University of Peradeniya is the most beautiful and coolest university in Sri Lanka. It is located in the Central province of Sri Lanka. The distance between Kandy and Peradeniya is approximately 6 km. IT centers, laboratories, a 50 m swimming pool, well-equipped gymnasium, separate stadiums for cricket, football, hockey, tennis, rugby, track and field are several facilities of University of Peradeniya.
This university is surrounded by the Hanthana mountain range and beautiful green vegetation. University of Peradeniya is the biggest university in Sri Lanka. Seven hundred hectares are covered by the university, and one hundred thirty hectares are occupied by the buildings of the university. (Hostels, Buildings of the faculties, staff bungalows, libraries)
The history and the background
The history of this university can be divided into 4 stages
- University of Ceylon (1942-1952)
- University of Ceylon, Peradeniya (1952-1972)
- Peradeniya Campus, University of Sri Lanka (1972-1978)
- University of Peradeniya (Since 1978)
Sir Ivor Jennings was the first vice-chancellor of this university. Previously it was a university college. Now it is an extended residential university. The designing and the layout of the university was done by Sir Patrick Abercrombie and Clifford Holliday. The plan was executed by Mr. Shirley De Alwis. Akbar bridge is a remarkable feature of the architecture in University of Peradeniya. The senate house of the university is raised on the stone pillars. The construction process was temporarily disturbed in 1941 due to the beginning of the second world war.
University was improved to facilitate about 1000 residential students by 1952. Ramanadan, Sangamiththa, Hilda, Sarasavi Uyana, Wijewardhana hall, Athulathmudali hall are some of the girls’ hostels in University of Peradeniya. Ramanadan hall is the biggest hostel in South Asia.
Ivor Jennings hall, Akbar hall, James Peiris hall, Arunachalam hall, Jayathilake hall, Mahakanda hostel, Marcus hall are some of the boys’ hostel in University of Peradeniya. The first convocation of graduates was held on 21st November 1952. University of Peradeniya has 9 faculties, 73 departments, 3 postgraduate institutions at the present and one can get more info regarding how to clear the entrance exams here http://www.examsnap.com/
Faculties of the university
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
- Faculty of Art
- Faculty of Dental Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Management
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
Vision
The vision of University of Peradeniya is being a centre of eminence in higher education (with national, regional and global standing.)
Mission
University of Peradeniya conducts professional and curriculum-based teaching, high quality research to knowledge seekers such as undergraduates, post-graduates and non-graduate levels for national, regional and global needs while maintaining higher levels of effectiveness, integrity, transparency and efficiency to develop a knowledge-based society.
Values
- Respecting for cultural diversity
- Maintaining transparency and integrity in its functions
- Having academic freedom
- Having the highest standard of learning, teaching and research
Goals
- Relevance and quality of undergraduate and postgraduate programs are enhanced to achieve international recognition in higher education.
- Resources are developed to enhance the quality of research.
- Enhancing financial and administrative efficiency within the framework of corporate governance.
- Providing opportunities for a wider range of educational programs.
- Enhancing human resources and physical resources to provide an aesthetic and conductive environment for academic pursuits.
Some students get opportunities and scholarships to go abroad for further educations. And also, some students get job opportunities during their internships according to their performance. Religious places such as Buddhist temple, Hindu temple and Church, for different nations have been constructed to build students’ inner peace.
There is a health center in the university and medicines and health services can be got free of charge. Different societies and associations have been established to improve students’ skills, knowledge and teamwork. Different programs have been implemented to maintain the beauty of the university. Most trees bear flowers in early March. Example: Robarosiya.
There are faculty libraries and a main library in the university. Reference books, research articles, novels, adventures, scientific fictions and many other books are available in those libraries. Research articles of the libraries are helpful to final year researches. Faculties have good lecture halls and technological facilities. And also lecturers, professors and assistant lecturers provide the maximum effort to teach students. Student advisors have been provided for each student and they support solving the problem of students. Lecturers and professors are very friendly.
Lots of programs are organized to improve practical skills of students. At the beginning of a degree course, English course and computer course are held before starting the usual subjects. Professors, lectures always advise extracurricular activities due to they are helpful at interviews and job opportunities. If there are sufficient qualifications, students can enroll as assistant lecturers after graduation. If students expect to do a master degree after graduation, postgraduate institutes are also there. They can attend the lectures of postgraduate institutes on the weekends and they can do a job on weekdays.
Seven wonders of University of Peradeniya
- Akbar corridor: This is a long corridor in the Engineering faculty. When two people are standing at the two ends of the corridor, they can’t recognize each other due to the corridor being too long.
- Akbar bridge: It crosses two banks of Mahaweli river.
- Kadolana tree: It is the Kadolana tree which is located on a higher place from the sea level.
- Sarachchandra open air theatre: It is very large, and over eight thousand people can seat.
- Runner way of charcoal: The one and only runner way which is made from charcoal in Asia. There is a belief that the scars which happened after falling down on this runner way, have remained and the scar is not cured.
- Wiring system: The wiring system of the university is underground. Due to the wiring system not being visible, the surroundings of the university are very beautiful.
- Senate building: The building is held by stone pillars. Those pillars are imported from Indonesia. It is a replica of lovamahapaya structure which was built in the Anuradhapura era. Vice chancellor’s office is located in the senate building.
W.I.M.Withanage
Author’s Bio:
I am Iresha Mihirani who is interested in writing and drawing. I create short stories, articles, scientific fictions, essays, cartoons, and doodles in my leisure time. I write to give happiness to readers and to express a valuable idea or a message to society.
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