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 15 Sri Lankan universities and other education 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

Acts of Parliament

Universities

There are currently fifteen 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).[8].

University Main campus Founded[lower-alpha 1] Type Authority University Status(University charter)
City District Province
University of Colombo Colombo Colombo Western 1 June 1870 Public UGC1 July 1942
Eastern University Vantharumoolai Batticaloa Eastern 1 August 1981 Public UGC26 September 1986
University of Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna Northern 1 August 1974 Public UGC 1 January 1979
University of Kelaniya Kelaniya Gampaha Western 1875 Public UGC 1959
University of Moratuwa Moratuwa Colombo Western 1906 Public UGC 1 January 1979
Open University Nawala Colombo Western 1978 Public UGC 1 January 1979
University of Peradeniya Peradeniya Kandy Central 1 July 1942 Public UGC1 July 1942
Rajarata University Mihintale Anuradhapura North Central 7 November 1995 Public UGC31 January 1996
University of Ruhuna Matara Matara Southern 27 August 1978 Public UGC1 February 1984
Sabaragamuwa University Belihuloya Ratnapura Sabaragamuwa 20 November 1991 Public UGC07 November 1995
South Eastern University Oluvil Ampara Eastern 26 July 1995 Public UGC27 March 1996
University of
Sri Jayewardenepura 		Sri
Jayewardenepura 		Colombo Western 1873 Public UGC 1958
Uva Wellassa University Badulla Badulla Uva 1 June 2005 Public UGC1 July 2005
University of the Visual
and Performing Arts 		Colombo Colombo Western 1 July 2005 Public UGC1 July 2005
Wayamba University Kuliyapitiya Kurunegala North Western January 1999 Public UGC17 August 1999

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 University Order.[9]

University Main campus Founded[lower-alpha 2] Type Authority
City District Province
Buddhasravaka Bhiksu University Anuradhapura Anuradhapura North Central 1996 Public Ministry of Higher Education
Buddhist and Pali University Homagama Colombo Western 1982 Public Ministry of Higher Education
General Sir John Kotelawala
Defence University 		Ratmalana Colombo Western 11 October 1980 Public Ministry of Defence
University of
Vocational Technology 		Ratmalana Colombo Western 2009 Public Ministry of Vocational & Technical Training
Ocean University Mattakkuliya Colombo Western 2014 Public Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training

Rankings of universities

THE World University Rankings

The University of the Colombo is ranked 801 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Webometrics Rankings

2016 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities for Sri Lankan universities are listed below.

