List of universities in Sri Lanka

This is a list of higher education institutions in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan law on publicly financed universities, the University Grants Commission controls 16 Sri Lankan universities and other educational institutions, as higher education institutions.

History

The origins of the modern university system in Sri Lanka dates back to 1921 when a University college, the Ceylon University College was established at the former premises of Royal College Colombo, and was affiliated with the University of London. The college provided courses of study in art and humanities, science and medicine prepared undergraduates for examination at the University of London. The beginnings of modern higher education in Ceylon commenced in 1870 with the establishment of the Ceylon Medical School, followed by Colombo Law College (1875), School of Agriculture (1884) and the Government Technical College (1893).[1] In 1942 the first university was established in the country was the University of Ceylon which had several campuses island wide, Colombo (established 1942), Peradeniya (established 1949), Vidyodaya (established 1959), Vidyalankara (established 1959) and Katubedda (established 1972). Vidyodaya and Vidayalankara were established under the Vidyodaya and Vidayalankara University Act No 45 of 1958. The University of Ceylon was modelled on the Oxbridge formula, at its inception the university only accommodated 904 students, which later expanded to cover a number of universities and it remained as an elite-oriented university as stated by Sir Ivor Jennings, catering to a small number of students and exclusively residential. It was dissolved in 1972 to establish the University of Sri Lanka. In 1974 the Jaffna campus was added to the University of Sri Lanka.[2][3][4]

The change of the government in July 1977 led to dismantling of the single university apparatus with the plan of establishing independent universities. With the promulgation of the Universities Act. No 16 of 1978, state university status was restored to the six separate campuses. The University Grants Commission (UGC) was also created to plan and coordinate the state university education. After that, a number of state universities were created. All these state universities are registered under the University Grants Commission, but a few come under the auspices of ministries other than the Ministry of Higher Education, in which the UGC is a part of. Most of the state universities depend on funds given by the University Grants Commission, as it is their primary and sometimes only source of funding. Therefore, the UGC has a direct control over these universities and administer the undergraduate intake. The UGC is subordinate to the Ministry of Higher Education.

Legislation for universities

Universities in the Sri Lanka have generally been instituted by Special Presidential Decree, University Orders, Acts of Parliament and the Higher Education Act 1978.[5]

Ordinance
  • 20 of 1942 Ceylon University

Acts of Parliament
  • Ceylon University (Amendment) Act No.36 1956
  • Vidyodaya University and Vidyakara University Act No.45 of 1958
  • Higher Education Act No.20 of 1960
  • University of Ceylon Act No.01 of 1972
  • Universities Act No.16 of 1978 (this Act established the University Grant Commission and a University Service Appeals Board provided for the administration of universities with their campuses and outset the six campuses of the single University of Sri Lanka, the set up under the previous Act No.1 of 1972, were converted to six independent universities on 1 January 1979)[6]

Universities

There are currently sixteen universities in Sri Lanka, which are established under the authority of the University Grants Commission.[7] All the following universities are recognised bodies with university status (University charter) under Universities Act No.16 of 1978.[8]

University Main campus Founded[lower-alpha 1] Type Authority University Status
(University charter)
City District Province
University of ColomboColomboColomboWestern1 June 1870PublicUGC1 July 1942
Eastern UniversityVantharumoolaiBatticaloaEastern1 August 1981PublicUGC26 September 1986
University of JaffnaJaffnaJaffnaNorthern1 August 1974PublicUGC1 January 1979
University of KelaniyaKelaniyaGampahaWestern1875PublicUGC1959
University of MoratuwaMoratuwaColomboWestern1966PublicUGC1 January 1979
Open UniversityNawalaColomboWestern1978PublicUGC1 January 1979
University of PeradeniyaPeradeniyaKandyCentral1 July 1942PublicUGC1 July 1942
Rajarata UniversityMihintaleAnuradhapuraNorth Central7 November 1995PublicUGC31 January 1996
University of RuhunaMataraMataraSouthern27 August 1978PublicUGC1 February 1984
Sabaragamuwa UniversityBelihuloyaRatnapuraSabaragamuwa20 November 1991PublicUGC7 November 1995
South Eastern UniversityOluvilAmparaEastern26 July 1995PublicUGC27 March 1996
University of
Sri Jayewardenepura		Sri
Jayewardenepura		ColomboWestern1873PublicUGC1958
Uva Wellassa UniversityBadullaBadullaUva1 June 2005PublicUGC1 July 2005
University of the Visual
and Performing Arts		ColomboColomboWestern1 July 2005PublicUGC1 July 2005
Wayamba UniversityKuliyapitiyaKurunegalaNorth WesternJanuary 1999PublicUGC17 August 1999
Gampaha Wickramarachchi UniversityYakkalaGampahaWestern1928PublicUGC30 October 2020 [9]

