The white tall building of University of Colombo, along with the buildings of University of Moratuwa, University of Ruhuna, and NIBM, which are leading universities of Sri Lanka.
Universities in Sri Lanka

After completing secondary education, Sri Lankan students have the chance to enter higher education as an optional final stage of formal learning within Sri Lanka itself. These higher education activities are conducted most commonly in universities, other degree-granting institutions, professional institutions, vocational training centers, etc. Out of them, universities are the prominent institutes to provide higher education in Sri Lanka.

At present, there are 17 leading government universities in this country. In addition, there are a number of leading private universities in Sri Lanka too. These leading universities in Sri Lanka provide the best quality higher education to those who have successfully completed their primary and secondary education. Moreover, the leading universities in Sri Lanka offer a number of fields for undergraduates to study. Thus, the leading universities in Sri Lanka have become the backbone of the future of the country.

A List of Leading Universities in Sri Lanka

Out of all the universities in the country, the following list shows some of the leading government as well as private universities in Sri Lanka.

  1. University of Colombo
  2. University of Peradeniya
  3. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  4. University of Ruhuna
  5. University of Kelaniya
  6. The University of Moratuwa
  7. Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
  8. University of Jaffna
  9. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
  10. The Open University of Sri Lanka
  11. Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
  12. General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
  13. National School of Business Management

Let us now have a look at the significance of each of these leading universities in Sri Lanka.

1. University of Colombo

The University of Colombo is the first institution established in Sri Lanka to provide modern higher education. With the motto “Buddhih Sarvatra Bhrajate”, which means “Wisdom shines forth everywhere” in Sanskrit, this was established in 1921 centering the commercial capital of the country, Colombo. This university occupies an area of nearly 50 acres (200,000 square meters) in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo.

The University of Colombo contains nine faculties namely:

  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Arts
  • Faculty of Management and Finance
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Faculty of Nursing,
  • Faculty of Technology

The Faculty of Medicine was established as the Ceylon Medical College in 1870. All these nine faculties are located in Colombo. In addition to these four faculties, the University of Colombo has a small campus called “The Sripalee Campus” in Horana. Moreover, the university has owned a computer school named the University of Colombo School of Computing since 2002. The Institute of Indigenous Medicine of the University of Colombo is located in Rajagiriya. It provides professionals in Ayurvedic medicine and surgery to the nation. As the latest addition, the Institute of Agro Technology and Rural Science of the University of Colombo was established recently in Hambantota.

International Collaborations of the University of Colombo

Being one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Colombo has established international links with a number of universities throughout the world. For example, the University of Colombo is a member of several international academic networks like the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Asian Universities Alliance (AUA), Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL), International Association of Universities (IAU), etc.

The universities like La Trobe University in Australia, Western Sydney University in Australia, Monash University in Australia, the University of British Columbia in Canada, the University of Ottawa in Canada, the Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany, the City University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, Mahatma Gandhi University in India, Ritsumeikan University in Japan, the University of Oslo in Norway, the National University of Singapore in Singapore, the University of Uppsala in Sweden, the University of London in the United Kingdom, the University of Pennsylvania in the United States stands as the international teaching and research partners of the University of Colombo. Furthermore, it has developed government partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Research co-operation, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Government of Sweden – Research Cooperation: SAREC Project, and the European Molecular Biology Network.

Student Life at the University of Colombo

More than 10,000 students fulfill their higher education at the University of Colombo internally and externally. Being one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Colombo has a centrally-administered network of libraries with the fame of the oldest academic library in the country.

Furthermore, students of the university cooperate with each other through a number of clubs and organizations including academic clubs and teams, cultural and religious groups as well as common-interest organizations. Moot Court and Debating Society, Buddhist Students’ Association, Muslim Majlis, Hindu Students’ Union, Catholic Students’ Movement, Student Christian Movement, Physics Society, FMF Media Unit – Faculty of Management and Finance Media Unit, AIESEC Colombo Central Local Committee, Epsilon Delta Society, Rotaract Club, FOS Media, Computer Science Society (CompSoc), UCSC ISACA Student Group, Tamil Literary Union and Mathematical and Astronomical Society are some of these societies. In addition, each faculty has its own Students Unions.

Besides, the University of Colombo is a good place to sharpen up someone’s sports skills. The university provides the students with the facilities to engage in Rugby, Football, Cricket, Badminton, Swimming, Tennis, etc.

