University of Peradeniya

The proposal for the establishment of University of Ceylon, the first university of Sri Lanka (the predecessor of the University of Peradeniya) goes back to 1899.[3] But no progress was seen until the formation of the Ceylon University Association in 1906 under the guidance of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, Sir James Peiris and Sir Marcus Fernando. Its request for a European-style university in Sri Lanka was partially granted by the British rulers with the formation of Ceylon University College on 1 January 1921.

The University Council, through which the administration of the Ceylon University College was done, appointed committees to plan the academic activities of a future university.[3] It made suggestions to build the university in Bullers Road (now Bauddhaloka Mawatha) in Colombo, but it was disputed by politicians. To resolve the conflict, the then Governor Hugh Clifford appointed a committee headed by Justice M. T. Akbar on 20 December 1926. It suggested that the proposed university should be unitary, residential and outside Colombo. Another committee was appointed in 1928 with Sir Walter Buchanan-Riddel as chairman. The committee initially proposed a site at Uyanawatta, in the Dumbara Valley close to Kandy. H. B. Lees, the Director of Public Works however proposed Mavilmada and Austin Woodeson, the Chief Architect recommended Aruppola, both on the Kandy side of the Dumbara Valley as better sites than Uyanawatta. Dr. Samuel Chelliah Paul and Andreas Nell pointed out the disadvantages of those sites and proposed a larger one at Peradeniya.[5]

In 1938 the government acquired the plot and developed an area about 150 ha (370 acres) (out of 700 ha (1,700 acres)) to create the University Park.[6]

Although the site was acquired, no plans were made to establish the university until 1941. With the arrival of Sir Ivor Jennings, as the second principal of the Ceylon University College, establishment plans were put into effect. He stressed the urgent need to move the university to Peradeniya to the Minister of Education C. W. W. Kannangara and took the initiative in the process. Thus he is considered the forefather of the University of Peradeniya.[7]

In 1942, the University of Ceylon was created as the first unitary, residential and autonomous university in Sri Lanka with its seat in Peradeniya, amalgamating Ceylon University College and the Medical College into a single unit with 55 academic staff members, 904 students in four faculties.[8][9] But due to World War II, the construction of buildings started in 1946. Until then, the lectures and laboratory classes were conducted in the buildings obtained from the Ceylon University College and the Ceylon Medical College in Colombo.

Consultants Sir Patrick Abercrombie and Clifford Holliday did the planning and layout of the university complex. The first phase of work constituted only the development of the left bank. The building of a bridge across the Mahaweli River, later known as the 'Akbar bridge', was planned by Prof. A Thurairajah. Transfer of the first batch of students, students from the Departments of Law and Agriculture and the third and fourth-year students of the Department of Veterinary Science, from Colombo to Peradeniya took place in 1949. Another major move took place in 1952, with the transfer of staff and students of the Faculties of Arts and Oriental Studies, together with the Main Library and the University Administration. This movement on 6 October 1952 marks the official establishment of the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. In the initial stages, vice chancellor Jennings wanted to model British universities but met with resistance from students who opposed the changes.[10]

A bridge inside the university.

Although the buildings at Peradeniya were established in 1952, the official ceremony for its inception was held on 20 April 1954, with the participation of Queen Elizabeth II. The Sri Lankan government was keen to postpone the ceremony until Queen Elizabeth II could participate. Her visit was delayed by the death of King George VI. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh also participated in the event. He declared the university opened:

You have remarked Mr. Chancellor, that it is not easy to open a university, because once established it is always open. However, like the shopkeepers of London during the bombing, I can declare this place to be "more open than usual..."

Sections of the University of Ceylon functioned in Colombo and Peradeniya acted as campuses of the same university until 1967. In 1967, these campuses were split into two. The section in Peradeniya was known as the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, while the section in Colombo was known as the University of Ceylon, Colombo.

The university in spring, the Senate building.

By the University Act No. 1 of 1972, four universities functioned a — Peradeniya, Colombo, Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara and the Ceylon College of Technology, Katubedda, Moratuwa became five constituent campuses of a single structure – the University of Sri Lanka. It had one vice chancellor and five presidents for five campuses. Under this designation, the University of Ceylon – Peradeniya became the University of Sri Lanka – Peradeniya Campus. This designation prevailed until 1978.