Dissolved universities

University of Ceylon

The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka (earlier Ceylon) from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978.

University of Sri Lanka

The University of Sri Lanka was a public university in Sri Lanka. Established in 1972 by amalgamating the four existing universities, it was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1972 until 1978. The university was based at six campuses in Colombo, Peradeniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kelaniya, Moratuwa and Jaffna. The university was dissolved in 1978 and its six campuses became independent universities.

Other government universities

Other Government Universities which are established by Acts of Parliament of Sri Lanka. These universities are not recognised bodies with university status or university charter under Universities Act No.16 of 1978.[10]

University Main campus Founded[lower-alpha 2] Type Authority
City District Province
Buddhasravaka Bhiksu UniversityAnuradhapuraAnuradhapuraNorth Central1996PublicMinistry of Higher Education
Buddhist and Pali UniversityHomagamaColomboWestern1982PublicMinistry of Higher Education
Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological EducationColomboColomboWestern1893PublicMinistry of Higher Education [11]
General Sir John Kotelawala
Defence University		RatmalanaColomboWestern11 October 2007PublicMinistry of Defence
University of
Vocational Technology		RatmalanaColomboWestern2009PublicMinistry of Higher Education
Ocean University of Sri LankaMattakkuliyaColomboWestern2014PublicMinistry of Skills Development and Vocational Training

Higher Educational Institutes and Degree Awarding Institutes

Several colleges, specialist institutes and private companies are recognised as degree awarding bodies.[12][13]

Institute Main campus Founded Recognised[lower-alpha 3] Type
City District Province
Aquinas College of Higher StudiesColomboColomboWestern195310 October 2005Private
Colombo International Nautical
and Engineering College		MalabeColomboWestern19909 July 2013Private
Horizon CampusMalabeColomboWestern200826 November 2014Private
Saegis CampusNugegodaColomboWestern4 June 201011 July 2018Private
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri LankaColomboColomboWestern195912 March 2013Professional accountancy body
Institute of Surveying and MappingDiyatalawaBadullaUva196721 July 1990Public
Institute of Technological StudiesColomboColomboWestern198415 December 1988Private
KAATSUBattaramullaColomboWestern20157 January 2015Private
National Institute of
Business Management		ColomboColomboWestern196820 October 2009Private
National Institute of
Social Development		RajagiriyaColomboWestern1 June 2005Private
National School of Business Management Limited (NSBM) ColomboColomboWestern5 March 2013Private
SANASA CampusHettimullaKegalleSabaragamuwa21 January 2014Private
South Asian Institute of
Technology and Medicine		MalabeColomboWestern200830 August 2011Private
Sri Lanka Institute of
Development Administration		ColomboColomboWestern196624 April 2003Public
Sri Lanka Institute of
Information Technology		MalabeColomboWestern199918 August 2017Private
Sri Lanka Institute of
Nanotechnology		HomagamaColomboWestern200830 March 2004Private
Sri Lanka International
Buddhist Academy		PallekeleKandyCentral200922 February 2013Private
Esoft Metro Campus (Private) LimitedColomboColomboWestern20093 September 2019Private
International College of Business and TechnologyColomboColomboWestern20003 January 2000Private
Sri Lanka Technological CampusPadukkaColomboWestern20152 December 2016Private

Rankings of universities

Webometrics rankings

2018 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities for Sri Lankan universities are listed below.