The university provides residential facilities for its undergraduate students who come from rural areas of the country. Hostels like De Saram Hostel, Bloemfontein Medical Hostel, the Lamela Hostel, and Kithyakara Hostel provide residential facilities to male students while Sujata Jayawardena Memorial Hostel, Muttiah Hostel, and the Havelock Road Hostel to the female students.

2. The University of Peradeniya

Being the most picturesque university in Sri Lanka, the University of Peradeniya is located on the lower slopes of the Hanthana mountain range. The distance from Colombo is about 110 kilometers while Kandy is the closest city which is about 8 kilometers away. The Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya is very close to the university. Moreover, the University of Peradeniya is the largest university in Sri Lanka and it nurtures more than 12,000 students. The government of Sri Lanka originally established this as the University of Ceylon in 1942 and Queen Elizabeth II along with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh opened this officially on 20th April 1954.

The university spans an area of 1,700 acres and the Mahaweli river flows down across the university. The famous Akbar bridge is constructed at the University of Peradeniya in order to connect the Faculty of Engineering which is located on one side of the Mahaweli River with all other faculties located on the other side. Another amazing thing about this university is the presence of Sarasavi Uyana railway station inside the university itself. Anyone who comes from Colombo to Kandy via train can get into the university via this station directly. The Devil’s Bridge located near the Sarasavi Uyana railway station brings a unique value to the university.

Faculties and Degree Programmes at the University of Peradeniya

The University of Peradeniya, one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka contains the following nine academic faculties of study.

  1. Faculty of Arts
  2. Faculty of Science
  3. The Dental Sciences Faculty
  4. Faculty of Medicine
  5. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
  6. The Agriculture Faculty
  7. Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
  8. Faculty of Engineering
  9. The Management Faculty

In addition to these faculties, the University of Peradeniya has a few postgraduate institutions and affiliated centers too.

International Collaborations of the University of Peradeniya

Since the beginning, this university has developed a wide range of international relationships. Also, it has started cooperation programs with foreign institutions and governments. The university is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) academic network too. Moreover, the university has signed Memorandums of Understanding with more than 30 foreign universities for research and academic development. Similarly, the University of Peradeniya provides facilities for 20 undergraduate students per year from the United States of America to study at the university through the Intercollegiate Sri Lanka Education (ISLE) program.

Student Life at the University of Peradeniya

Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Peradeniya became the first in Sri Lanka and the 401 – 500 band in the World University ranking according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.  Having over 430,000 items, the network of libraries in Peradeniya serves as one of the biggest libraries in Sri Lanka.

The University of Peradeniya has the highest number of clubs and organizations run by students. It is more than 100 in number. Furthermore, the university students of Peradeniya have the chance to engage in a number of sports such as football, hockey, tennis, cricket, rugby, track and field, and Elle. The Department of Physical Education guides all sports activities. The students are blessed with a 50 meters swimming pool, one of the largest multi-purpose outstation stadiums in Sri Lanka as well as a well-equipped gymnasium to engage in all these sports activities.

The presence of the widest residential facilities in the University of Peradeniya out of all the universities in Sri Lanka proves that it is one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka, without any doubt. The hostels like Arunachalam Hall, Akbar Hall, Andreas Nell Hall, James Peiris Hall, Hindagala Hall, Jayatilake Hall, Mahailluppallama Gents Hostel, Marcus Fernando Hall, Marrs Hall, New Akbar Hall, Sarasavi Uyana Hall, Senaka Bibile Hall are reserved for the male students while A/7 Women’s Hostel, Hilda Obeyesekara Hall, Mahailluppallama Ladies Hostel, Ramanathan Hall, Sangamitta Hall and Wijewardena Hall for the female students. In addition, the University of Peradeniya provides residential facilities to Buddhist bhikkhus too with the A/4 Bhikkhu Hostel, A/5 Bhikkhu Hostel, Kehelpannala Hall, and the Sangaramaya.

3. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Located in the capital city of Sri Lanka, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura nurtures the nation as one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura was founded in 1958 out of Vidyodaya Pirivena, a leading Buddhist educational center. Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera founded Vidyodaya Pirivena in 1873. Thus, the history of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura runs one and half centuries back. “Vijja Uppattam Setta” is the motto of the university which means “Among all that arises, knowledge is the greatest. Nearly 15,000 internal and external students get their education from the university. Therefore, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura is the largest University in Sri Lanka in terms of student numbers. Sir Oliver Goonetilleka was the first Chancellor of the university while Ven. Welivitiye Soratha Nayaka Thero was the first Vice-chancellor.

Faculties and Degree Programmes at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura

The university first started its academic work only with 5 faculties. But, it has spread up to the following 11 faculties at present.

  1. Faculty of Applied Sciences
  2. Faculty of Engineering
  3. The Management Studies and Commerce Faculty
  4. Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
  5. Faculty of Medical Sciences
  6. The Dental Sciences Faculty
  7. Faculty of Urban & Aquatic Bioresources
  8. Faculty of Computing
  9. The Graduate Studies Faculty
  10. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  11. Faculty of Technology

The Faculty of Management Studies & Commerce awards degree programs related to subject areas like Marketing Management, Accounting, Estate Management & Valuation, Human Resource Management, Finance, Operations and Technology Management, Public Management, Entrepreneurship, Business Information systems, and Business Administration.

Similarly, the Faculty of Applied Sciences awards degree programs related to subject areas like Physics and ICT, Chemistry, Plant BioTechnology, Microbiology, Plant Biology, Zoology, Aquatic Resource Management, Environmental Management & Forestry, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Computer Science, Food Science and Technology, Sport Science and Management.

The Faculty of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, and Faculty of Dental Sciences award degree programs related to subject areas like Medicine and Surgery, Human Biology, Nursing and Midwifery, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Optometry as well as Dental Surgery.

Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura has some prominent institutes and units in addition to the faculties. They are as follows.

  1. Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM)
  2. External Degrees and Extension Course Unit
  3. English Language Teaching Department (ELTD)
  4. The Physical Education Division
  5. Staff Development Centre
  6. Center for IT Services
  7. The Career Guidance Unit

In 2016, a research council was established at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura with the intention of facilitating high-quality research.

Sports at the University of the Sri Jayewardenepura

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is considered one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka for sports activities. The university won the Sri Lanka University Games (SLUG) for three consecutive years. Moreover, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura produced the first undergraduate in Sri Lankan university history to participate in the Olympic Games representing Sri Lanka.

The Faculty of Applied Sciences awards a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Sports Science and Management which gives a number of highly talented sportsmen and sportswomen to the nation.

4. University of Ruhuna

The University of Ruhuna was established in the southern region of Sri Lanka in 1978. At present, it has grown into a university of 10 faculties and has become one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka. Nearly 10,000 undergraduates study at the university. The main campus of the University of Ruhuna is located in Wellamadama in Matara while a few other faculties are distributed in both Galle and Matara districts. The area of the main campus premises Wellamadama is about 72 acres (29 ha).

Faculties and Degree Programmes at the University of Ruhuna

The University of Ruhuna consists of the following 10 faculties at present.

  1. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  2. Faculty of Agriculture
  3. The Science Faculty
  4. Faculty of Medicine
  5. Faculty of Engineering
  6. The Management and Finance Faculty
  7. Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and Technology
  8. Faculty of Graduate Studies
  9. The Technology Faculty
  10. Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Management and Finance, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Graduate Studies, and Faculty of Technology are located in the main premises at Wellamadama in Matara while the Faculty of Agriculture is in Mapalana, Kamburupitiya in Matara. However, the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Allied Health Sciences are located in Karapitiya and Uluvitike in Galle respectively. The Teaching Hospital – Karapitiya and Teaching Hospital – Mahamodara provide educational facilities to the students of this university as teaching hospitals. The Faculty of Engineering is in Hapugala, Galle which is nearly 7 kilometers away from Galle town.

The Architectural Landscape of the University of Ruhuna

The world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa designed the building complex with a unique architectural landscape for the University of Ruhuna. Later, the government of India gifted the Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium to the university recently. This auditorium has a 1500 seating capacity. In addition, it has state-of-the-art theater facilities too. It is possible to host national and international training programs, conferences, conventions as well as aesthetic events at this Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium. However, it is the largest auditorium in any of the universities in the country.

