Colombo University to celebrate Diamond Jubilee

The University of Colombo (UoC) this year will mark 75 years of university education and intends to publish a coffee table book in reminiscence of ‘College House’, where university education started.

To this end, the UoC appeals to all past students, staff and well-wishers to contribute to submit information on their memories, photographs and drawings in reminiscence of the time they spent at the College House.

Prof Sandogomi Coperahewa, in charge of the project, said that, the UoC will document the history of the national heritage site which, even to date, functions as the UoC's administrative centre.

University education started in Sri Lanka when the University of Ceylon was established by the State Council on April 1942, by amalgamating the Ceylon Medical College (1870) and Ceylon University College (1921). It was opened by the first Vice Chancellor Sir Ivor Jennings, by hoisting the flag.

In 1988, it obtained the Licentiate in Medicine & Surgery (LMC) and was recognised to produce fully qualified Medical Practitioners.

The College House was originally called ‘Regina Walauwa’, the family house of Arthur de Soyza. Later, Sir P. Arunachalam gifted his late son's, A. Padmanaba’s books, and a library was established in a room at College House, which was subsequently moved to the Old Royal College build- ing in 1923.

In February 1927, the Uyanwatte site in the Dumbara valley near Kandy, was recommended to move the University of Ceylon as a teaching and residential facility.

In 1924, the Legislative Council accepted the University of Ceylon in principle and, in February, Mr. Marrs was appointed the first principal of the University. He worked tirelessly for 18 years, while contributing to its development. He retired in 1939.

In 1950, University of Ceylon gained reputation as the centre of excellence within the Commonwealth.

The Higher Education Act 1966 was established in the National Council of Higher Education, and in 1972, all universities were brought under one umbrella and made Campuses of the University of Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon, Colombo, was named the Colombo Campus.

In 1978, through a new Act introduced under Act 16 of 1978, all campuses under a single university became independent and the UoC regained its autonomy.

The UoC has 7 Faculties with 41 Academic Depts, a Campus, a School, 6 Institutes and 5 Centres. The Faculties include Medicine, Arts, Science, Education and Law.

To strengthen Postgraduate education, the Faculties of Graduate Studies was created in 1987, while the Sri Palee Campus of the University was established in 1996.