University 2018 (July edition)[14] 2016 (July edition)[15] 2015 (July edition)[16] 2014 (July edition)[17] 2013 (July edition)[18]
Country
university
rank
 Change in rank from previous year World
rank
 Change from previous year
 Country
university
rank
 Change in rank from previous year World
rank
 Change from previous year
 Country
university
rank
 Change in rank from previous year World
rank
 Change from previous year
 Country
university
rank
 Change in rank from previous year World
rank
 Change from previous year
 Country
university
rank
 Change in rank from previous year World
rank
 Change from previous year
Peradeniya1 12018 14022158 7222230 2492 22479 4944 12973506
Colombo2 12164 21811946 9312039 1071 12146 1092 12255 573
Ruhuna3 22665 315 12634 189164525 10426 33483 11303 32353 941
Moratuwa4 12721 30632415 832407 903 22497 3471 12150139
Kelaniya5 12752 19342559 5704 13129 6553194 131454508 1214
Sri Jayewardenepura63071 265 12476 6154 23091 28786 25969 3210
Rajarata7 64374 37013 36137 3570109707 71210 18995 329911 212294 6066
Jaffna8 14384 3807 24004 25579 16561 6648 17225 93878163 2499
Open94653 1749 14479 10918 15570 4197 15989 271988708 2824
Eastern10 24711 1304= 11 26015 525013 111265 11112 211154 97010 112124 198
Sabaragamuwa115150 -865= 11 16015 498712 111002 20311 210799 2619 110538 670
John Kotelawala125409
Wayamba14 45409 273110 35409 3587 65051 674213 111793 14891213282 927
SLIIT135484
South Eastern15 38720 75214 37968 206111 210029 17059 48324 521713 213541 2464
Uva Wellassa16 310451 104511511664 405015 115714 9891414725 35914 114366 1800
Visual & Performing Arts17 914822 107018 64121 994414 114065 16261515691 8121516503 1063

See also

Notes
  1. Foundation date of earliest higher education establishment linked to current university.
  2. Foundation date of earliest higher education establishment linked to current university.
  3. Date recognised as degree awarding body.

References
  1. Jayasundara, N. (February 2014). "Higher Education Policy in Sri Lanka: Implementation in State Universities". Scientific Research Journal. 2: 41.
  2. de Silva, K. M. (1977). The University System of Sri Lanka.
  3. A People's University - A Romantic Story of Peradeniya. ICES. 1995.
  4. Annual report 1972. Planning and Research Unit, University of Ceylon. 1977.
  5. Yong, Zhao; Ramanathan, Hema (2010). Handbook of Asian Education: A Cultural Perspective. New York: Routledge. p. 584. ISBN 978-1136721298.
  6. Wickaramasinghe, N. (2005). University Space and Values Three Essays. International Center for Ethnic Studies Colombo Sri Lanka.
  7. "Universities". University Grants Commission.
  8. "UNIVERSITIES, CAMPUSES AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGES". University Grants Commission.
  9. "Gazette declaring Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute a university, issued". newsfirst. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. "Other Government Universities". University Grants Commission.
  11. https://www.mohe.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=131&Itemid=221&lang=en
  12. "Accreditation Degree Programs". Ministry of Higher Education and Highways (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  13. "Other Recognized Degrees". University Grants Commission.
  14. "Sri Lanka". webometrics. Open Publishing. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  15. "Sri Lanka". webometrics. Open Publishing. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  16. webometrics.info website. World Ranking of Top Sri Lankan Universities – 2015 July Retrieved 29 October 2016
  17. webometrics.info website. World ranking Top Sri Lankan Universities 2014 July Retrieved 29 October 2016
  18. webometrics.info website. Top Best Universities in Sri Lanka according to webometrics World Ranking 2013 July Retrieved 29 October 2016
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.