History
The University of Ceylon was established by the State Council in April 1942. The first Vice-Chancellor of the new University, Sir Ivor Jennings, hoisted the flag on July 1942 at the College House where his office and the central administration were located. The
Education
Today, the University of Colombo with a proud history of over 115 years continues in its endeavour to meet the challenge of maintaining its position as the “Metropolitan University, Modern and International in Outlook and Character”. The location of the University affords the student population all the advantages of a “metropolitan university”, with easy access to international information/ resource centres, libraries, theatres, sports complexes etc.
Short Courses
University Ranking
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2024
1001 -400
2023
601 200
2022
801
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2024
1001 200
2023
1201 -200
2022
1001
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Housing services
Hostels:
- Kithyakara Men's Hostel
- Havelock Women's Hostel
- Bullers Women's Hostel
- Muttiah Women's Hostel
- De Saram Women's Hostels
- Blomfontein Men's Hostel
- Green Path Bhikku House
- Boralesgamuwa Student House
- Thelawala Hostels
- Siva Chinnathambi Women's hostel
- Nursing Faculty Women's hostel
- Technology Faculty Hostel
Library services
Main Library is the focal point of the Library Network of University of Colombo which consist of the branch Libraries of the Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Science and it caters to Faculties of Arts, Education, Graduate Studies, Law and Management & Finance. The Main Library is located at Philip Gunawardena Mawatha (Reid Avenue).
Campus life
The University of Colombo has nine faculties with 56 Academic Departments, a Campus, a School, 7 Institutes and 8 Centres and Units. Many undergraduate and postgraduate study courses in the fields of Arts, Science, Medicine, Management, Finance, Law, Education, IT, Aesthetic Studies. Molecular Biology etc are conducted by the University. The University also offers several other services, such as library services, career guidance, and services for differently-abled students.
Sports facilities
Newly constructed Fitness Centre was opened by the Vice-Chancellor Senior Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake on 12/08/2015 at the University of Colombo Gymnasium.