This is a list of higher education institutions in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan law on publicly financed universities, the University Grants Commission controls 17 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). 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.[1][2][3]

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.[4]

Ordinance

  • 20 of 1942 Ceylon University (Repealed in 1966)

Acts of Parliament

  • Ceylon University (Amendment) Act No. 36 1956 (Repealed in 1966)
  • Vidyodaya University and the Vidyalankara University Act, No. 45 of 1958 (Repealed in 1966)
  • Higher Education Act No. 20 of 1966
  • 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)[5]

Universities

There are currently seventeen universities in Sri Lanka, which are established under the authority of the University Grants Commission.[6] All the following universities are recognised bodies with university status (University charter) under Universities Act No.16 of 1978.[7]

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		ColomboColomboWestern1893PublicUGC1 July 2005
Wayamba UniversityKuliyapitiyaKurunegalaNorth WesternJanuary 1999PublicUGC17 August 1999
Gampaha Wickramarachchi UniversityYakkalaGampahaWestern1928PublicUGC30 October 2020[8]
University of VavuniyaVavuniyaVavuniyaNorthern1991PublicUGC1 August 2021

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.[9]

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
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

Degree awarding institutes

Under the Section 25 A of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, following institutes have been recognised to award degrees.[10][11]

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 StudiesColomboColomboWestern198418 January 2017Private
KAATSUBattaramullaColomboWestern20157 January 2015Private
National Institute of
Business Management		ColomboColomboWestern196820 October 2009Private
National Institute of
Social Development		RajagiriyaColomboWestern1 June 2005Private
National School of Business ManagementColomboColomboWestern5 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		MalabeColomboWestern199913 October 2000Private
Sri Lanka Institute of
Nanotechnology		HomagamaColomboWestern200830 March 2004Private
Sri Lanka International
Buddhist Academy		PallekeleKandyCentral200922 February 2013Private
Esoft Metro CampusColomboColomboWestern20093 September 2019Private
International College of Business and TechnologyColomboColomboWestern200025 September 2020Private
Sri Lanka Technological CampusPadukkaColomboWestern20152 December 2016Private
Business Management SchoolColomboColomboWestern20211 January 2021Private
Royal Institute Colombo[12]ColomboColomboWestern20211 January 2021Private
International Institute of Health Science[13]WelisaraColomboWestern202111 June 2021Private
Benedict XVI Catholic Institute of Higher Education[14]NegomboColomboWestern202123 March 2021Private
Institute of Chemistry Ceylon[15]ColomboColomboWestern202011 March 2020Private

Rankings of universities

Webometrics rankings

2023 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities for Sri Lankan universities are listed below.[2]

University 2023 (January edition)[3] 2018 (July edition)[16] 2016 (July edition)[17] 2015 (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
Colombo 1 Increase 1 1485 Increase 6792Decrease 12164Decrease 2181Steady1946Increase 931Steady2039Increase 107
Peradeniya 2 Decrease 1 1885 Increase 1331Increase 12018Increase 1402Steady2158Increase 722Steady2230Increase 249
Sri Jayewardenepura 3 Increase 3 1944 Increase 11276Steady3071Decrease 265Decrease 12476Increase 6154Increase 23091Increase 2878
Moratuwa 4 Steady 2219 Increase 5024Decrease 12721Decrease 3063Steady2415Decrease 83Steady2407Increase 90
Ruhuna 5 Decrease 2 2336 Increase 3293Increase 22665Decrease 315Increase 12634Increase 18916Steady4525Decrease 1042
Kelaniya 6 Decrease 1 2971 Decrease 2195Decrease 12752Decrease 1934Steady2559Increase 5704Increase 13129Increase 65
Rajarata 7 Steady 3020 Increase 13547Increase 64374Decrease 37013Decrease 36137Increase 357010Steady9707Decrease 712
Jaffna 8 Steady 3633 Increase 7518Decrease 14384Decrease 3807Increase 24004Increase 25579Decrease 16561Increase 664
Wayamba 9 Increase 5 4379 Increase 103014Decrease 45409Decrease 273110Decrease 35409Decrease 3587Increase 65051Increase 6742
Sabaragamuwa 10 Increase 1 4590 Increase 56011Steady5150Increase -865= 11Increase 16015Increase 498712Decrease 111002Decrease 203
Eastern 11 Decrease 1 4621 Increase 9010Increase 24711Increase 1304= 11Increase 26015Increase 525013Decrease 111265Decrease 111
Open 12 Decrease 3 5140 Decrease 4879Steady4653Decrease 1749Decrease 14479Increase 10918Decrease 15570Increase 419
SLIIT 13 Steady 6657 Decrease 117313Steady5484Steady
KDU 14 Decrease 2 7267 Decrease 185812Steady5409Steady
Uva Wellassa 15 Increase 1 7311 Increase 314016Decrease 310451Increase 1045115Steady11664Increase 405015Decrease 115714Decrease 989
South Eastern 16 Decrease 1 7709 Increase 101115Decrease 38720Increase 75214Decrease 37968Increase 206111Decrease 210029Decrease 1705
Visual & Performing Arts 17 Steady 15491 Decrease 66917Decrease 914822Decrease 107018Increase 64121Increase 994414Increase 114065Increase 1626
Last Updated according to Webometrics Ranking of World Universities January 2023 Sri Lankan Edition [1]

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. 1 2 de Silva, K. M. (1977). The University System of Sri Lanka.
  2. 1 2 A People's University - A Romantic Story of Peradeniya. ICES. 1995.
  3. 1 2 Annual report 1972. Planning and Research Unit, University of Ceylon. 1977.
  4. ↑ Yong, Zhao; Ramanathan, Hema (2010). Handbook of Asian Education: A Cultural Perspective. New York: Routledge. p. 584. ISBN 978-1136721298.
  5. ↑ Wickaramasinghe, N. (2005). University Space and Values Three Essays. International Center for Ethnic Studies Colombo Sri Lanka.
  6. ↑ "Universities". University Grants Commission.
  7. ↑ "UNIVERSITIES, CAMPUSES AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGES". University Grants Commission.
  8. ↑ "Gazette declaring Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute a university, issued". newsfirst. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Other Government Universities". University Grants Commission.
  10. ↑ "Accreditation Degree Programs". Ministry of Higher Education and Highways (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "Other Recognized Degrees". University Grants Commission.
  12. ↑ https://www.ugc.ac.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=37&lang=en
  13. ↑ https://www.ugc.ac.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=37&lang=en
  14. ↑ https://www.ugc.ac.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=37&lang=en
  15. ↑ https://www.ugc.ac.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=37&lang=en
  16. ↑ "Sri Lanka". webometrics. Open Publishing. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  17. ↑ "Sri Lanka". webometrics. Open Publishing. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  18. ↑ webometrics.info website. World Ranking of Top Sri Lankan Universities – 2015 July Retrieved 29 October 2016
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