A private school denotes a school that is funded by private means, usually tuition fees while a government school is controlled or owned by the state.
In consideration of government control or ownership, the central government administered Kendriya Vidyalayas (or Central Schools), Navodaya Vidyalaya system of schools qualify as per the American definition of "public" school. They are usually not completely privately run, being "aided" by the government. The standard and the quality of education is quite high.
In India and Sri Lanka, due to the British influence, a public school implies to a non-governmental, historically elite educational institutions, often modelled on British public schools which are in certain cases some are governmental.
There are privately owned and managed schools, many of whom have the appellation "Public" attached to them, e.g. the Delhi Public Schools, National Public Schools or Frank Anthony Public Schools. Most middle class families send their children to such schools, which might be in their own city or distant boarding school such as Rajkumar College, Rajkot, the oldest public school in India. The medium of education is English, but Hindi and/or the state's official language is also taught as a compulsory subject. Preschool education is mostly limited to organised neighbourhood nursery schools with some organised chains.
The most well known public school in Sri Lanka is Royal College Colombo. Although it is a governmental school it has much autonomy. S. Thomas' College located in Mount Lavinia and its branches are located in Kollupitiya, Gurutalawa, Bandarawella and Trinity College, Kandy are the most prominent private schools in the island. Apart from this Ladies' College, Colombo; Bishop's College, Colombo and Hillwood's College, Kandy are the well known private school for ladies.