara
Sri Janananda National School, Kadurugamuwa
St. Joseph's College, Bandarawela
Vishaka Balika Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
B/Uva Science College, Hali-Ela.
Vishaka Balika Vidyalaya, Badulla

Provincial schools

Colombo

· Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte
· Asoka Vidyalaya, Colombo-10
· C.W.W. Kannangara Vidyalaya
· Good Shepherd Convent, Colombo-13
· Gothami Balika Vidyalaya
· Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Nawala
· Lumbini Vidyalaya
· Meegoda Dharmaraja Vidyalaya, Meegoda
· Sri Rahula Balika Vidyalaya, Malabe
· St.Anthony's Boys Maha Vidyalayam, Colombo-13
· St. Johns College, Nugegoda
· Yashodara Balika Vidyalaya

Kegalle

· St.Mary;s College
· St.Joshap College
· Kegalu Viddiyalaya
· Kegalu Balika Viddiyalaya
Kandy
· Gohagoda Maha Vidyalaya
· Halloluwa Navodya Maha Vidyalaya
· Nugawela Boys' College
· Pushpadana Balika Vidyalaya
· Sarasavi Uyana Maha Vidyalaya,kandy
· Vidyartha College
· Viharamaha Devi Balika Vidyalaya
· Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College
· Dharmawickrama Balika M.V


Galle

· G/Ananda Central Collage
· Batapola Central Collage
· Karandeniya Central Collage
· G/P.De.S.Kularathna Maha Vidyalaya
· G/Thunduwa Muslim Maha Vidyala
· G/Gintota Maha Vidyalaya
· G/Balagoda Maha Vidyalaya

Jaffna

· Jaffna Hindu Ladies College
· Jaffna Hindu Primary (JHP)
· Karaveddy Vigneswara College
· Mahajana College, Tellippalai
· Manipay Hindu College
· Manipay Hindu Ladies College
· Manipay Memorial English school
· Sri Somaskanda College, Puttur
· Skandavarodaya College
· Uduvil Girls High School

Kurunegala

· Ambanpola Central College, Ambanpola
· Ambanpola Kanista Vidyalaya, Ambanpola
· Central College Kuliyapitiya
· Holy Angels Girls' College, Kuliyapitiya
· Sir John Kotalawala Vidyalaya
· Maliyadeva Model School
· Wayamba Royal Central College College
· Paragahadeniya Central College
Matale
· Government Science College, Matale
· Sangamiththa Balika Maha vidyalaya

Gampaha

· Horly cross college
· Keppetipola vidyalaya
· Maddumabandara vidyalaya
· Parakrama vidyalaya
· Rathnawali Girls School
· Sangamitta Balika vidyalaya
· Siddhartha vidyalaya
· Siyane national College
· Sri Sangabodhi Central Collage, Nittumbuva
· St Meris Collage, Veyungoda
· Yashodara Balika Vidyalaya

Badulla

· Badulla Central College
· Al-Adhan Muslim Mahavidyalaya
· Sujatha Vidyalaya
· Uva College
· Viharamahadevi Girls school
· Vishaka Vidyalaya
· B/Uva Science College
· B/Rahula Vidyalaya
· B/Rilpola Darmaraja Widyalaya
· B/Udayaraja widyalaya
· B/Megahakiula Maha widyalaya
· B/Sirisumana Vidyalaya
· B/Kadana Siri seewali widuhala
· B/Alubogolla Prathamika Vidyalaya
· B/Ethtalapitiya Maha Vidyalaya

Polonnaruwa

· Bandarawela Dharmapala Maha Vidyalaya
· Hingurakdamana Maha vidyalaya
· Lankapura Maha vidyalaya
· Thopawawa Maha vidyalaya
· Sewamuktha Maha vidyalaya
· Vigitha Maha vidyalaya
Ratnapura
· Embilipitiya Maha Vidyalaya, Embilipitiya
· Mihindu Vidyalaya, Ratnapura
· Nawanagara Vidyalaya, Ratnapura
· Eheliyagoda Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Eheliyagoda

Trincomalee

· Al-Aqza College, Kinniya
· Kinniya Central College
· Kinniya Muslim Girls College
· Orr's Hill Vivekananda College
· Ramakrishna Mission Sri Koneswara Hindu College
· St Mary's College, Trincomalee
· Trincomalee Hindu College




Other cities

· Al Manar Central College, Maruthamunai
· Akkaraipattu Muslim Central College (National School), Akkaraipattu
· Agamathi Balika Vidyalaya, Panadura
· Arafa National College, Weligama
· Annor Muslim Balika National College, Weligama
· Al-hilal Maha Vidyalaya, Sainthamaruthu
· Al Yaseen Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
· As-Safa Muslim School, Madurapura, Denipitiya
· Atapattukanda K.V, Deiyandara
· Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Gampaha
· Darmapala Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
· Darmashoka Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
· De Mazenod College, Kandana
· Debaraweva Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, Tissamaharamaya
· Deiyandara M.M.V,Deiyandara
· Dhammissara national College, Nattandiya
· Bd/Haputale Tamil Central College, Haputale
· Joseph Vaz College, Wennapuwa
· Kegalle Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalle
· Ketiyape M.V, Deiyandara
· Kilinochchi Madya Maha Vidyalayam, Kilinochchi
· B/ Kuda Kusum Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
· Kudakusum Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
· Mahumoos Ladies College, Kalmunai
· Mawala Vidyalaya, Wadduwa
· Mallavi Central College, Mallavi
· Malharu Sams School, Sainthamaruthu
· MR/Kongala M.M.V, Hakmana
· MR/Gagodagama jayawardana M.V, Hakmana
· MR/Buddhajayanthi K.V, Hakmana
· Nalanda Girl's School, Minuwangoda
· Narandeniya M.M.V, kamburupitiya
· Piliyandala Central College, Piliyandala
· Panadura Royal College, Panadura
· Rathanawali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha
· Seevali Navodya Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
· Sitthartha College, Weligama
· Sripali Maha Vidyalaya, Horana
· Sir Rasik Fareed Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
· Sri Sangamitta Balika Vidyalaya, Matale
· St. Anne's M.M.V, Vankalai, Mannar
· St. Josophs College, Bandarawela
· St. Anthony's College, Wattala.
· St. Mary's Maha vidayalaya, Bandarawela
· St. Pauls Balika Maha Vidyalaya,Kelaniya
· Sumagale Balika National College, Weligama
· Swarnapali Balika Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura
· Taxila Central College, Horana
· Telijjawila Central College, Matara
· Thihagoda M.M.V,Thihagoda
· Tumpane Central College
· Vishaka Maha Vidyalaya, Bandarawela
· Vayavilan Central College, Vayavilan
· Zahira College, Kalmunai

