University of Sri Jayewardenepura: Towards Meeting National Aspirations

Abstract

The Vidyodaya University (presently University of Sri Jayewardenepura) was established in 1959 under the provisions of the Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara University Act No 45 of 1958. Prior to the granting of university status the Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Pirivenas had gained recognition as traditional centres of hip her learning. The Vidyodaya Pirivena pioneered by the erudite scholar monk Venerable IIikkaduwe Sri Sumangala was established as far back as 1873 at Maligakanda in Colombo. The Vidyodaya University commenced operations from these haloed grounds but shifted to its present location in Gangodawila in 1961 where a new Campus had been expeditiously completed thanks to the untiring efforts of the first Vice Chancellor Venerable Weliwitiye Soratha.