Govt. announces ambitious plan to expand State university system

• 10 new universities to be built with ADB loan
• Plans to increase student intake from 30,000 to 60,000
• Sri Jayewardenepura to be developed as an international research university

The Government plans to increase the number of students admitted to State universities from 30,000 to 60,000 and establish 10 new universities using funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The university system will be expanded using an increased loan amount provided by the ADB’s Science Technology and Human Resources project.

Cabinet approved a proposal by Minister of Higher Education Bandula Gunawardena to build 10 universities by increasing the current Rs. 165 million loan amount of ADB by Rs. 50 million.

Accordingly, new national universities will be built in Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya, Hambantota, Matara and Galle districts starting this year, Gunawardena said.

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura will be developed as an international research university.

An allergy, immune and surgical biology unit and a modern investigation unit for non-communicable diseases and allergies is expected to be established.

Under the program, Rs. 400 million will be allocated for the purchase of respective equipment, he said.

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is already in the process of exchanging students and professors with the USA, UK, and Sweden. Research programs with foreign experts and scholars will be expanded in the future.