5. The University of Kelaniya

Located in a city with historic value, the University of Kelaniya stands as one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka. It is nearly 10 kilometers away from Colombo. The motto of the university is Pannaya Parisujjhati which means self-purification is by insight. The history of the university goes back to 1875 when Ratmalana Sri Dharmaloka Thero founded this educational institute as the Vidyalankara Pirivena. Since then, this acted as a center of learning for Buddhist monks. However, in 1959, Vidyalankara Pirivena became the Vidyalankara University with the establishment of modern universities in the country. Later in 1972, this institute became the Vidyalankara Campus of the University of Ceylon. Finally, in 1978, it became the University of Kelaniya.

The University of Kelaniya provided the higher education system of Sri Lanka with many new developments. Restructuring the traditional Arts Faculty into three faculties as Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Commerce and Management is the best example. Furthermore, the University of Kelaniya consists of several departments that are not generally found in the Sri Lankan University system. Some of these departments are as follows.

  1. Department of Industrial Management
  2. Department of Microbiology
  3. The Linguistics Department
  4. Department of Fine Arts
  5. Department of Modern Languages
  6. The Hindi Department
  7. Department of Mass Communication
  8. Department of Information Sciences

Few other leading universities in Sri Lanka have adopted some of these innovations from Kelaniya subsequently.

Faculties and Degree Programmes at the University of Kelaniya

The University of Kelaniya consists of the following 7 faculties.

  1. Faculty of Science
  2. Faculty of Medicine
  3. The Social Sciences Faculty
  4. Faculty of Humanities
  5. Faculty of Commerce and Management
  6. The Computing and Technology Faculty
  7. Faculty of Graduate Studies

The Faculty of Science started its academic activities in 1967. It awards science degrees to undergraduates via the departments of Botany, Chemistry, Industrial Management, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics and Electronics, Statistics & Computer Science, and Zoology & Environmental Management.

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Kelaniya is in Ragama. This was initially built as the first private medical school in Sri Lanka in 1980. However, with the huge wave of objections that arose from society, the administration had to hand it over to the government. Consequently, the government handed it over to the University of Kelaniya for the upliftment of free education in Sri Lanka. In addition to the MBBS degree program, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Kelaniya conducts a BSc program in speech and hearing sciences. The Faculty of Social Science is the largest faculty in the university in terms of student numbers, however. 

The Faculty of Commerce and Management awards degree programs related to Financial Management, Business Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Commerce. The University of Kelaniya established another new faculty recently in 2015 the Faculty of Computing and Technology. It offers degree programs related to Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, and  Information Technology. Furthermore, this faculty has planned to propose a few Research and Development Centres like the Centre for eLearning, Centre for Computational Mathematics, Centre for Nanotechnology, Centre for Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Centre for Data Science, Centre for Geo-informatics as well as Language Engineering Research Centre. Similarly, the Faculty of Graduate Studies conducts six postgraduate diploma programs and twenty-three postgraduate degree programs.

Center for Gender Studies (CGS) at the University of Kelaniya

Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Kelaniya has the only Centre for Gender Studies (CGS). The current president of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe’s wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe founded this. The main intention was to initiate and conduct research on gender issues. In addition, this center conducts educational programs on gender studies.

6. The University of Moratuwa

Located on the bank of the Bolgoda Lake in Katubedda, Moratuwa, the University of Moratuwa nurtures thousands of local and foreign students as one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka. Before reaching the status of a university, this institution was known as Ceylon College of Technology, Katubedda.

Faculties and Degree Programmes at the University of Moratuwa

The University of Moratuwa consists of the following 6 faculties and an institute.

  1. Faculty of Architecture
  2. Faculty of Engineering
  3. The Information Technology Faculty
  4. Faculty of Graduate Studies
  5. Faculty of Business
  6. The Medical Faculty
  7. Institute of Technology

Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Moratuwa is the only university to have an Architecture Faculty. It awards the following six Honors Degrees.

  1. Bachelor of Architecture
  2. Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
  3. BSc in Quantity Surveying
  4. Bachelor of Design
  5. Bachelor of Science in Facilities Management
  6. BSc in Town & Country Planning

In addition to the above degree programs, the faculty offers a rare set of Postgraduate degrees such as M.Sc. in Landscape Design, M.Sc. in Project Management, M.Sc. in Architectural Conservation of Monuments and Sites, M.Sc. in Occupational Safety and Health Management, M.Sc. in Spatial Planning, Management and Design, M.Sc.PG Diploma in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, and Master of Urban Design.

