 Ranabima Royal College was founded by W. M. P. B. Dissanayake, former Chief Minister of Central Province, and Palitha Elkaduwa, former Secretary of the Department of Education, Central Province.The school was officially opened by Central Provincial Governor Stanley Thilakarathne on 2 March 1996, the day of commemoration of the signing of the Kandyan Convention by King Rajasinha II.The school's first principal was S. M. Keerthirathne and it had 16 academic staff.