Universities in Sri Lanka (by University Grants Commission)

Universities in Sri Lanka are higher education institutions. Also, some people consider them as Campuses. As per the Sri Lankan law, they are public universities and financed by the government. There are 17 Sri Lankan universities that authorizes and controls by the University Grants Commission (UGA). These seventeen universities recognizes bodies with university status (University charter) under Universities Act No.16 of 1978. Also, they are considers government universities of Sri Lanka.

List of universities in Sri Lanka

Here is the list with logo, name, location, district, established year and recognized year as university charter.

Logo	University	Location	District	Founded	Recognized
	University of Colombo	Colombo 07	Colombo	1870	1942
	University of Peradeniya	Peradeniya	Kandy	1942	1942
	University of Sri Jayewardenepura	Sri Jayewardenepura	Colombo	1873	1958
	University of Kelaniya	Kelaniya	Gampaha	1875	1959
	University of Jaffna	Jaffna	Jaffna	1974	1979
	University of Moratuwa	Moratuwa	Colombo	1966	1979
	Open University	Nawala	Colombo	1978	1979
	University of Ruhuna	Matara	Matara	1978	1984
	Eastern University	Vantharumoolai	Batticaloa	1981	1986
	Sabaragamuwa University	Belihuloya	Ratnapura	1991	1995
	Rajarata University	Mihintale	Anuradhapura	1995	1996
	South Eastern University	Oluvil	Ampara	1995	1996
	Wayamba University	Kuliyapitiya	Kurunegala	1999	1999
	Uva Wellassa University	Badulla	Badulla	2005	2005
	University of the Visual and Performing Arts	Colombo	Colombo	1893	2005
	Gampaha Wickramarachchi University	Yakkala	Gampaha	1928	2020
	University of Vavuniya	Vavuniya	Vavuniya	1991	2021

Other Government Universities

Other government universities are not recognized by the university charter under Universities Act No.16 of 1978. However, they establishes by Acts of Parliament of Sri Lanka.

These universities authorized by various government bodies. Here is the status:

• Buddhist and Pali University, Buddhasravaka Bhiksu University and University of Vocational Technology by the Ministry of Higher Education
• General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University by the Ministry of Defence.
• Ocean University of Sri Lanka by the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training