Besides, the Faculty of Engineering is the largest faculty in the university and it consists of eleven academic departments. Around 3500 undergraduate and thousands of post-graduate students study here.

Further, the Faculty of Information Technology does a great service by widening the gap in the supply of IT professionals in Sri Lanka. The Graduate Studies Faculty enriches the postgraduate research culture in the university. Moreover, the students from the newly found Business Faculty will be ready to take the businesses of the country to a higher level in the next decades.

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Moratuwa was established in 2020 as the 11th Faculty of Medicine on the island. Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, Moratuwa is the only university to have a Department of Medical Technology. Furthermore, the Institute of Technology awards the National Diploma in Technology to the students.

6. Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Rajarata University is one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka which is located in a land of historic value, Mihintale in the Anuradhapura district. The distance from Colombo to the university is about 200 kilometers. The historic Mihintale temple is less than 1 kilometer away from the university while the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanweliseya, and other historic constructions of the Anuradhapura Kingdom are only 10 kilometers away. On the 31st of January 1996, President Chandrika Kumaratunga opened the Rajarata University as the 11th state university of Sri Lanka. Nearly 8000 students study at the university under 300 academic staff members.

Faculties and Degree Programmes at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Being one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka, Rajarata University consists of the following 6 faculties.

  1. Faculty of Agriculture
  2. Faculty of Applied Sciences
  3. The Management Studies Faculty
  4. Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences
  5. Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
  6. The Technology Faculty

The Faculty of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Management Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Faculty of Technology are located in the main Mihintale premises while the Faculty of Agriculture is in Puliyankulama and the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences in Saliyapura.

The Faculty of Agriculture awards degree programs related to Agricultural Systems, Plant Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, Soil Science & Animal and food science. Similarly, the Faculty of Applied Sciences awards degree programs related to subjects such as Biodiversity & Conservation, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Microbiology, Chemistry, Physics, Information Technology, Health Promotion, Industrial Mathematics, and Computer Science. Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka as well as in South-East Asia, the Bachelor of Science Degree program in Health Promotion is only available at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. The Faculty of Management Studies awards degree programs related to subjects such as Accountancy & Finance, Business Management, Tourism & Hospitality Management as well as Business Information Technology.

In 2005 and 2017, the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences and the Faculty of Technology were established respectively. The Faculty of Technology awards degree programs related to fields such as Materials Technology, Electrical & Electronic Technology, BioProcess Technology, Food Technology, and Information & Communication Technology. Meanwhile, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities awards degree programs related to fields such as Archaeology and Heritage Management, Environmental Management, Languages, English Language Teaching as well as Economics.

7. University of Jaffna

Having the motto “Discernment is Wisdom ”, the University of Jaffna was established as one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka in 1974. The university is located in Jaffna in the northern part of Sri Lanka. The distance from Colombo to the university is nearly 400 kilometers.

The University of Jaffna had two campuses in Tirunelveli in Jaffna and in Vavuniya. But, its Vavuniya campus was upgraded to the University of Vavuniya in 2022. More than 8000 undergraduates study here. The 30-year civil war that took place in the northern region of Sri Lanka affected a lot to the University of Jaffna.

Faculties of the University of Jaffna

The University of Jaffna consists of the following academic faculties.

  1. Faculty of Agriculture
  2. Faculty of Arts
  3. The Engineering Faculty
  4. Faculty of Graduate Studies
  5. Faculty of Hindu Studies
  6. The Management Studies and Commerce Faculty
  7. Faculty of Medicine
  8. Faculty of Science
  9. The Technology Faculty
  10. Faculty of Technological Studies

Currently, these faculties are based at Thirunelvely, Maruthanarmadam, Ariviyal Nagar, and Kaithady. The Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, Faculty of Medicine, the library, the main administrative departments, and the student complex are in Tirunelveli. Moreover, the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Technology, and Faculty of Agriculture are based at Ariviyal Nagar near Murukandy, south of Kilinochchi. The Faculty of Arts has the highest number of departments when compared to all the other faculties. Similarly, out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Jaffna is the only university to have a Faculty of Hindu Studies. This was established in 2019.