Private schools

Colombo

· Alexcendra Collage, Maradana
· Bishop's College
· Buddhist Ladies College (semi-government)
· Carey College, Borella
· Good Shepherd Convent
· Highlands College, Nugegoda
· Holy Family Convent, Colombo 4
· Holy Family Convent, Dehiwela (semi-government)
· Ladies College, Colombo
· Karlshrue College
· Methodist College, Colombo
· Musaeus College (semi-government)
· Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa
· St. Benedict's College, Coombo
· St Bridget's Convent, Colombo
· St. Joseph's College
· St. Paul's Girls School, Milagiriya
· St Peter's College, Colombo
· St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa
· S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
· S. Thomas' Preparatory School,Kollupitiya
· Sujatha Vidyalaya - Nugegoda
· The School for the Blind
· Wesley College
· Zahira College, Colombo
· Vivekanandha College, Colombo 13

Kandy

· Good Shepherd Convent (Semi Government)
· Hillwood College (Girls School)
· St Anthony's Balika Vidyalaya
· St Anthony's College, Katugastota (Semi Government)
· Trinity College

Galle

· Ceylinco sussex College

Negombo

· Ave Maria Convent, Negombo
· Maris Stella College, Negombo
· Newstead College, Negombo
· St. Mary's College, Negombo

Jaffna

· Chundikuli Girls High School
· Hartley College
· Jaffna College
· Jaffna Convent
· Manipay Hindu College
· St. John's College, Jaffna
· St. Patrick's College

Kurunegala

· Maliyadeva College -
· Holy Family Convent
· St. Anne's College

Matale

· St Thomas' Girls School, Matale
Matara
· St. Mary's Convent, Matara

Badulla

· St. Thomas' College, Bandarawela
· St. Thomas' College, Gurutalawa
· Ceylinco Sussex College, Badulla.

Ratnapura

· Child Jesus's Convent, Ratnapura
· Ferguson High School, Ratnapura
· St. Aloysius College, Ratnapura
· St. Luke's College, Ratnapura

Other cities

· Holy Cross College, Gampaha
· Holy Cross College, Kalutara
· Mn.Vellankulam G.T.M.S, Mannar
· St. Michael's College, Batticaloa
· St. John's College, Panadura
· St. Joseph's College, Trincomalee
· St. John Bosco's College, Hatton
· St. Thomas College, Guruthalawa
· St. Thomas's College, Matale
· St. Xavier Boy's National School, Mannar

Exceptions

· Ceylinco Sussex College Network, Colombo
· Ceylinco Sussex College Kandy Branch, Kandy
· Ceylinco Sussex College Galle Branch, Galle
· Ceylinco Sussex College Ratnapura Branch, Ratnapura
· Minhal Boys' School, Kotahena
· Vajira College, Colombo
· Vidura College, Colombo

International schools

Colombo

· Aba Beel International College
· Alethea International School
· American International School
· Amal International School
· Asian International School
· Belvoir College International
· Buddhist Ladies College International
· The British School in Colombo
· College Of World Education
· Colombo International School
· Colombo South International School
· Crescent Schools International
· Elizabeth Moir School
· Gateway College, Colombo
· Highlands College
· Ikra International School
· Ilma International School
· J.M.C. International School
· Lakeland Inter-American School
· Leighton Park International School
· Lyceum International School
· The Overseas School of Colombo
· Oxford College International
· Rotary International School
· Royal Institute
· Stafford International School
· [St. Nicholas' International School
· Willesden College International
· Wycherley International School
· Winway International School
· sussex college
· Ecole Internationale
· Gateway College, Kandy (formally Kandy International School,)
· Netherfield International School
· Vision International School


Other cities

· Since International School [Mathugama]
· Cambridge International, Matale
· Eureka International school, Kiribathgoda
· Gateway College, Negombo
· Leeds International School, Panadura
· Lyceum International School, Gampaha
· Lyceum International School, Kandana
· Lyceum International School, Panadura
· Lyceum International School, Ratnapura
· Lyceum International School, Wattala
· Ragent International College, Miriswatte
· Negombo International School, Negombo
· Negombo South International School, Negombo
· Noor International School, Kalutara
· Royal International, Matale
· OKI International School, Wattala
· Since International School [Mathugama]
· Sri Bodhiraja International College, Embilipitiya
· Ward International School, Gampaha

Former schools

Parameshwara College, Jaffna (1921-1974 converted to the University of Jaffna)
Royal Preparatory School, Colombo (1933-1977 amalgamated to Royal College)