About MIMS
A school built around one belief: the early years matter most.
Maria International Montessori School has grown up alongside the families of Ratmalana — trusted, recognised, and quietly devoted to doing the early years properly. This is who we are, what we believe, and why families choose us with such care.
MIMS (Maria International Montessori School) is an authentic international Montessori school and premium day care in Borupana, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka, for children aged 2½–12.
Our story
It began with a simple conviction
MIMS began with a single, stubborn belief — that a child's first years are not a waiting room for real education, but the most formative years of their whole life. From the start, we set out to build a place in Ratmalana where children could learn the way Dr Maria Montessori intended: at their own pace, through real and purposeful work, in a calm and beautiful environment that treats them with genuine respect.
Over the years, that conviction earned something precious — the trust of local and international families, and a name they recognise and pass on to one another. It is the foundation everything else is built on.
MIMS was founded in 2009 by two sisters, Samanthi and Malintha, who set out to bring an authentic Montessori education to families in Ratmalana. What began as their shared conviction has grown, year by year, into the school that local and international families know today.
Our journey · where we are going
Growing into our fullest expression
Today, MIMS is evolving that trust into something larger: an authentic Montessori education delivered to international standards, without losing the warmth that made families love us in the first place. We are not rebuilding what works — we are elevating it. The MIMS you know isn't changing its heart; it's growing into its fullest expression: calmer, more beautiful, more international, and just as caring.
Why we exist
To give every child a joyful, confident start that lasts a lifetime.
Everything we do — every material on every shelf, every word at the door, every quiet moment of concentration — serves that single purpose.
Our mission
To nurture independent, compassionate, creative and confident children through authentic Montessori education — within a safe, joyful and internationally inspired environment, delivered with genuine Sri Lankan warmth.
Our vision
To become Sri Lanka's most admired international Montessori and early-childhood school — and, in time, a benchmark across Asia for child-centred learning.
Core values
What we stand for
Seven values guide every decision we make — and you can feel each of them the moment you walk in:
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Child at the centre. We follow the child. Every choice begins with what is best for the individual learner.
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Authentic Montessori. The real method, faithfully practised — prepared environments, trained guides, freedom within form.
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Warmth & respect. Children, parents and educators are treated with genuine care and dignity. We are human first.
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Safe & trusted. Safety and trust are non-negotiable foundations, felt in everything from the gate to the daily update.
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Curiosity & joy. Learning should feel like wonder. We protect the joy of childhood while building real skills.
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International excellence. We hold ourselves to global standards — fluently, and without pretension.
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Nature & calm. Calm, beautiful, nature-rich spaces are part of how children learn best.
Our educational philosophy
Freedom within form
Montessori rests on a quietly radical idea: that children learn best when they are free to choose meaningful work, supported by adults who guide rather than direct. We give your child freedom within a calm, ordered structure — the freedom to explore, to concentrate deeply, and to master things for themselves.
Our guides observe closely and step in gently, at exactly the right moment. The result is not a child who has been pushed ahead, but one who has grown — genuinely independent, naturally curious, and quietly sure of themselves.
What makes us different
Not simply another Montessori
In a city with many preschools, MIMS is built to be something rarer:
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The early years, treated as the most important years. We treat the early years as a destination designed in full — not a feeder division beneath a bigger school.
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Authentic Montessori, internationally delivered. The real method, to global standards, in clear English — credible to families who know international education.
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Known by name. Small enough that every child is genuinely seen, greeted, and understood.
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An environment that teaches. Calm, natural, beautiful spaces that match the quality of the teaching inside them.
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Radical clarity for parents. Jargon-free communication and daily transparency, so trust is earned every single day.
A message from our leadership
A message from our leadership
When you choose a school for a two- or three-year-old, you are not really choosing a building or a curriculum. You are choosing the people who will care for your child while you cannot — and trusting them with the most precious thing in your life.
We never take that lightly. Our promise to you is simple: your child will be known here, kept safe here, and helped to flourish here — gently, expertly, and with real love. Come and see for yourself. We would be honoured to welcome your family.
— Samanthi Dias
Why parents trust us
Trust, earned in the details
Families trust MIMS not because we say the right things, but because they feel them — in the calm of the classroom, the warmth at the door, and the care in every update. Small, attentive classes. Trained, devoted guides. A secure, beautiful environment. Honest, jargon-free communication. And a name that families in Ratmalana have known and recommended for years. Trust isn't a claim we make; it's the experience we deliver, day after day.
Come and feel the difference for yourself
The best way to understand MIMS is to stand inside it — to feel the calm, watch the children at work, and meet the people who will care for your child. We warmly invite you to visit. Admissions are open throughout the year, and we would love to welcome your family.