Degree Programmes at the University of Jaffna

The Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Jaffna awards degree programs related to fields such as Agricultural Biology, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Engineering, and Animal Science. The Faculty of Arts awards degree programs specialized in the areas like Christian & Islamic Civilization, Dance, Economics, Education, Fine Arts, Geography, Hindu Civilization, History, Law, Linguistics and English, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Sanskrit, Sociology, and Tamil. Similarly, the Faculty of Engineering awards Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.Sc.Eng.) degrees related to areas such as Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Inter-disciplinary Engineering. The Faculty of Graduate Studies which functions since 1999 awards postgraduate courses which lead to Master of Philosophy, Master of Education, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

The Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce awards degree programs such as Bachelor of Business Management (B.B.M.), Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), and Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) which are specialized in the fields of Accounting, Commerce, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Management Studies, and Marketing. Consisting of twelve departments, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jaffna awards degree programs such as Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.), Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) as well as Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N.). Teaching Hospital – Jaffna acts as the teaching hospital for the faculty.

The Faculty of Science is one of the oldest faculties in the university which provides degree programs related to fields such as Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, Fisheries, and Zoology. However, in order to improve technical education in Sri Lanka the Faculty of Technology and the Faculty of Technological Studies were established in 2016 and 2020 respectively.

8. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

The roots of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka go back to the Palabaddala Monastic University period. It was built by King Kalikala Sahittya Sarvagna Pandita Parakramabahu, the Second (1235–1271 AD). Later, in 1991, Sabaragamuwa Affiliated University College (SAUC) was built and it led the path for the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka to be established in 1996 as one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka. The university is located in the southern foothills of the central mountain range in a scenic environment in the Pambahinna junction in BelihulOya. The nearest town is Balangoda in the Ratnapura district. Haputale is the nearest railway station which is 31 kilometers away. Moreover, the university is 145 kilometers away from Colombo.

Faculties and Degree Programmes at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Being one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa University consists of the following 8 faculties.

  1. Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages
  2. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
  3. The Applied Sciences Faculty
  4. Faculty of Geomatics
  5. Faculty of Management
  6. The Medical Faculty
  7. Faculty of Graduate Studies
  8. Faculty of Technology

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages awards degree programs related to Economics & Statistics, Social Sciences, Languages, English Language Teaching, and Geography and Environmental Management. The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences is located 2 kilometers away from the main premises. It awards Bachelor of Science degrees in Agribusiness Management, Export Agriculture, and Livestock Production. Similarly, the Faculty of Applied Sciences awards Bachelor of Science degrees in Physical Sciences, Food Sciences and Technology, Natural Resources, Computing and Information Systems, Sports Science and Management, and Physical Education. The Department of Sports Science and Management and Physical Education of the faculty has brought so much fame to the Sabaragamuwa University in Sri Lanka University Games as well as World University Games. 

Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa has the only Faculty of Geomatics. It awards some rare sets of degrees related to Surveying and Geodesy, Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems, Cartography, Photogrammetry, etc. The Faculty of Medicine of Sabaragamuwa University was established recently in 2020 in Ratnapura town. The Teaching Hospital – Ratnapura is the teaching hospital of the faculty.

10. The Open University of Sri Lanka

Being one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka, the Open University offers programs of study leading to certificates, diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate degrees up to the Ph.D. level. It is the only university in Sri Lanka that provides Open and Distance modes of Learning. Furthermore, all the degrees awarded by the university are recognized by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka. The main campus of the Open University is in Nawala, Nugegoda. In addition, the Open University has 8 regional centers distributed throughout the country. Kandy Regional Center is located in Polgolla, Kandy while the Matara Regional Center is situated in Nupe, Matara. Similarly, the Jaffna Regional Center is in Kokuvil, Jaffna. Furthermore, Anuradhapura Regional Center is situated in Jayanthi Mawatha, Anuradhapura, and Batticaloa Regional Center is in the New Road, Batticaloa. Moreover, there are three more regional centers situated in Badulla, Kurunegala, and Ratnapura.

In addition to the regional centers, there are 18 study centers of the Open University. They are in Ambalangoda, Ambalantota, Ampara, Bandarawela, Galle, Gampaha, Hatton, Kegalle, Kalutara, Kilinochchi, Kuliyapitiya, Mannar, Mullaitivu,  Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Ratnapura and Vavuniya.