Under the Universities Act No. 16, 1978, the University of Sri Lanka was split into six independent, autonomous institutions as the University of Peradeniya, University of Colombo, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Kelaniya, University of Moratuwa and University of Jaffna.[11] This Act brought back some of the central features of the Ceylon University Ordinance of 1942 such as the senates, the councils and courts.

Sarachchandra open-air theatre of the University of Peradeniya, a well-known historical theatre and the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka. It was built according to the architectural style of ancient Greek theatres and named in memory of Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Sri Lanka's premium playwright.

Chancellor

The chancellor is the head of the university and is responsible for awarding all the academic degrees. Usually, the chancellor is a distinguished person in an academic discipline. Otherwise, it is a member of the clergy or a distinguished person from civil society. The President of Sri Lanka appoints the chancellor. The position is mainly ceremonial and duties are usually carried out by the vice-chancellor. The current chancellor of the university is Prof. Gerald Peiris.

Vice chancellor

The vice chancellor is the de facto principal academic and administrative officer of the university, responsible for management tasks. This appointment is also done by the President of Sri Lanka. The current vice chancellor is Prof. M.D. Lamawansa, who is also the Professor of Surgery.

The deputy vice-chancellor is Prof. W.M. Terrance Madhujith, Professor of Food Science.

Deans of Faculties

Deans are the heads of the faculties. They are responsible for the management and the tasks carried out by the faculty. Deans are appointed by the chancellor for three years.

Students at the University of Peradeniya run over 100 clubs and organizations. These include cultural and religious groups, academic clubs, and common-interest organizations. The Peradeniya Students' Union (PSU) is considered the highest body which represents all internal students.[21] Separate student unions operate in each faculty. These student societies include:

Swimming pool

Gymnasium

Sports activities are conducted by the Department of Physical Education. The University of Peradeniya has 30 athletics teams to date. Facilities include a well-equipped gymnasium, one of the largest multi-purpose outstation stadiums in Sri Lanka, a 50m swimming pool and separate stadiums for cricket, rugby, football, hockey, tennis, track and field, and elle.

UoP is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) academic network.

The university has signed Memorandums of Understanding for research and academic development with these international universities.[23]

• University of California, Davis Campus, United States
• National University of Singapore, Singapore
• University of Pennsylvania, United States (with Solomon ASCH Centre for the Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict)
• University of Ottawa, Canada (Governance and Institutional Strengthening Project)
• Carnegie Mellon University, United States
• University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (with School of Biological Sciences)
• University of Göttingen, Germany (with Institut für Sportwissenschaften)
• University of Guelph, Canada (cooperation in Food and Science Technology)[24]
• University of Naples Federico II, Italy
• University of North Dakota, United States[25]
• Marche Polytechnic University, Italy
• North South University, Bangladesh (Public Policy and Governance)[26]
• Institute of Polytechnic de Grenoble, France (Educational and Scientific cooperation)
• Yamagata University, Japan
• Institute National Polytechnique de Lorraine, France (Higher Education on Disaster Mitigation)
• Hokkaido University, Japan (With Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine)
• University for Foreigners Perugia, Italy
• Osaka Prefecture University, Japan (cooperation in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science)
• Rajamangala University of Technology, Thailand
• Saga University, Japan (Telemedicine)[27]
• Dongguk University, South Korea (Pali and Buddhist Studies)
• Niigata University, Japan
• University of Limerick, Ireland
• Lincoln University, New Zealand
• United Nations University, Japan
• Yonsei University, South Korea (academic exchange and cooperation)
• Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand (Asian Regional Research Programme on Environmental Technology Phase II)
• Universiti Sains, Malaysia
• Lund University, Sweden
• National Formosa University, Taiwan

The Intercollegiate Sri Lanka Education (ISLE) program provides facilities for undergraduate students from United States of America to study in Sri Lanka. Each year, about 20 undergraduates spend five months in Sri Lanka following courses given by members of the Faculty of Arts. This programme also involves an exchange of faculty.[28][29]

• Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
• Bates College, Maine, United States
• Bowdoin College, Maine, United States
• Carleton College, Minnesota, United States
• Colby University, Maine, United States
• Grinnell College, Iowa, United States
• College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, United States
• Macalester College, Minnesota, United States
• Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, United States
• Whittier College, California, United States

