UNIVERSITY OF KELANIYA: June 2018

UNIVERSITY OF KELANIYA

The Origins

The training program for the pracheena Examination that began in 1860 at the Rathmalana Purana Vihara for buddhistt monks and laymen marks the beginning of this historical educational establishment . Later, in 1875, the vidyalankara pirivena was established in the Kelaniya Peliyagoda area by the late Ven.Rathmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thero.Since then, over a century, the university of kelaniya has been a reniwned educational establishment for Pracheena Bhasha. The Sri lanka goverment granted the Vidyodaya, Vidyalankara Pirivena university status by the Vidyalankara University Act No. 45 in 1957. On the 1st of January, 1959 the University was renamed as the Sri lanka Vidyalankara University. The late Ven. Kirithuduwe Sri Pannasara Thero was appointed as the first Vice Chancellor of the University.

The Evolution of the Vidyalankara Campas into the University of Kelaniya

The University of Ceylon Act No.1 of 1972 consolidated all universities into one university, and from February 15th of 1972 onwards the Vidyalankara University became a Campas of the University of Sri Lanka. With the promulgation of the Universities Act N0. 16 of 1978, the university system in Sri Lanka was restuctured and the Vidyalankara Campas was restored to its independent status retitled as the University of Kelaniya,Sri lanka. Accouding to the 1957 Act, only male undergraduates, that comprised both clergy and laymen, were enrollrd, and with the Higher Education Act No. 20 of 1966 female undergraduates were also given the opportunity to study at the University.

Contemporary Status

In order to expand its space, the University had to be shifted to a new location, and from the Academic Year 1965/1966 onwards, the University of Kelaniya was relocated in the current premises. By the year 1959, the University comprised five faculties: Languages, Buddhist Studies, Arts, Science, Philosophy and Research. Currently, the University has expanded its faculties to include Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Medicine, Commerce and Management Studies, Postgraduate Studies, Computing and Technology including a total of 55 departments.

Location

The university is located in the Kelaniya Dalugama area which is approximately 8km north of Colombo along the Colombo Kandy road. The closest railway station is in Pattiya Junction. Except for the Medical Faculty, Which is located in Ragama, all the other faculties are located in the Kelaniya Dalugama Premises.

Affiliated Institutions There are three institutes affiliated to the University: the postgraduate Institute of pali and Buddhist Studies, located in Kohuwala; the postgraduate Institute of Archeology, located in Colombo 7; and the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute, located in Yakkala.

VISION
To become a centre of excellence in creation and dissemination of knowledge for sustainable development.

MISSION
To nurture intellectual citizens through creativity and innovation, who contribute to the national development.

FACULTIES OF UNIVERSITY OF KELANIYA

1. Faculty of Science

2. Faculty of Medicine

3. Faculty of Social Sciences

4. Faculty of Humanities

5. Faculty of Commerce and Management

6. Faculty of Computing and Technology

7. Faculty of Graduate Studies

CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KELANIYA
Thripitaka Vagishvaracharya, Mahopadhyaya, Pandith, the most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thero