The history stands proof of an existence of a monastic University in Palabaddala in the district of Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa province. This ancient University had been established by Kalikala Sahittya Sarvagna Pandita ParakramaBahu, the Second (1235-1271 AD) in Dambadeniya Period. Bhikku Dharmakirti held the position of Chancellorship in the said University. Meanwhile the monastic institution of higher education in Sabaragamuwa had been in the custody of Deva Pathiraja, the royal agent to the King Parakramabahu, the second.
The wish of everybody in the University, in the region, and all those concerned was a national University for the Sabaragamuwa province. Realization of that long felt and much awaited dream took placed on 7th November 1995. That was the issue of the Gazette notification announcing the establishment of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. At a ceremonial gathering, on 2nd February 1996, the newly established University was declared open by Mrs Sirimawo RD Bandaranayeke, the then Sri Lankan Prime Minister. The history records that” accordingly, by virtue of powers vested in him by clause No 21 of the University act No 16 of 1978, the Hon Minister of Education and Higher Education has, by Gazette Notification No 896/2 of 7th November 1995, published in the Gazette extra ordinary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, announced the Establishment of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka withfrom date of the said Gazette. Subsequently by the Gazette extra ordinary of the 21st December 1995, it has also been announced of the establishment of the Uwa campus attached to Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.”
According to the arrangement made those days, the newly unveiled Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka functioned at Belihuloya and the Uwa Campus at Rahangala and Buttala.
At the foundation of Sabaragamuwa national University, it boasted of four faculties.
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
- Faculty of Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Business studies
- Faculty of Social sciences and Languages
These four faculties offered five Degree programs in Bachelor of Arts (languages) Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences) Bachelor of Science (Business Studies) Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Sciences) Bachelor of Arts (Applied Sciences). The initial plans in the Sabaragamuwa University were to offer special degree courses of three year duration. After the completion of the first foundation year and the two specialization years, a special degree could be obtained in a Major subject and a minor.
Intake of 500 students was the initial plan. It was also hoped to increase the intake to 1000 when the facilities allows. Now, the admission policy of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka equals that of other Universities in the country; that is the requirement of GCE (Advanced level). At the introduction of the Sabaragamuwa Affiliated University as a national University, the students who were admitted to follow the Diploma programs under Affiliated University were given the opportunity to obtain a Degree after engaging in further studies in their respective subjects.
With the emergence of Sabaragamuwa affiliated University as national University, she received all the honor of other national Universities in the country by being treated with all the formalities. A University logo and a Flag were introduced. She also possessed a new academic and administrative structure. Under this new structure, the positions held by officers in previous AUC changed from top to bottom.
In the year 1996 itself, all the university legal bodies were formed. The council, the Senate, the respective faculty boards came into being. The first meeting of the council of Sabaragamuwa University took place on 18th January 1996, and the first gathering of the Senate was on 19th February 1996.
In about almost one year, the all three staff categories saw an increase of a 23 per cent. The Staff had increased from 157 in 1996 to 193 in 1997. Meanwhile, the student population too experienced the same progress. The statistics shows that the number of registered students went up from 366 in 1996 to 1025 by 31st December 1997.
The University from the very inception started adding new departments and faculties to its list of academic facility. Most of these faculties were meant to conduct professional-type degree programs considering the need of such professionals in country in national development. For the first time in the University history of Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa University introduced a degree course in Surveying Sciences in 1997.
The student population of the University amounts to 2105 with latest batch admitted in September 2005.The batch that includes 764 students is the highest number of students in the ten year history of the University. The University makes available for these students some 11 study programs through its five faculties. An academic staff of 191 is busy in all five faculties preparing a prosperous future for their students
Faculties
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
- Faculty of Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Geomatics
- Faculty of Management Studies
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages
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