ATLAS · UNIVERSITIES · SRI LANKA

Universities in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has 15 universities on the map. The oldest dates to 1873. Most were founded in the modern era. Below: how they spread across the centuries, and the country’s oldest institutions. From Wikidata, snapshot 2026-06-22.

UNIVERSITIES15

OLDEST1873

FOUNDED 1900+12

By founding era

Before 12000 · 0%

1200–15990 · 0%

1600–18992 · 13%

1900 or later12 · 80%

Date unknown1 · 7%

Oldest universities in Sri Lanka

The country’s earliest institutions — the deepest roots of higher education here.

1873University of Sri Jayewardenepura

1875University of Kelaniya

1921University of Colombo

1942University of Peradeniya

1972University of Moratuwa

1974University of Jaffna

1978Advanced Technological Institute, Sri Lanka

1978University of Ruhuna

1980General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

1981Eastern University, Sri Lanka

1991Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

1995South Eastern University of Sri Lanka

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