Mr. Lakshman Kuruppu, son of the founding father, the late Mr. Linton Kuruppu, assumed the role of Managing Director of Sujatha Vidyalaya in 1996. His academic journey began at Royal College, Colombo, where he completed both his primary and secondary education.

He later pursued higher studies in the United States, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance and Banking from Central Missouri University.

Early in his career, Mr. Kuruppu gained valuable experience in the research sector in Missouri before joining John Keells Holdings in 1994. He subsequently worked at Waldock Mackenzie before transitioning into full-time school management.

When Mr. Kuruppu took over Sujatha Vidyalaya, Nugegoda, the school had a student population of 1,000 and a faculty of 80. Under his leadership, the school has grown significantly, now serving over 3,000 students with a faculty of 275. The campus has expanded to include a spacious primary section and a modern innovation tower, complete with a three-story underground car park catering to the Upper School (Grades 9-13).

Notably, Sujatha Vidyalaya was one of the first schools in Sri Lanka to introduce English medium instruction from Grade 1 in 1997 and to offer ICT as a standalone subject from Grade 1.

In 1998, Mr. Kuruppu founded the Academy of Professional Studies (APS), Sri Lanka’s first private teacher training academy. APS offers professional diploma and certificate courses in fields such as English Language, Teacher Training, and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) to teachers, undergraduates, students, and corporate executives.

The institution has been a Pearson Assured Center for over two decades and was the second in Sri Lanka to be accredited by EDEXCEL International (UK) to conduct the London Tests of English (LTE). APS was also selected as Sri Lanka’s Country Educational Service Provider by the U.S. Government for 2009/10 and 2010/11.

In 1997, Mr. Kuruppu established Sujatha Preschool, dedicated to providing a holistic early childhood education. Starting with just 17 students in Nawala, the preschool now operates in two key locations—Nugegoda and Maharagama—serving over 300 young learners.

In 2005, Mr. Kuruppu expanded his vision by acquiring Highlands College, Maharagama, a brother school to Sujatha Vidyalaya, which was established in 1960. Today, Highlands College has grown to a student population of 1,500 with 150 faculty members.

Mr. Kuruppu’s contributions extend beyond Sujatha Vidyalaya. He was the founding secretary of the inaugural EDEX 2004 Career & Higher Education Fair, organized by the Royal College Union, and served as the Director of International Promotions for EDEX 2006. In recognition of his leadership in education, he was awarded the prestigious HSBC–JCI Outstanding Young Person’s Award for Academic Leadership in 2006.

In addition to his role in education, Mr. Kuruppu is involved in philanthropic efforts. He sits on the Executive Board of the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) and has been a leader in the Executive Programme on Corporate Management (EPCM) by the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) in Japan.

Mr. Kuruppu’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community service continues to shape the legacy of Sujatha Vidyalaya and the educational landscape of Sri Lanka.