The

University of Colombo (Buddhih Sarvatra Bhrajate) , mottoeng = ''Wisdom Enlightens'' , established = , endowment = LKR 1.461 billion

currently has seven faculties with 41 academic departments and two interdependent schools with five academic departments. All faculties and schools carries out courses of study and research in both graduate and undergraduate studies. In addition, the university has several institutions that specialize in different areas of research.

Faculties & Schools

Faculty of Arts

In terms of student population the Faculty of Arts is the largest faculty in of the University of Colombo. Made up of eight academic departments and several teaching units, it undertakes studies and research in areas of

humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the t ...

and

social sciences Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of so ...

. The origins of the faculty dates back to 1921, with the establishment of the Ceylon University College, as courses in arts subjects where the first to be started. Upgraded to a faculty in 1942 with the establishment of the

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 Unive ...

that year, it was moved completely to

Peradeniya Peradeniya ( si, පේරාදෙණිය, translit=Pēradeniya; ta, பேராதனை, translit=Pērātaṉai) is a suburb of the city of Kandy Kandy ( si, මහනුවර ''Mahanuwara'', ; ta, கண்டி Kandy, ) is a m ...

in the early 1950s. In 1963, a new arts faculty was established in Colombo as part of the University of Ceylon, Colombo campus which continues to function as the current faculty. ; Departments of the Faculty of Arts: *Department of Demography *Department of Economics *Department of English *Department of English Language Teaching *Department of Geography *Department of History and International Relations *Department of Journalism *Department of Sinhala *Department of Sociology *Department of Political Science and Public Policy

Faculty of Education

The Faculty of Education was established in 1973, followed by the merger of Departments of Education of the Peradeniya, Vidyalankara and

Vidyodaya Vidyodaya School is a private college-preparatory combined-grades school located in Thevakkal, Kochi, India. It provides comprehensive school education from lower primary to grade 12. About Established in 1990-91 the school conducts classes fr ...

that had been brought back to Colombo in 1975. However it traces it roots to 1949 when the Department of Education was founded in Colombo before it move to Peradeniya. It has become the primary center of undergraduate and postgraduate studies and research in education. ; Departments of the Faculty of Education: *Department of Humanities Education *Department of Educational Psychology *Department of Social Science Education *Department of Science and Technology Education

Faculty of Graduate Studies

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is a

graduate school Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate ( bachelor's) degree. The organization and stru ...

it conducts post-graduate degree programs in many fields, via on campus lectures and

distance learning Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...

. It has the largest number of distance learning course offered via

e-learning Educational technology (commonly abbreviated as edutech, or edtech) is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning. When referred to with its abbreviation, edtech, it often refer ...

and

m-learning M-learning or mobile learning is "learning across multiple contexts, through social and content interactions, using personal electronic devices". A form of distance education, m-learners use mobile device educational technology at their convenienc ...

with a student base in both Sri Lanka and the

Maldives Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...

. It was established by the ''Faculty of Graduate Studies Ordinance No. 03 of 1987''.

Faculty of Management and Finance

The Faculty of Management and Finance traces it roots to the establishment of the Department of Commerce and Management Studies which was later upgraded to a faculty made up of six academic departments. Studies into accounting,

business economics Business economics is a field in applied economics which uses economic theory and quantitative methods to analyze business enterprises and the factors contributing to the diversity of organizational structures and the relationships of firms with ...

, finance, human resource management,

management Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a Government agency, government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includ ...

organization studies Organization studies (also called organization science or organizational studies) is the academic field interested in a ''collective activity, and how it relates to organization, organizing, and management''. It is "the examination of how individua ...

and

marketing Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emph ...

. Its Postgraduate & Mid-career Development Unit which conducts the highly recognized

MBA A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounti ...

program of the Colombo University. ; Departments of the Faculty of Management and Finance: *Department of Accounting *Department of Business Economics *Department of Finance *Department of Human Resource Management *Department of Management Studies *Department of Marketing

Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine is the oldest faculty of the university and oldest medical school in Sri Lanka. Established in 1870 as the Colombo Medical School later renamed as the Colombo Medical College, it was integrated as a faculty of the University of Ceylon at its formation in 1942. The Faculty has close links with several hospitals for teaching, training, clinical services and research. These include; *

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka The National Hospital of Sri Lanka (sometimes General Hospital) is a government hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded in 1864 as the General Hospital, it is the leading hospital in Sri Lanka and is controlled by the central government. The hospi ...

