විශ්වවිද්‍යාල ප්‍රතිපාදන කොමිෂන් සභාව - ශ්‍රී ලංකාව

University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka is the apex regulatory body responsible for coordinating and overseeing higher education in the country. Established in 1978 under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, the UGC serves as the primary authority for maintaining academic standards, allocating government funding to universities, and ensuring quality assurance across Sri Lanka's higher education sector.

Historical Background

The origins of Sri Lanka's modern university system trace back to 1921 with the establishment of Ceylon University College. The need for centralized coordination became apparent as higher education expanded, leading to the creation of the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) in 1966. This evolved into the current UGC structure in 1978, which combined elements of the British grants committee model with local administrative needs. The UGC was designed to balance university autonomy with government oversight, particularly in admissions policies and funding distribution.

Organizational Structure and Functions

Headquartered at No. 20, Ward Place in Colombo, the UGC operates as a public, non-profit organization with national jurisdiction. Its core functions include:

• Allocating government funds to state universities and approved higher education institutions
• Developing national policies for university education and research
• Setting accreditation standards and quality assurance mechanisms
• Coordinating university admissions processes
• Promoting research excellence and innovation
• Recognizing foreign degree programs and institutions

Role in Accreditation and Quality Assurance

The UGC serves as Sri Lanka's primary accrediting body for state universities and private higher education institutions. Its accreditation process involves rigorous evaluation of academic programs, faculty qualifications, infrastructure, and institutional governance. Initially focused on private institutions, the UGC's accreditation mandate expanded in 2010 to include public universities through the establishment of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council (QAAC).

The accreditation process typically includes institutional self-assessment, peer review by external experts, site visits, and continuous monitoring. The UGC recognizes institutions that meet its standards as "Degree Awarding Institutes," a crucial designation for academic credibility. For foreign institutions, the UGC maintains recognition based on international publications like the Commonwealth Universities Yearbook and International Handbook of Universities.

Governance of Higher Education Institutions

The UGC oversees 19 state universities in Sri Lanka, including prominent institutions like the University of Colombo, University of Peradeniya, and University of Moratuwa. While maintaining regulatory authority, the UGC operates separately from certain specialized universities under other ministries, such as the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (Ministry of Defense) and Buddhist and Pali University (Ministry of Higher Education).

Through its Standing Committee on Accreditation and Quality Assurance (SCAQA), the UGC evaluates non-state higher education institutions seeking degree-granting authority. This involves reviewing curriculum relevance, teaching quality, learning resources, and graduate outcomes against national benchmarks.

Impact on Sri Lanka's Higher Education

The UGC has significantly influenced the development of Sri Lanka's university system by:

• Standardizing academic quality across institutions
• Enhancing international recognition of Sri Lankan degrees
• Facilitating credit transfers and student mobility
• Promoting research collaboration with global partners
• Implementing equity measures in university admissions

The Commission's work has contributed to Sri Lanka's high literacy rate of 92% and its position as a regional leader in education. Recent initiatives focus on aligning higher education with labor market needs, improving graduate employability, and strengthening international partnerships through agreements like the Memorandum of Understanding with the National University of Singapore.

Current Challenges and Future Directions

While the UGC has established a robust quality assurance framework, challenges remain in addressing resource disparities among institutions, faculty development, and keeping pace with global education trends. The Commission continues to adapt its policies to balance institutional autonomy with accountability, particularly in an era of increasing private sector participation in higher education.

Future priorities include expanding digital education infrastructure, enhancing research capabilities, and developing a more comprehensive accreditation system that bridges the divide between public and private institutions. The UGC's ongoing reforms aim to position Sri Lankan higher education as competitive in the global arena while maintaining accessibility and quality for domestic students.

Organization Name

විශ්වවිද්‍යාල ප්‍රතිපාදන කොමිෂන් සභාව - ශ්‍රී ලංකාව

University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka

Acronym

UGC

Year of Establishment

1978

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

No. 20, Ward Place
Colombo
07 Colombo Sri Lanka

Phone

+94 (11) 269 5301

Fax

+94 (11) 268 8045

List of universities in Sri Lanka recognized by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka (UGC):

Central Province

1. University of Peradeniya

Eastern Province

1. Eastern University, Sri Lanka

North Central Province

1. Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Northern Province

1. University of Jaffna
2. University of Vavuniya

Sabaragamuwa Province

1. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Southern Province

1. University of Ruhuna
2. South Eastern University of Sri Lanka

Uva Province

1. Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka

Western Province

1. University of Colombo
2. University of Sri Jayewardenepura
3. University of Kelaniya
4. University of Moratuwa
5. The Open University of Sri Lanka
6. University of the Visual & Performing Arts
7. Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine

North Western Province

1. Wayamba University of Sri Lanka

Official Social Media Channels

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LinkedIn

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Instagram

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Wikipedia Article

University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka's Wikipedia page

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