The Open University of Sri Lanka
The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) is a state chartered Open and Distance Learning university delivering 140+ programmes across six faculties to over 40,000 learners in Sri Lanka via 9 Regional Centres, 18 Study Centres, and multiple proprietary Learning Management Systems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersNugegoda, Sri Lanka
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Open University of Sri Lanka does
The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) is a state university established in 1980 under the Open University Ordinance No. 1 of 1990, operating as Sri Lanka's premier Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution. It delivers more than 140 study programmes across six faculties (Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Management Studies) to over 40,000 learners ranging from secondary school leavers and working professionals to small-business owners and public sector employees. OUSL reaches learners through an island-wide distribution network of 9 Regional Centres and 18 Study Centres combined with digital delivery via multiple proprietary Learning Management Systems (learnOUSL, OULMS, OpenLearnLK, ExamsOUSL) supported by dedicated service units (CITES, CETME, C-NODES).
OUSL's product portfolio spans short courses (Rs. 5,000–30,000), advanced certificates (~Rs. 34,300–39,100), diplomas (~Rs. 74,200), undergraduate degrees such as the flagship Bachelor of Management Studies Honours (~Rs. 250,000) and BSc in IT (~LKR 300,000), and postgraduate programmes including the Commonwealth Executive MBA/MPA (Rs. 475,000), MBA in HRM (Rs. 8,000/credit × 60 credits), and MSc in Public Procurement (~Rs. 470,200). The university generates revenue primarily through tuition and programme fees, priced via a mix of one-time payments, per-credit unit pricing, and multi-year subscriptions, with supplemental government funding via the University Grants Commission.
OUSL's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, relying on its official website, online application portal (apply.lmsousl.lk), regional/study centre networks, and social media channels (Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, WhatsApp) to recruit learners. Strategic alliances anchor programme credibility, including a longstanding partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (since 2002) for executive master's programmes and with the Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka (since 2010) for the MBA-HRM. The university is wholly government-owned, operates on a non-profit basis, and is not listed on any stock exchange.
The Open University of Sri Lanka firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Open University of Sri Lanka
- Legal name
- The Open University of Sri Lanka
- Website
- https://ou.ac.lk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) is a state chartered Open and Distance Learning university delivering 140+ programmes across six faculties to over 40,000 learners in Sri Lanka via 9 Regional Centres, 18 Study Centres, and multiple proprietary Learning Management Systems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Open University of Sri Lanka industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education / Open and Distance Learning
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Computer Training (61142)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)
Keywords
Where The Open University of Sri Lanka is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nugegoda
- HQ country
- Sri Lanka
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices10 records
Markets served
The Open University of Sri Lanka business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Program Fees: OUSL generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged for various academic programs including undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and short courses. Fee structures vary by program level and duration, with per-credit pricing for some programs and total program fees for others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Short courses ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 30,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Bachelor of Management Studies Honours - approximately Rs. 250,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Commonwealth Executive MBA/CEMPA - Rs. 475,000 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MSc in Public Procurement - approximately Rs. 470,200 |
| Per seat | Multi-year contract | MBA in Human Resource Management - Rs. 8,000 per credit (60 credits) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Advanced Certificate programs - Rs. 34,300 to Rs. 39,100 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Bachelor of Science in Information Technology - approximately LKR 300,000 for 90 credits |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Diploma in English - Rs. 74,200 |
| Per seat | Annual | BA Honours in English and ELT - approximately LKR 400,000 |
| Per seat | Annual | BA Honours in Tamil - Rs. 74,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Zoology programs - varying fees |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Certificate in English for General Communication - Rs. 30,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Certificate in Sinhala as Second Language - approximately Rs. 3,880 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Korean Language courses - Rs. 10,350 per level |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | AutoCAD Short Course - Rs. 25,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Open University of Sri Lanka product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Open University of Sri Lanka provides Open and Distance Learning (ODL) education through six faculties (Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Management Studies), delivering more than 140 study programmes from certificate and diploma levels through undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to PhD. Courses are delivered via multiple modes including remote, hybrid, and face-to-face instruction, supported by an island-wide network of 9 Regional Centres, 18 Study Centres, and dedicated Learning Management Systems.