(Colombo General Hospital) *De Soysa Maternity Hospital *Castle Street Maternity Hospital * Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children ; Departments of the Faculty of Medicine: *Department of Anatomy *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology *Department of Clinical Medicine *Department of Community Medicine *Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology *Department of Microbiology *Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology *Department of Paediatrics *Department of Parasitology *Department of Pathology *Department of Pharmacology *Department of Physiology *Department of Physiotherapy *Department of Psychological Medicine *Department of Surgery

Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law (නීති පීඨය ''Nithi Pit-haya'')(சட்ட பீடம் "Satta peedam"), was founded at the Department of Law in Colombo in 1947 within the University of Ceylon and was moved to Peradeniya as part of the Faculty of Arts. However the department was later shifted to the Colombo Campus of the University of Ceylon upgrade to a Faculty of Law in 1968. The faculty maintains close links with the Sri Lanka Law College, which conducts the law exams need for admittance as an Attorney at Law. Being the first Law Faculty in the country, and the oldest Faculty of Law in the entire University system of the country it conducts both undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs in the field law.

Notable alumni

Hon. ''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific Style (ma ...

Ranil Wickremasinghe Ranil Wickremesinghe ( si, රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ, ta, ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க; born 24 March 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician who is the current president of Sri Lanka since 21 July 2 ...

, MP - Current Prime Minister of Sri Lanka & former Leader of the Opposition *Hon. Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike - former Cabinet Minister of Finance, Public Administration, Local Government, Home Affairs,

Justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...

& Member of Parliament *

Sri Lankabhimanya

Lakshman Kadirgamar Sri Lankabhimanya Lakshman Kadirgamar, PC ( ta, லக்ஷமன் கதிர்காமர்; si, ලක්ෂ්මන් කදිර්ගාමර්, 12 April 1932 – 12 August 2005) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and statesman. He s ...

- Distinguished diplomat, politician and lawyer *

Professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...

G. L. Peiris Gamini Lakshman Peiris ( Sinhala: ගාමීණි ලක්ෂ්මණ් පීරිස්, Tamil: காமினி லக்ஷ்மன் பீரிஸ்) (born 13 August 1946) is a Sri Lankan politician and academic. He was the ...

- Current Cabinet Minister of External Affairs and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo *

Vidya Jyothi The Vidya Jyothi ( si, විද්‍යාජෝති; ta, வித்யா ஜோதி, translit=Vityā Jōti) is a Sri Lankan Sri Lankan honours system, national honour awarded "''for outstanding scientific and technological achievements''" ...

T. Nadaraja Professor Thambiah Nadaraja was a Sri Lankan academic, lawyer and author. He was dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ceylon and chancellor of the University of Jaffna. Early life and family Nadaraja was born on 27 December 1927. He ...

- Chancellor of the

University of Jaffna The University of Jaffna ( ta, யாழ்ப்பாணப் பல்கலைக்கழகம், translit=Yāḻppāṇap Palkalaikkaḻakam; si, යාපනය විශ්වවිද්‍යාලය, ''Yāpanaya Viśvavidyālaya''; ...

and the Dean of the Faculty of Law,

Professor T. Nadaraja - brilliant legal mind, by H.B. de Silva
*Hon.

Dr. Doctor is an academic title that originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb 'to teach'. It has been used as an academic title in Europe since the 13th century, w ...

Neelan Thiruchelvam Neelakandan Tiruchelvam, PC ( ta, நீலகண்டன் திருச்செல்வம்; 31 January 1944 – 29 July 1999) was a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer, academic, human rights activist and politician. He was a Member of Parl ...

- former Member of Parliament *

Saleem Marsoof Saleem Marsoof, PC is a Sri Lankan judge and lawyer. He is a judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and former President of the Court of Appeal.

, PC - former

Chief Justice of Sri Lanka The Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head of the judiciary of Sri Lanka and the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Established in 1801, the Chief Justice is one of ten Supreme Court justices; the other nine are t ...

Suppiah Sharvananda Deshamanya Suppiah Sharvananda (also spelt Suppiah Sarvananda) was the 37th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and the first Governor of the Western Province. Early life Sharvanda was born on 22 February 1923 in Kayts, Jaffna District. He attended St. ...

- former

Mark Fernando Justice Mark Damien Hugh Fernando, PC (27 February 1941 – 20 January 2009) was a jurist and former judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He died after a long bout with cancer on 20 January 2009. He was known as a Judge who stood up for ju ...

- former Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka *

Savitri Goonesekere - former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo *

Kumar Sangakkara Kumara Chokshananda Sangakkara ( si, කුමාර් චොක්ශනාද සංගක්කාර; born 27 October 1977) is a Sri Lankan cricket commentator, former professional cricketer, businessman, ICC Hall of Fame inductee and the ...

- Captain of the Sri Lankan national cricket team * H.L. de Silva, PC - Ambassador / Permanent Representative to United Nations (New York) *Professor Suri Ratnapala, Professor of Law, University of Queensland, Australi

*Hon. Chief Justice

Shirani Bandaranayake Upatissa Atapattu Bandaranayake Wasala Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Shirani Anshumala Bandaranayake (known as Shirani Bandaranayake; born April 1958) served as the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. Although a qualified lawyer, she has never practiced la ...