Faculties and Degree Programmes in the Open University of Sri Lanka

The Open University of Sri Lanka consists of the following six faculties and one postgraduate institute.

  1. Faculty of Education
  2. Faculty of Engineering Technology
  3. The Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty
  4. Faculty of Natural Sciences
  5. Faculty of Health Sciences
  6. The Management Studies Faculty
  7. Postgraduate Institute of English (PGIE)

These faculties and institutes award a rare set of degrees when compared to other leading universities in Sri Lanka. Thus, the Faculty of Education awards degree programs related to subjects such as Early Childhood and Primary Education, Secondary & Tertiary Education, and Special Needs Education. Moreover, the Faculty of Engineering Technology makes graduates specialized in the fields of Agricultural and Plantation Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics and Philosophy of Engineering, and Textile and Apparel Technology. In addition, the faculty offers two Master of Technology programs in Construction Management and Industrial Engineering. The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a number of certificates, diplomas, and degrees related to English and Language Studies, Law, Social Studies, and English Language Teaching. Similarly, the Faculty of Natural Sciences awards degree programs in the fields of Botany, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Zoology.

Indeed, if someone is hoping to go with health science degree programs related to Basic Sciences, Health Education and Research, Pharmacy, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Psychology and Counseling, the Faculty of Health Sciences will offer you the best. Furthermore, the Faculty of Management Studies awards degree programs related to Organizational Studies, Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, and Marketing Management.

11. Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

In 1999, a non-profit private university was established in Malabe in order to produce graduates specialized in technology and management. This was named the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT). It consists of four regional centers and two campuses. The Malabe Campus and the Colombo Metropolitan Campus at Kollupitiya are the two campuses while the four regional centers are at Kandy, Matara, Jaffna, and Kurunegala. Nearly 10,000 students study here for bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and other Professional Development Programmes.

Faculties and Degree Programmes in Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology consists of the following faculties and schools.

  1. Faculty of Computing
  2. Faculty of Business
  3. The Engineering Faculty
  4. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences
  5. School of Science
  6. Faculty of Graduate Studies
  7. Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management
  8. SLIIT Academy
  9. School of Architecture

The history of the Faculty of Computing goes back to the beginning of the SLIIT in 1999. It produces highly skilled IT professionals related to fields such as Computer Systems and Network Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Systems Engineering, Cyber Security, Interactive Media, and Data Science. Similarly, the Faculty of Business awards degree programs related to Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Business Analytics, Human Capital Management, Marketing Management, Quality Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Information Management. If someone needs to be an engineer in the Civil, Electrical & Electronic, Mechanical, and Materials fields, the Faculty of Engineering has offered BSc in Engineering degrees since 2013. Furthermore, the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences awards degrees in natural sciences, biotechnology, nursing, psychology, law, and education.

The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management together with the William Angliss Institute of TAFE and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology awards degrees in tourism and hospitality management.

Affiliations with Foreign Universities

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology has partnerships with a number of foreign universities. Thus, after an initial study period in Sri Lanka, students have the chance to finish their degrees at these universities.

The SLIIT has partnerships with Australian universities like the Curtin University of Technology, Deakin University, Griffith University, La Trobe University, Macquarie University, Queensland University of Technology, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Swinburne University, the University of Adelaide, University of Newcastle, University of South Australia, University of Tasmania and William Angliss Institute. Similarly, some universities in the United Kingdom like Aston University, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Nottingham, and the University of Hertfordshire have built up partnerships with the SLIIT. Furthermore, the Algoma University and Memorial University of Newfoundland of Canada, and the Southeast Missouri State University of the United States work together with the SLIIT.

12. General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University is the only defense university in the country. It provides academic training for the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, and Sri Lanka Air Force cadets. The university is located in Ratmalana, Colombo. The Ministry of Defence administers the university.

The history of the university goes back to 1980. The third Prime Minister of Ceylon, General Sir John Kotelawala donated his home to the academy. Thus, it was named the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy in honor of him. Later in 2007, the academy received the status of a university and became the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. Both military and civil students have the chance to study here. The motto of the university is “For The Motherland Forever”.

Faculties and Degree Programmes, in General, Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University consists of the following academic faculties.

