Top 10 Universities in Sri Lanka

Top 10 Universities in Sri Lanka: Rankings, Strengths, and Notable Alumni

Sri Lanka, a vibrant island nation in South Asia, boasts a robust higher education system with a rich history and a reputation for academic excellence. Among the many esteemed universities in the country, the following ten institutions stand out for their outstanding rankings, academic strengths, and notable alumni.

1. University of Colombo (UoC)

• Ranking: 1st in Sri Lanka, 451-500th globally (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• Academic Strengths: Medicine, Law, Engineering, Science, Humanities
• Notable Alumni: Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (former President of Sri Lanka), Mahinda Rajapaksa (former President of Sri Lanka), J. R. Jayewardene (former President of Sri Lanka)

2. University of Peradeniya (UoP)

• Ranking: 2nd in Sri Lanka, 651-700th globally (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• Academic Strengths: Medicine, Dentistry, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Social Sciences
• Notable Alumni: A. T. Ariyaratne (former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka), Gamini Dissanayake (former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Ranil Wickremesinghe (former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka)

3. University of Moratuwa (UoM)

• Ranking: 3rd in Sri Lanka, 1001-1200th globally (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• Academic Strengths: Engineering, Architecture, Information Technology, Business
• Notable Alumni: Nihal Amarasekara (former Minister of Health), Arjuna Mahendran (former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka), Jezreel Ranjanathan (founder of Virtusa Corporation)

4. University of Kelaniya (UoK)

• Ranking: 4th in Sri Lanka, 1201-1400th globally (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• Academic Strengths: Buddhism, Pali, Sanskrit, Humanities, Social Sciences
• Notable Alumni: Anagarika Dharmapala (Buddhist revivalist), T. B. Subasinghe (former Minister of Education), Anura Bandaranaike (former Speaker of Parliament)

5. Sri Lanka Institute of Technology (SLIIT)

• Ranking: 5th in Sri Lanka, 1401-1500th globally (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• Academic Strengths: Engineering, Information Technology, Business, Hospitality
• Notable Alumni: Mangala Samaraweera (former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Ravi Karunanayake (former Minister of Finance), Aravinda de Silva (former cricketer)

6. University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ)

• Ranking: 6th in Sri Lanka
• Academic Strengths: Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Medicine, Engineering
• Notable Alumni: Dinesh Gunawardena (former Minister of Foreign Affairs), G. L. Peiris (former Minister of External Affairs), Sajith Premadasa (former Minister of Housing and Construction)

7. University of Ruhuna (UoR)

• Ranking: 7th in Sri Lanka
• Academic Strengths: Medicine, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Science, Engineering
• Notable Alumni: Karunasena Kodituwakku (former Minister of Education), Sarath Fonseka (former Chief of Defence Staff), Ajith Nivard Cabraal (former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka)

8. University of Jaffna (UoJ)

• Ranking: 8th in Sri Lanka
• Academic Strengths: Tamil Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Engineering
• Notable Alumni: S. J. V. Chelvanayakam (former leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front), M. A. Nuhman (former Minister of Justice), C. V. Wigneswaran (former Chief Minister of the Northern Province)

9. Wayamba University of Sri Lanka (WUSL)

• Ranking: 9th in Sri Lanka
• Academic Strengths: Agriculture, Forestry, Science, Humanities, Social Sciences
• Notable Alumni: Nimal Siripala de Silva (former Minister of Agriculture), Sarath Amunugama (former Minister of Science and Technology), Bandula Gunawardena (former Minister of Education)

10. Eastern University, Sri Lanka (EUSL)

• Ranking: 10th in Sri Lanka
• Academic Strengths: Tamil Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Engineering
• Notable Alumni: S. Chandrasekaran (former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province