University 2016 (July edition)[10] 2015 (July edition)[11] 2014 (July edition)[12] 2013 (July edition)[13]
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
University of Colombo 1 Steady 1946 Increase 93 1 Steady 2039Increase 107 1 Increase 12146 Increase 109 2 Decrease 1 2255 Decrease 573
University of Peradeniya 2 Steady 2158 Increase 72 2 Steady 2230 Increase 249 2 Increase 2 2479 Increase 494 4 Decrease 1 2973 Decrease506
University of Moratuwa 3 Steady 2415 Decrease 8 3 Steady 2407Increase 90 3 Decrease 2 2497 Decrease 347 1 Increase 12150 139
University of Kelaniya 4 Steady 2559 Increase 570 4Increase 13129Increase 65 5 Steady 3194 Increase 1314 5 Steady 4508 Decrease 1214
University of Ruhuna 5 Increase 1 2634 Increase 1891 6 Steady 4525Decrease 1042 6 Decrease 3 3483 Decrease 1130 3 Increase 3 2353 Increase 941
University of Sri Jayewardenepura 6 Decrease 1 3045 Decrease 569 5 Decrease 1 2476Increase 615 4 Increase 2 3091 Increase 2878 6 Decrease 2 5969 Decrease 3210
University of Jaffna 7 Increase 2 4004 Increase 2557 9 Decrease 1 6561Increase 664 8 Decrease 1 7225 Increase 938 7 Steady 8163 Decrease 2499
University of the Visual & Performing Arts 8 Increase 6 4121 Increase 9944 14 Increase 1 14065Increase 1626 15 Steady 15691 Increase 81215 Steady 16503 Increase 1063
Open University of Sri Lanka 9 Decrease 1 4479 Increase 1091 8 Decrease 15570Increase 419 7 Increase 1 5989 Increase 2719 8 Steady8708 Decrease 2824
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka 10 Decrease 3 5409 Decrease 358 7 Increase 65051Increase 6742 13 Decrease 1 11793 Increase 1489 12 Steady13282 Decrease 927
Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka = 11 Increase 1 6015 Increase 4987 12 Decrease 111002Decrease 203 11 Decrease 2 10799 Decrease 261 9 Increase 1 10538 Decrease 670
Eastern University of Sri Lanka = 11 Increase 2 6015 Increase 5250 13 Decrease 111265Decrease 111 12 Decrease 2 11154 Increase 970 10 Increase 1 12124 Increase 198
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka 13 Decrease 3 6137 Increase 3570 10 Steady9707Decrease 712 10 Increase 1 8995 Increase 3299 11 Decrease 2 12294 Decrease 6066
South Eastern University of Sri Lanka 14 Decrease 3 7968 Increase 2061 11 Decrease 210029Decrease 1705 9 Increase 4 8324 Increase 5217 13 Increase 2 13541 Increase 2464
Uva Wellassa University 15 Steady 11664 Increase 4050 15Decrease 1 15714Decrease 989 14 Steady 14725 Decrease 359 14 Decrease 1 14366 Decrease 1800

Institutes

Several colleges and specialist institutes are recognised as degree awarding bodies.[14][15]

Institute Main campus Founded Recognised[lower-alpha 3] Type
City District Province
Aquinas University College Colombo Colombo Western 1953 10 October 2005 Private
Colombo International Nautical
and Engineering College 		Malabe Colombo Western 1990 9 July 2013 Private
Horizon Campus Malabe Colombo Western 2008 26 November 2014 Private
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka Colombo Colombo Western 1959 12 March 2013 Professional accountancy body
Institute of Surveying and Mapping Diyatalawa Badulla Uva 1967 21 July 1990 Public
Institute of Technological Studies Colombo Colombo Western 1984 15 December 1988 Private
KAATSU Battaramulla Colombo Western 7 January 2015 Private
National Institute of
Business Management 		Colombo Colombo Western 1968 20 October 2009 -
National Institute of
Social Development 		Rajagiriya Colombo Western 1 June 2005 Private
National School of
Business Management 		Colombo Colombo Western 5 March 2013 Private
SANASA Campus Hettimulla Kegalle Sabaragamuwa 21 January 2014 Private
South Asian Institute of
Technology and Medicine 		Malabe Colombo Western 2008 30 August 2011 Private
Sri Lanka Institute of
Development Administration 		Colombo Colombo Western 1966 24 April 2003 Public
Sri Lanka Institute of
Information Technology 		Malabe Colombo Western 1999 30 March 2004 Private
Sri Lanka International
Buddhist Academy 		Pallekele Kandy Central 2009 22 February 2013 Private

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 (SCIRJ),. 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 1136721290.
  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. ↑ "Other Government Universities". University Grants Commission.
  10. ↑ "Sri Lanka". webometrics. Open Publishing. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  11. ↑ webometrics.info website. World Ranking of Top Sri Lankan Universities – 2015 July Retrieved 29 October 2016
  12. ↑ webometrics.info website. World ranking Top Sri Lankan Universities 2014 July Retrieved 29 October 2016
  13. ↑ webometrics.info website. Top Best Universities in Sri Lanka according to webometrics World Ranking 2013 July Retrieved 29 October 2016
  14. ↑ "Accreditation Degree Programs". Ministry of Higher Education and Highways (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "Other Recognized Degrees". University Grants Commission.
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