University of Kelaniya - History of 130 years

Professor Kulathilaka Kumarasinghe

The University of Kelaniya has a proud history of over 130 years. The Vidyalankara Pirivena which was established on 1st November 1875 AD has developed into the University of Kelaniya. Vidyalankara Pirivana gained the status of a University based on the Western Model in 1959. Yet our academic heritage dates back to the beginning of Vidyalankara Pirivena.

The 1st Chief Priest of this great institution was Ven. Pandithacharya Rathmalane Sri Dharmaloka. Under his guidance this Pirivena made an immense contribution towards the academic enrichment in the country from 1875 - 1887 AD. Many of the intellectual debates of that period were spear-headed by academics of the Vidyalankara Pirivena.

Subsequently, Panditha Sarvabauma Rathmalane Sri Dharmarama Thero (1887-1918), Panditha Shiromani Lunupokune Sri Dharmananda Thera (1918-1945) and Agama Chakrawarthi Kiriwaththuduwe Sri Pragnasara Thero (1945-1959) served this institution as Chancellor/Chief Priest.

Vidyalankara University gained legal status of a University on 1st January 1959. The first Vice Chancellor of the University was Kiriwaththuduve Prganasara Thera.

Vidyalankara Pirivena was granted the western status of a University by the Government due to two reasons. The main reason was to make implement the policy of making the Sinhala language the State language. The second was the desire to establish two national science faculties which would from the backbone of the Sri Lankan educational system.

At the inception, the University compressed five faculties. Those were the Faculty of Languages, Faculty of Buddhism, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Philosophy & Research.

The second phase of evolution of the Vidyalankara Pirivena can be divided into 5 eras. The Vice Chancellors were Kiriwaththuduwe Sri Pragnasara Thera and Yakkaduve Sri Pragnarama Thera. It was during this period that this university laid the foundation to grow as an internationally reputed institution..

Of the five original faculties, the Faculty of Buddhism consisted of five departments: Buddhist Culture, Buddhism, Suthra, Vinaya, Abhidharma & Buddhist Philosophy. In the academic year of 1961/62, the faculty of Buddhism ceased to function as an independent unit.

Two years later, the Suthra, Vinaya & Abhidharma also ceased to function independently and the functions of these units were taken over by Buddhist Culture and Buddhism.

In 1961-62 the Faculty of Science was abolished. At that point the Faculty of Science consisted of the departments Mathematics and Geography. These two were also affiliated to the Faculty of Arts. By the academic year, 1962-63 Vidyalankara University consisted of five faculties and 14 departments.

By 1965, the number of students in the university had increased gradually to 1995 students. Until this point university admission was granted only to male students of the clergy. However, by the year 1963, female students were permitted to obtain their degrees as external students. In 1963, eight women were awarded BA degrees as external students.

At the inception, the university was situated in the premises of the Vidyalankara Pirivena in Peliyagoda and the building of Gurukula Vidyalaya. Since this was an obstacle to the development of the University, a plot of 21 acre in extent was acquired by the government in 1960-61.

This land was previously known as Minor Camp. Plans were drawn to build a department of Science complete with laboratories, a department of Arts, a Library and other necessary buildings.

Accordingly, by the academic year of 1965-66, the building which housed the Faculty of Science and the student hostels were constructed. Initially, some classes were conducted in these new premises. A section of the Library was also shifted to the new location .

Until the withdrawal of the 1972 Act number 01, which was in effect from 1972 to 1979, the administrative structure of the university was in a transitional State.

During this period, the University of Ceylon was headed by Prof. Kirithi Dissanayake, Prof. M.P. Perera, Prof. C.R. Kulatilake, Prof. Abhaya Ariyasinghe, Dr. D.A. Kotalawala and Prof. Tilak Ratnakara. Appointing six heads for a period of six years is a clear sign of the instability of administration of this period.

The third phase of the university started in 1978. The university was renamed the University of Kelaniya and became an independent entity on the 1st of January 1979 under the University Act 16 of 1978.

The First Vice chancellor of the University was Professor Thilak Rathnakara who was also the former President of the Vidyalankara Campus. The Haywood Institute of Aesthetics was also granted University status under the same act and was affiliated to the University of Kelaniya.

The Arts Faculty was divided into two faculties -Humanities and Social Sciences, under Circular 106 of the University Grants Commission. Thus, once again the university consisted of three faculties, including the Faculty of Science.

Professor Thilak Rathnakara resigned from his post in June, 1982, and Professor S.L. Kekulawala was appointed Vice Chancellor. He put forward a systematic plan for the development of the university during 1984-88. However, he passed away unexpectedly before that plan was implemented.

Then Professor M.P. Perera who was the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at that time, became the Vice Chancellor. Next, Professor I. Balasooriya was appointed Vice Chancellor. During this period, amendments were made to the University Act of 1985.

Professor I. Balasooriya, who rendered a great service to the university in the short period of two years, resigned on the 15th of April, 1987.

When Professor Marasinghe was appointed Vice Chancellor in 1987, he accomplished much for the development of physical and human resources for the University. The construction of the new building complex of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies was commenced during his time.

After Professor Marasinghe’s term ended, Professor K. Dharmasena was appointed Vice Chancellor. He was a Professor at the Department of Economics and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

He resigned in less than four months for personal reasons. Then Professor H.H. Costa from the Department of Biology was appointed Vice Chancellor from 1994 to 1997. As the Vice Chancellor, he worked for the development of the university with the assistance of the dean of all the faculties.

During this time, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the University of Soka in Japan and a student/lecturer exchange programme was initiated. Professor Costa was the Vice Chancellor from the 1st March, 1994 to 31st May, 1997.

After his term ended, Professor Senaka Bandaranaike from the Department of Archaeology became the Vice Chancellor and held the post until 1999. Strongly believing that administrative functions had to be decentralized for a productive service, the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor was created, to look into student welfare activities.

After two years, he was appointed the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in India and Professor Thilakaratne Kapugamage, who was the Deputy Vice Chancellor, assumed duties as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya. During his time, i.e. from 1999 to July 2005 a two storied building was constructed for the Faculty of Humanities. Furthermore, Staff Development Unit, Career

Guidance Unit and Kalana Mithuru Sevaya were established during this period with a view to developing the University in general.

On the 23rd July, 2005 Professor M.J.S. Wijayarathne from the Department of Zoology, was appointed new Vice Chancellor. He is a world renown scientist. Whose first degree and Doctorate are both from the University of Kelaniya.

Being an alumnu of the University, he has a special sentimental attachment to the institution. He assists in every possible way for the development of all the faculties. His ability to take firm decisions when there are administrative problems is proof of his personality and efficiency.

He takes a genuine and praiseworthy effort to procure physical and human resources necessary for the university. As he has a clear understanding about the vision, responsibility and mission of the University one can expect the University of Kelaniya to reach the highest echelons of the university system in Sri Lanka during his period.

(The writer is Dean, Faculty of Humanities Senior Professor, Department of Sinhala University of Kelaniya).