The 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and the first female Chief Justice in Sri Lanka * Palitha Fernando Solicitor General Sri Lanka *

Palitha Kohona Palitha T. B. Kohona, a Sri Lankan born diplomat, was the former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations (UN).

, - Ambassador / Permanent Representative to United Nations (New York)

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science was established in 1942 with the founding the University of Ceylon. Part of the faculty was moved to Peradeniya, with other department remaining in Colombo. The faculty carries out research and studies chemistry, mathematics, nuclear science,

physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

plant sciences Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

, statistics and

zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and ...

. The oldest

Faculty of Science Faculty may refer to: * Faculty (academic staff), the academic staff of a university (North American usage) * Faculty (division), a division within a university (usage outside of the United States) * Faculty (instrument), an instrument or warra ...

in the country, it conducts both undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs in many fields of science. Established in 1942 with the founding the

, as such it is one of the two oldest faculties in the island. At its formation its nucleus was formed from staff from the Science Section of the

Ceylon Technical College Maradana College of Technology is the oldest technical college in Sri Lanka. Formally known as the Ceylon Technical College which was an institution of higher education for Technical and Scientific fields in Ceylon and a government department. It ...

. Part of the faculty was moved to Peradeniya, with other department remaining in Colombo. The faculty carries out research and studies Chemistry, Mathematics, Nuclear science,

Physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

Plant Sciences Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

, Statistics and

Zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and ...

. ; Departments of the Faculty of Science: *Department of Chemistry *Department of Mathematics *Department of Physics ** Centre for Instrument Development *Department of Plant Science
Department of Statistics
*Department of Zoology *Department of Nuclear Science

Notable alumni

Stanley Wijesundera - former Vice Chancellor of the

University of Colombo (Buddhih Sarvatra Bhrajate) , mottoeng = ''Wisdom Enlightens'' , established = , endowment = LKR 1.461 billion

V. K. Samaranayake Vidya Jyothi V. K. Samaranayake, MBCS, MCS(SL), FNASSL, MIEEE ( Sinhala:වී.කේ.සමරනායක) (1939 – 6 June 2007) pioneered computing & IT development industry and usage in Sri Lanka and thus considered as the "Father of In ...

- former

Dean Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

of the Faculty of Science,

University of Colombo (Buddhih Sarvatra Bhrajate) , mottoeng = ''Wisdom Enlightens'' , established = , endowment = LKR 1.461 billion

and Founder of

University of Colombo School of Computing The University of Colombo currently has seven faculties with 41 academic departments and two interdependent schools with five academic departments. All faculties and schools carries out courses of study and research in both graduate and undergradu ...

Nalin de Silva Thakurartha Devadithya Guardiyawasam Lindamulage Nalin Kumara de Silva ( Sinhala: නලින් ද සිල්වා; born 20 October 1944) is a Sri Lankan philosopher and a political analyst. He is the current Sri Lankan ambassador in Mya ...

- Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the

University of Kelaniya Pannaya Parisujjhati , mottoeng = Self-purification is by insight , established = 1875 Vidyalankara Pirivena1959 Vidyalankara University , type = Public , endowment = , adminis ...

* Professor

Gihan Wikramanayake Gihan Nilendra Wikramanayake, FBCS, CITP (17 January 1960 – 5 January 2018) was a Sri Lankan academic. He was a Senior Professor in Computer Science and attached to the Department of Information Systems Engineering. He was the Director of the ...

- Director of the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) * Dr

Sarath Gunapala Sri Lanka Ranajana Dr Sarath Gunapala ( Sinhala:සරත් ගුණපාල) is a solid-state physicist, senior research scientist and group supervisor at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He works primarily in Quantum Well Infrared Phot ...

, Scientist at

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil List of government space agencies, space program ...

Jet Propulsion Laboratory The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center in the City of La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States. Founded in the 1930s by Caltech researchers, JPL is owned by NASA an ...

Sri Palee Campus

The Sri Palee Campus of the University of Colombo is located in Wewala,

Horana Horana ( si, හොරණ, , ta, ஹொரணை) is a town in Kalutara District, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is on the A8 highway between Panadura and Ratnapura, away from Ratnapura and away from Panadura. Horana is connected ...

. Established in 1996 it conducts courses in the field of performing arts and

mass media Mass media refers to a diverse array of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication. The technologies through which this communication takes place include a variety of outlets. Broadcast media transmit informati ...

. It was established by a notification of the Sri Lanka government

gazette A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspaper ...

