With the escalation of terrorism in the eve of 19th century the expansion of the SL Army was begun rapidly, demanding much bayonets to form "the Regiments of Infantry" out of the few Infantry Battalions available at the time. In early1985, to support this effort a training school was established within the premises of Army cantonment Panagoda and was named as "the Recruit Training School" (RTS) under the command of Maj AK Jayawardana SLLI.

The RTS went through its embryonic stages at 1 SLLI premises before been moved to the present environs. Infrastructure facilities were available at Maduruoya in the complex built by the Canadian company FAFJ; which was a venture set up to construct the MADURUOYA dam. The company completed its assignment in early 1985 and the complex was available to be occupied by the Army under the guidance of the Commander of the Army Maj Gen TI Weerathunge.

On 14 January 1985 the Army Training School was established under Lt Col PWJ de Silva SLLI who is honored to be the first commandant of the school. Though the infrastructure facilities were available for the staff and the trainers it was decided to build a dormitory to accommodate 500 recruits and firing ranges utilizing the capital votes with the blessings of AHQ. On completion of these projects apart from training the recruits ATS has under taken the first major training programme which commenced in December 1986 and four infantry battalions involved . 05 x battalions were relieved from operations and put through a five week training programme, covering individual and collective skills. 1GW was trained at ATS and the other 04 x battalions (1 SLLI, 3 SLLI, 1 GR, 3 GR) were trained at Saliyapura, Tissawewa, Palaly and Vavuniya. The Directorate of Training supervised the training periodically.

A model town was constructed in the vicinity of ATS in mid-1986, to enable troops to conduct training in Fighting in Built up and in streets; and the first FIBUA training programme was commenced in December 1986 with the assistants of Israelis and it is the only range and the place available to conduct this form of training in Sri Lanka even today.

At present with limited facilities available ATS has undertaken the training of 02 x Infantry battalions simultaneously, and the Young Officers have been trained All Arms before been posted to units. Recently, with the beginning of this year, the ATS has undertaken the challenge of training potential battalion commanders in order to develop their ability to command and to qualify them to achieve the goals of the organization.

Although the primary objective of training is achieved, it is now on time to draw the attention of every individual responsible, in developing and uplifting the existing infrastructure facilities to allow trainees to have an opportunity to enjoy the basic necessities needed to assimilate the teachings. Inadequate training support asserts, especially the poor mobility in cross and close country, which has effected drastically in maintaining the effectiveness of field Training Exercises, are needed to be addressed early.