Notable Universities in Sri Lanka

A closer look at 20 universities in Sri Lanka — founding, campus language, and academic strengths.

School	City	Type	Founded	Language	Notable Programs
University of Colombo	Colombo	Public	1870	English, Sinhala, Tamil	MedicineLawScience
University of Peradeniya	Peradeniya	Public	1942	English	AgricultureEngineeringMedicine
University of Kelaniya	Kelaniya	Public	1959	Sinhala, English	Buddhist & Pali StudiesHumanitiesSocial Sciences
University of Sri Jayawardenapura	Nugegoda	Public	1959	Sinhala, English	Management StudiesMedical SciencesApplied Sciences
National Institute of Business Management	Colombo	Public	1968	English	Business ManagementInformation TechnologyHuman Resources Management
University of Moratuwa	Moratuwa	Public	1972	English	EngineeringArchitectureInformation Technology
University of Jaffna	Jaffna	Public	1974	English, Tamil	MedicineEngineeringScience
Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA)	Peradeniya	Public	1975	English	AgricultureAgricultural EconomicsCrop Science
University of Ruhuna	Matara	Public	1978	Sinhala, English, Tamil	MedicineAgricultureEngineering
Open University of Sri Lanka	Nugegoda	Public	1980	English, Sinhala, Tamil	EngineeringEducationManagement
Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka	Homagama	Public	1981	Sinhala, English	Buddhist PhilosophyPali LanguageBuddhist Culture
Eastern University of Sri Lanka	Vantharumoolai	Public	1981	Tamil, English	AgricultureApplied ScienceArts & Culture
Kotelawala Defence University	Ratmalana	Public	1981	English	Defence StudiesEngineeringMedicine
Informatics Institute of Technology	Colombo	Private	1990	English	Software EngineeringBusiness Information SystemsComputer Science
Arthur C Clarke Institute of Modern Technologies	Moratuwa	Public	1994	English	Space TechnologySatellite CommunicationRobotics
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka	Mihintale	Public	1995	Sinhala	AgricultureApplied SciencesMedicine
South Eastern University of Sri Lanka	Oluvil	Public	1995	English, Sinhala, Tamil	Applied SciencesManagement and CommerceIslamic Studies and Arabic Language
Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technical Education	Colombo	Public	1995	English, Sinhala, Tamil	Business AdministrationInformation TechnologyEngineering Technology
Buddhasravaka Bhikshu University	Anuradhapura	Public	1996	Pali, Sanskrit, Sinhala	Buddhist PhilosophyPali LanguageSanskrit Language
Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka	Belihuloya	Public	1996	Sinhala, Tamil, English	GeomaticsApplied SciencesManagement Studies