Product overview
The Open University of Sri Lanka operates as a state university established under Open University Ordinance No. 1 of 1990, providing Open and Distance Learning (ODL) education across Sri Lanka. The university offers a comprehensive portfolio of over 140 study programmes through six faculties (Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Management Studies), delivering education from certificate to PhD levels. The flagship Faculty of Management Studies, established in 2019, manages the Bachelor of Management Studies Honours programme with over 7,000 students. The university leverages technology through multiple learning management systems including learnOUSL, OULMS, and OpenLearnLK, supported by an island-wide network of 9 Regional Centres and 18 Study Centres serving more than 40,000 learners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Programmes
Quantifiable outcome
- 40,000+ learners enrolled across all programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Open University of Sri Lanka
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Open University of Sri Lanka technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Open University of Sri Lanka partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.
- International Conference on Management and Entrepreneurship (ICOME)minorThe Faculty of Management Studies organizes the 4th International Conference on Management and Entrepreneurship (ICOME 2025) bringing together academics, researchers, and industry professionals to discuss emerging trends in management and entrepreneurship.
- Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) Sri LankamajorOUSL collaborated with the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) Sri Lanka to introduce the Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management (MBA in HRM) programme in 2010. This partnership enhances the professional relevance and recognition of the HRM program.
- Commonwealth of LearningcoreOUSL partners with the Commonwealth of Learning to offer the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration and Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration (CEMBA/CEMPA) programmes. This partnership enables the university to provide internationally recognized postgraduate management education to working professionals across Sri Lanka.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Open University of Sri Lanka competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Athabasca University: Canada's open university providing primarily online distance education to adult learners. Comparable as a public open university focused on flexible online degree delivery and serving working professionals.
- Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU): India's national open university, the largest in the world by enrolment, delivering ODL programmes nationwide. Directly comparable to OUSL as a South Asian state open university with similar mission, methodology, and scale ambitions.
- Bangladesh Open University: Bangladesh's state open university offering ODL programmes across the country. Highly comparable as a neighbouring South Asian public open university serving working professionals and rural learners.
- University of South Africa (UNISA): Africa's largest open distance learning university, serving hundreds of thousands of learners across the continent. Comparable as a major state open university with a similar large-scale ODL delivery model.
- Allama Iqbal Open University: Pakistan's largest open university by enrolment, providing ODL programmes nationwide. Direct comparable as a South Asian public open university with a similar mandate for accessible higher education.
- Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University: Thailand's national open university providing distance learning programmes to working adults. Comparable as an Asian state open university with similar ODL methodology and degree-granting structure.
Broad incumbents
- The Open University (UK): The original and world's most established open university, pioneering ODL methodology globally. Comparable as the established leader in open distance learning and a benchmark for OUSL's model.
Regional players
- National Institute of Business Management (NIBM): Sri Lankan institution providing business and management education, diplomas, and executive programmes. Regional competitor targeting the same working-professional segment that OUSL serves.
- Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT): Leading private university in Sri Lanka offering IT and business degrees through blended learning. Regional competitor for Sri Lankan students, particularly competing for IT and management enrolments.
Emerging players
- University of the People: Tuition-free, accredited online university serving global learners including those in developing economies. Emerging competitor in online higher education, particularly for cost-conscious learners in Sri Lanka.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Open University of Sri Lanka social profiles
Digital presenceThe Open University of Sri Lanka financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Open University of Sri Lanka leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Open University of Sri Lanka funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Open University of Sri Lanka M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Open University of Sri Lanka
What does The Open University of Sri Lanka do?
The Open University of Sri Lanka provides Open and Distance Learning (ODL) education through six faculties (Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Management Studies), delivering more than 140 study programmes from certificate and diploma levels through undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to PhD. Courses are delivered via multiple modes including remote, hybrid, and face-to-face instruction, supported by an island-wide network of 9 Regional Centres, 18 Study Centres, and dedicated Learning Management Systems.
Is The Open University of Sri Lanka a public or private company?
The Open University of Sri Lanka is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was The Open University of Sri Lanka founded?
The Open University of Sri Lanka was founded in 1980.
Where is The Open University of Sri Lanka based?
The Open University of Sri Lanka is headquartered in Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, in the Asia region.
How does The Open University of Sri Lanka make money?
One revenue line is on record: tuition and Program Fees.
Who are The Open University of Sri Lanka's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Athabasca University, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Bangladesh Open University, University of South Africa (UNISA), Allama Iqbal Open University and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. The Open University (UK) is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT). University of the People is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Open University of Sri Lanka have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Open University of Sri Lanka.
What industry is The Open University of Sri Lanka in?
The Open University of Sri Lanka's product category is Higher Education / Open and Distance Learning. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAIAH, Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International), with a secondary code of EDAIAIAC, Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.