The Open University of Sri Lanka

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.

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

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

• Open distance learning
• Higher education
• Undergraduate programmes
• Postgraduate degrees
• Professional certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Nugegoda

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• International Conference on Management and Entrepreneurship (ICOME)minorOthers · 1 January 2025The 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 LankamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010OUSL 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 LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002OUSL 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OuAcLk
• Facebookfacebook.com/theousl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-open-university-of-sri-lanka
• Instagraminstagram.com/open_university_of_srilanka
• Xx.com/ouaclk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&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