  1. Faculty of Defence Studies and Strategic Studies
  2. Faculty of Engineering
  3. The Graduate Studies Faculty
  4. Faculty of Law
  5. Faculty of Management, Social Sciences, and Humanities
  6. The Medical Faculty
  7. Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
  8. Faculty of Computing
  9. The Faculty of Built Environment and Spatial Sciences

The courses in these faculties run for two to five years. The Faculty of Engineering offers degree programs related to Aeronautical Engineering, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Mechatronic Engineering. Out of all the leading universities in Sri Lanka, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University is the only university to award Aeronautical Engineering and Marine Engineering degrees in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the Faculty of Graduate Studies awards master’s degree programs such as Master of Science in Information Technology, Master of Science (Defence Studies) in Management, Master of Business Administration in E-governance, and Master of Business Administration in Logistics Management. The Faculty of Law awards a Bachelor of Laws degree. Moreover, the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Logistics Management, Management and Technical Sciences, and Social Sciences.

The Faculty of Medicine produces medical doctors with Bachelor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees while the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences produces graduates in health sciences related to fields such as Physiotherapy, Nursing, Radiography, Radiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Pharmacy. Similarly, the undergraduates have the chance to study in the fields of Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, Data Science, and Business Analytics via the Faculty of Computing. Furthermore, the Faculty of Built Environment and Spatial Sciences offers a rare set of bachelor’s degrees in Architecture, Built Environment, Quantity Surveying, and Spatial Science.

Accredited Institutions

The institutions like the National Defence College in Sri Lanka, Defence Services Command and Staff College, Army School of Logistics, Naval and Maritime Academy, and Sri Lanka Air Force Junior Command & Staff College have been accredited to the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University to conduct academic programs.

13. National School of Business Management

With the motto “Find Greatness in Every Step”, the National School of Business Management was established as one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka. This is also famous as the “NSBM Green University” in Sri Lanka. The National School of Business Management was built in 2011 and became a government-recognized degree-awarding institute in the same year. Later in 2016, a newly constructed university complex was built in Pitipana, Homagama, in the Colombo suburbs. If you are looking to join the NSBM Green University for your higher studies, you have two chances annually since the NSBM offers two intakes annually. The first intake happens in March while the second intake is in October.

The National School of Business Management is a private university where the students have to pay for their educational programs. However, the students have the chance to get into the university under the State Ministry of Higher Education’s Interest-Free Student Loan Scheme program.

Faculties and Degree Programmes in the National School of Business Management

The National School of Business Management conducts a number of undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional/executive programs under the following academic faculties.

  1. Faculty of Business
  2. Faculty of Computing
  3. Engineering Faculty
  4. Faculty of Science
  5. Faculty of Postgraduate Studies and Professional Advancement

The Faculty of Business offers degree programs related to Business, Management, and Commerce such as BSc., BBM, BM, BA, and Bachelor of Business degrees in Business Communication, Marketing Management, Logistics Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Human Resource Management, Accounting, Finance, Industrial Management, Project Management, and International Business. Similarly, the Faculty of Computing produces highly skilled IT professionals related to fields such as Data Science, Computer Security, Computer Networks, Management Information Systems, Software Engineering, and Computer Science. Meanwhile, the Faculty of Engineering offers degree programs related to fields such as Electrical, Electronic, and Systems Engineering, Mechatronic and Industry Engineering, and Design Studies. Furthermore, the Faculty of Science awards degree programs related to fields such as Biomedical Science and Public Health & Nutrition.

The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies and Professional Advancement conducts postgraduate education programs like master’s degrees, professional advancement programs, and doctoral studies (Ph.D.).

Affiliations with Foreign Universities

The National School of Business Management has partnerships with a number of foreign universities. Thus, after an initial study period in Sri Lanka, students have the chance to finish their degree at foreign universities like the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom and Victoria University in Australia.

The Bottom Line

It is important to note that these are not the only universities in Sri Lanka. There are many other semi-government and private universities spread island-wide. All the degrees offered by the state universities are approved by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka. However, if you are willing to follow a higher education qualification, especially a degree at a private university, despite the institute you choose to follow your qualifications, it is important to check whether the degree program you chose is approved by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka, before proceeding ahead with it. Nevertheless, the service done by the universities of Sri Lanka, on behalf of the future generations of Sri Lanka, is simply impressive!