University of Colombo (UoC / University of Ceylon heritage)
University of Colombo (UoC / University of Ceylon heritage) is a public institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, accredited by University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka (UGC / சர்வகலாசாலை மானியங்கள் ஆணைக்குழு / විශ්ව විද්යාල ප්රතිපාදන කොමිෂන් සභාව) — apex statutory body regulating Sri Lankan HEIs. Established under Universities Act No. 16 of 1978. Sri Lankan HE: (1) 17 UGC-approved NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES — University of Colombo (1921 colonial heritage), Peradeniya (1942), Sri Jayewardenepura, Kelaniya, Moratuwa (engineering), Jaffna, Ruhuna, Eastern, South Eastern, Rajarata, Sabaragamuwa, Wayamba, Uva Wellassa, Visual + Performing Arts, Vavuniya, Buddhist + Pali, plus Open University (distance learning); (2) SPECIALISED INSTITUTIONS — General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, University of Vocational Technology, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine (Ayurveda); (3) NON-STATE UNIVERSITIES — SLIIT (IT), NSBM Green University, NIBM, APIIT, CINEC, Horizon Campus + others (regulated separately under Ministry of Higher Education). Sinhala + Tamil are national + official languages; English is link language + HE primary medium in major universities (medicine, engineering, IT, business). UGC admits via competitive Z-score exam — Sri Lankan public uni admission is among South Asia's MOST COMPETITIVE.. Primary language: Sinhala + Tamil (national + official) + English (link language + HE primary medium for STEM/medicine/business/law). AlmiStudy lists 8 canonical subject areas, all verified against University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka (UGC / சர்வகலாசாலை மானியங்கள் ஆணைக்குழு / විශ්ව විද්යාල ප්රතිපාදන කොමිෂන් සභාව) — apex statutory body regulating Sri Lankan HEIs. Established under Universities Act No. 16 of 1978. Sri Lankan HE: (1) 17 UGC-approved NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES — University of Colombo (1921 colonial heritage), Peradeniya (1942), Sri Jayewardenepura, Kelaniya, Moratuwa (engineering), Jaffna, Ruhuna, Eastern, South Eastern, Rajarata, Sabaragamuwa, Wayamba, Uva Wellassa, Visual + Performing Arts, Vavuniya, Buddhist + Pali, plus Open University (distance learning); (2) SPECIALISED INSTITUTIONS — General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, University of Vocational Technology, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine (Ayurveda); (3) NON-STATE UNIVERSITIES — SLIIT (IT), NSBM Green University, NIBM, APIIT, CINEC, Horizon Campus + others (regulated separately under Ministry of Higher Education). Sinhala + Tamil are national + official languages; English is link language + HE primary medium in major universities (medicine, engineering, IT, business). UGC admits via competitive Z-score exam — Sri Lankan public uni admission is among South Asia's MOST COMPETITIVE..
- Country
- Sri Lanka (LK)
- City
- Colombo
- Control
- public
- Language
- Sinhala + Tamil (national + official) + English (link language + HE primary medium for STEM/medicine/business/law)
- Accreditation
- University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka (UGC / சர்வகலாசாலை மானியங்கள் ஆணைக்குழு / විශ්ව විද්යාල ප්රතිපාදන කොමිෂන් සභාව) — apex statutory body regulating Sri Lankan HEIs. Established under Universities Act No. 16 of 1978. Sri Lankan HE: (1) 17 UGC-approved NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES — University of Colombo (1921 colonial heritage), Peradeniya (1942), Sri Jayewardenepura, Kelaniya, Moratuwa (engineering), Jaffna, Ruhuna, Eastern, South Eastern, Rajarata, Sabaragamuwa, Wayamba, Uva Wellassa, Visual + Performing Arts, Vavuniya, Buddhist + Pali, plus Open University (distance learning); (2) SPECIALISED INSTITUTIONS — General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, University of Vocational Technology, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine (Ayurveda); (3) NON-STATE UNIVERSITIES — SLIIT (IT), NSBM Green University, NIBM, APIIT, CINEC, Horizon Campus + others (regulated separately under Ministry of Higher Education). Sinhala + Tamil are national + official languages; English is link language + HE primary medium in major universities (medicine, engineering, IT, business). UGC admits via competitive Z-score exam — Sri Lankan public uni admission is among South Asia's MOST COMPETITIVE.. Verify on the public registry · last verified 2026-05-16.
- Source
- University of Colombo (UoC / University of Ceylon heritage) — UGC Sri Lanka + institutional verification (Day 16) · tier: tier_2_directory
- Website
- https://cmb.ac.lk
Subjects offered
Show all 9 listed subjects (raw)
Engineering & Technology · Natural Sciences · Business & Management · Arts & Humanities · Social Sciences · Law · Computer Science & IT · Medicine & Health Sciences · Pharmacy
Founded 1921 (chartered as Ceylon University College affiliated with University of London; full University of Ceylon 1942; renamed University of Colombo 1972 after Sri Lanka renaming; SRI LANKA'S OLDEST modern university). SRI LANKA'S OLDEST AND PREMIER NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. Founded 1921 as CEYLON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE affiliated with UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (UK external degree model — same as McGill, Sydney, NUS Singapore in colonial era). Full UNIVERSITY OF CEYLON chartered 1942. Renamed UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO 1972 after Ceylon → Sri Lanka renaming. ~10,000+ students. 9 faculties including Sri Lanka's premier medical school (Faculty of Medicine, founded 1870 Ceylon Medical College — pre-dates the university). Strong law + medicine + science. Pakistani + Indian + African + Maldivian international student community.
Other universities in Sri Lanka
Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology Sri Lanka (APIIT-SL)
Colombo
Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka (BPU)
Homagama
CINEC Campus (Maritime + Aviation)
Malabe
Eastern University, Sri Lanka (EUSL)
Batticaloa
ESOFT Metro Campus
Colombo
Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine (GWUIM)
Yakkala
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