• Government of Sweden – research cooperation on SAREC project
• Government of Japan – capacity building training programme for Oral & Maxillafacial surgeons
• Government of Egypt – Arabic student exchange program and teaching Islamic civilization
• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – research cooperation

The total number of undergraduates in the university for the year 2009–2010 was 9,605. Student intake for that year remained at 2,620. In 2008, 1514 postgraduate students studied at the university, most of them affiliated with the two postgraduate institutions: Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS) and Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA). Postgraduate output for the year was 358, including 15 doctorates. Faculties except Science and Agriculture conducted their own postgraduate courses.

Women constituted 53.15 percent of undergraduates. Women constituted remained over 45 percent in all faculties except Faculty of Engineering where it was 15.46 percent.^[f] Courses in all faculties except Faculty of Arts are taught in English medium. In the Faculty of Arts, 69.85 percent of undergraduates are enrolled in Sinhala, 15.93 percent in Tamil and 14.22 percent in English.

The University of Peradeniya has produced a large number of alumni. Among the best-known are Sri Lankans are Hon. W. J. M. Lokubandara; former speaker of the parliament (2005–2010),[30] Sri Lankabhimanya Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar; distinguished diplomat, politician and lawyer,[31][32]Prof. Channa Jayasumana; Medical Professor, winner of AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility in 2019 offered by American Association for the Advancement of Science and former Health minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala; former Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations,[33] Prof. Gananath Obeyesekere; emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University and the person who entered into an intellectual debate with Marshall Sahlins over the rationality of indigenous people through the details of Captain James Cook's death in the Hawaiian Islands in 1779,[34] Prof. Anuradha Seneviratna; a renowned Sri Lankan scholar,[35] Prof. Malik Peiris; discoverer of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus,[36] Prof. Saman Warnakulasuriya ; OBE- Emeritus Professor King's College London, UK & Director WHO Collaborating Centre on Oral Cancer, Major General Janaka Perera; chief of staff of the Sri Lanka Army and one of the most distinguished generals in Sri Lankan history,[37] Prof. J B Disanayake; head of the Department of Sinhala, University of Colombo.,[38] Prof. Kusuma Karunaratne; the first female Professor of Sinhala language[39] Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera; a prominent Sinhala writer, poet, and essayist[40] and Prof. Neelan Tiruchelvam – A Sri Lankan Tamil politician, peace activist and an internationally respected academic. Founder and director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies and the founder and director of The Law and Society Trust.[41][42]

The number of permanent academic staff at the University of Peradeniya is 731. It is the university in Sri Lanka that is served by the highest number of professors, associate professors and academic staff. Teacher to student ratio of the university was 1:13 by 2008.

Faculty include Prof. Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah; professor in anthropology (1955–1960), a leading social anthropologist in the world, recipient of the prestigious Balzan Prize,[44] the highest recognition of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland and Esther and Sidney Rabb Professor (Emeritus) of Anthropology at Harvard University, Prof. Senarath Paranavithana; the pioneering archeologist and epigraphist of Sri Lanka and once the archaeological commissioner,[45] Prof. Gunapala Malalasekera; famous Sri Lankan scholar and diplomat; compiler of the "Gunapala Sinhala-English Dictionary",[46] Prof. Anuradha Seneviratna; a renowned Sri Lankan scholar, Prof. Seneka Bibile, the founder of Sri Lanka's drug policy and the greatest medical benefactor of humanity that Sri Lanka has hitherto produced.[47] and Prof. Ashley Halpé, a prominent Sri Lankan writer.

The university has been criticized for its high level of ragging with several incidents grabbing national headlines.[48] These include the death of S. Varapragash in 1997 due to kidney failure following severe ragging by a group of senior students[49] and the permanent disability of Rupa Rathnaseeli in 1975 as a result of having jumped from the second floor of the hostel Ramanathan Hall to escape the physical ragging by the seniors. She died by suicide in 2002.[50] In 1997, Selvanayagam Varapragash, a first-year engineering student was murdered on the campus due to hazing. He was subjected to sadistic ragging, and in the post-mortem, a large quantity of toothpaste was found in his rectum.