Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna - Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I reply on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.

¶ 02 (a) (i) There are 17 universities under the University Grants Commission (UGC).

¶ 03 Additionally, under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education (Higher Education Division), there are the following universities/institutions: Sri Lanka Bhiksu University; Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka; Ocean University of Sri Lanka; University of Vocational Technology; and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.

¶ 04 (ii) The 17 UGC universities together have 122 faculties. The number of faculties by university is as follows: - University of Colombo – 10 - University of Peradeniya – 9 - University of Sri Jayewardenepura – 11 - University of Kelaniya – 7 - University of Moratuwa – 6 - University of Jaffna – 12 - University of Ruhuna – 10 - The Open University of Sri Lanka – 6 - Eastern University, Sri Lanka – 6 (including Trincomalee Campus – 3) - South Eastern University of Sri Lanka – 6 - Rajarata University of Sri Lanka – 6 - Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka – 8 - Wayamba University of Sri Lanka – 6 - Uva Wellassa University – 5 - University of the Visual and Performing Arts – 4 - Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine – 4 - University of Vavuniya – 3

¶ 05 (iii) The total number of students by faculty/programme in each UGC university for 2023 is provided in Annex 01 (laid on the Table).

¶ 06 Notes: 1. From 2023, the Institute of Indigenous Medicine is a faculty of the University of Colombo. 2. Sripalee Campus is included under the University of Colombo, and Trincomalee Campus under Eastern University.

¶ 07 For Sri Lanka Bhiksu University: 2 faculties - Faculty of Buddhist Studies – 245 students - Faculty of Languages and Cultural Studies – 225 students

¶ 08 For Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka: 2 faculties - Faculty of Languages – 272 students - Faculty of Buddhist Studies – 316 students

¶ 09 For Ocean University of Sri Lanka and University of Vocational Technology: student numbers by faculty are provided in Annex 02.

¶ 10 Annex 02 (summary): - Ocean University of Sri Lanka: 2 faculties; Fisheries & Marine Sciences – 775; Engineering & Management – 1,188. - University of Vocational Technology: 4 faculties; Engineering Technology – 1,573; Industrial Technology – 1,417; Information Technology – 886; Education – 663.

¶ 11 (iv) Under the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, the term “university” applies only to state universities established under that Act. Accordingly, there are no private universities recognized under the Ministry of Education. However, under Section 25A of the Act, the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council recognizes degree awarding institutes. As at present, 28 degree awarding institutes have been recognized.

¶ 12 (v) The total student enrolment in the 28 recognized local degree awarding institutes as at 31.12.2024 is 49,146. Institute-wise details are in Annex 05.

¶ 13 (vi) The Ministry does not hold data on per-student costs for private degree awarding institutes. Treasury funds are not provided to these institutes; minimum criteria for recognition are set by the Ministry, but facilities and staff remuneration vary by institute and programme. Only their annual reports are subject to our oversight.

¶ 14 (b) (i) Total number of professors in UGC universities is 4,095. University-wise figures are in Annex 06. Additionally: - Sri Lanka Bhiksu University – 28 professors - Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka – 48 professors - Ocean University of Sri Lanka – 18 professors - University of Vocational Technology – 2 professors - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University – 82 professors (details in Annex 07)

¶ 15 (ii) Total expenditure for running UGC universities in 2023: university-wise capital and recurrent expenditure are provided in Annex 08. Illustratively (2023, in Rs. million): University of Colombo – Capital 1,196; Recurrent 7,186. University of Peradeniya – Capital 773; Recurrent 9,560; etc.

¶ 16 For non-UGC institutions: - Sri Lanka Bhiksu University total expenditure: 2023 – Rs. 443,957,829; 2024 – Rs. 505,711,057. - Buddhist and Pali University recurrent expenditure 2024 – Rs. 565 million. - Ocean University total expenditure – Rs. 619.05 million. - University of Vocational Technology total expenditure – Rs. 606,678,155. - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University total expenditure (2024) – Rs. 3,426,922,583.

¶ 17 (iii) Average annual cost per student (UGC, 2022): Rs. 405,313.

¶ 18 Unit recurrent cost per student by discipline (UGC, 2022), for example: - Arts – Rs. 341,665 - Education – Rs. 492,344 - Law – Rs. 273,037 - Management & Commerce – Rs. 260,967 - Engineering – Rs. 526,305 - Medicine – Rs. 818,583 - Dental Sciences – Rs. 1,352,947 - Allied Health – Rs. 438,114 - Indigenous Medicine – Rs. 544,994 - General average – Rs. 405,313

¶ 19 Other institutions: - Sri Lanka Bhiksu University: average annual per-student cost 2024 – Rs. 1,075,981; 2025 – Rs. 1,013,602. Total degree completion cost – Rs. 2,960,013. - Buddhist and Pali University: per-student degree completion cost 2024 – Rs. 927,257 (after reductions in allowances). Three-year general degree total cost – Rs. 2,954,868 (including non-cash costs). - Ocean University: average annual per-student cost – Rs. 167,000; total degree completion cost – Rs. 668,000. - University of Vocational Technology: average annual per-student cost – Rs. 140,316.74; per-programme total costs range approximately from Rs. 501,496 to Rs. 643,776 (details in Annex 02). - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University: average annual per-student cost (2024) – Rs. 548,766; degree completion costs by discipline provided in Annex 04.

¶ 20 (iv) Total value of assets of UGC universities as at 31.12.2023: university-wise non-current and current assets are provided in Annex 08. Illustratively: - University of Colombo – total assets Rs. 23,123 million - University of Peradeniya – Rs. 28,425 million - University of Sri Jayewardenepura – Rs. 25,846 million - University of Moratuwa – Rs. 14,023 million - University of Jaffna – Rs. 5,802 million - Rajarata University – Rs. 1,676 million - Sabaragamuwa University – Rs. 5,802 million - University of Vavuniya – Rs. 2,174 million (Definitions: non-current assets include land, buildings, equipment, vehicles, library books, intangible assets, work-in-progress, etc.; current assets include inventories, receivables, advances, cash and cash equivalents.)

¶ 21 Other institutions: - Sri Lanka Bhiksu University total assets: 2023 – Rs. 2,555,862,145; 2024 – Rs. 2,540,456,926. - Buddhist and Pali University total assets – Rs. 1,939 million. - Ocean University total assets – Rs. 23,000 million. - University of Vocational Technology total assets – Rs. 2,272,791,638. - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University total assets – Rs. 76,701,514,066.

¶ 22 (v) World rankings: - Webometrics July 2024 world ranks: - University of Colombo – 1591 - University of Peradeniya – 2017 - University of Sri Jayewardenepura – 2191 - University of Moratuwa – 2903 - University of Kelaniya – 2903 - University of Ruhuna – 2667 - Sabaragamuwa University – 4195 - Open University – 5906 - University of the Visual and Performing Arts – [rank as per annex] - Sri Lanka Bhiksu University – 21972 - Buddhist and Pali University – 11604 - Ocean University – 17861 (also 19604 in 2024; 18681 in 2025) - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 601–800 band.

¶ 23 (c) Not applicable.