(Extraordinary ) No 928/1 dated June 20, 1996. The campus is located in buildings and land donated to the

University of Sri Lanka The University of Sri Lanka ( si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා විශ්වවිද්‍යාලය, ta, இலங்கைப் பல்கலைக்கழகம்) was the public university system of Sri Lanka from 1972 to 1978. Est ...

by the ''Sri Palee Trust'' in memory of

Hon Hon or HON may refer to: People * Han (surname) (Chinese: 韩/韓), also romanized Hon * Louis Hon (1924–2008), French footballer * Priscilla Hon (born 1998), Australian tennis player Other uses * Hon (Baltimore), a cultural stereotype of ...

Wilmot A. Perera Wilmot Abraham Perera (1905–1973) was a Sri Lankan statesman and philanthropist. He was declared a National Hero in 1993. A member of parliament, he was Ceylon's first Ambassador to China.undergraduate and postgraduate education in

Computer Science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines (includi ...

Information Systems An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems are composed by four components: task, people ...

, and

Information and Communication Technology Information and communications technology (ICT) is an extensional term for information technology (IT) that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications ( telephone lines and wireless signals) and computer ...

. The UCSC was formed on 1 September 2002 with the argumentation of the Department of Computer Science of the Faculty of Science of the University of Colombo and the Institute of Computer Technology by Professor

. ; Departments of the School of Computing: *Department of Computation and Intelligent Systems *Department of Communication and Media Technologies *Department of Information Systems Engineering Education centres include: the Advanced Digital Media Technology Centre, Computer Services Centre, Digital Forensic Centre, e-Learning Centre, External Degrees Centre, and the Professional Development Centre.

Affiliated institutes

Postgraduate Institute of Medicine

The

Postgraduate Institute of Medicine The Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) of the University of Colombo is the graduate school that provides specialist training and board certification of medical doctors in Sri Lanka. The only type of its kind, it is similar to the prestigious ...

(PGIM) is the only

in the country that provides specialist training of medical doctors. It was established in 1976 as the Institute of Postgraduate Medicine under the University of Ceylon Act No.1 of 1976 with Professor K. N. Seneviratne its first director, it was reorganized and given its current name under the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine Act No.1 of 1980.

National Institute of Library & Information Sciences

The National Institute of Library & Information Sciences (NILIS) is a

that focus on the study and research of

library science Library science (often termed library studies, bibliothecography, and library economy) is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, an ...

, information management, and allied fields. It was established in 1999 by an ordinance under section 18 and 24 of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 as an institution affiliated to the University of Colombo.

Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

The

Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology The Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB), Sri Lanka, is the National Node for European Molecular Biology Network ( EMBnet) and is designated as a Resource Centre for Molecular Life Sciences by the International P ...

(IBMBB) is the Sri Lankan node for the European Molecular Biology Network. It is also designated as a resource centre for molecular life sciences by the international program in chemical sciences,

University of Uppsala Uppsala University ( sv, Uppsala universitet) is a public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation. The university rose to significance during ...

Institute of Indigenous Medicine

The

Institute of Indigenous Medicine The Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM) is an affiliated institute of the University of Colombo, specialising in Ayurveda and the Sri Lankan traditional medicine. Founded as the ''College of Indigenous Medicine'' in 1929, it became part of the ...

specialize in the study of the form of

ayurvedic medicine Ayurveda () is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. The theory and practice of Ayurveda is pseudoscientific. Ayurveda is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population rep ...

, which has been practiced in the island for over two thousand years. It is located in

Nawala Nawala is an up-market residential Suburb of Colombo, within the Kotte municipality in the western province of Sri Lanka and is approximately 6km south from Colombo City. Nawala lies between the Commercial Capital Colombo and the Administrativ ...

a suburb of Colombo.

Institute of Human Resource Advancement

The Institute of Human Resource Advancement, formerly the ''Institute of Workers Education'' provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults. It conducts studies in many areas that is part of adult education.

Institute of Agro Technology and Rural Science

The Institute of Agro Technology and Rural Science is an affiliated institute of for the UoC, located in

Hambantota Hambantota ( si, හම්බන්තොට, ta, அம்பாந்தோட்டை) is the main town in Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri LankaThe prominent Malays (මැලේ) most part of the population is to be partly de ...

in the Southern Province of the country.

Former Institutes & entities

* Institute of Computer Technology (ICT) (now functioning as the School of Computing) * Institute of Workers Education (now Institute of Human Resource Advancement) * Department of Architecture (now Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa)

References

External links

Official Website of the University of ColomboUniversity Grants Commission of Sri Lanka
*;Official faculty websites:

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Management and Finance

*;Official Institute websites:

** ttp://iim.cmb.ac.lk/ Institute of Indigenous Medicine
Institute of Human Resource Advancement

Institute of Agro Technology and Rural Science
{{University of Colombo