UoK celebrates 60th anniversary tomorrow
View(s):The University of Kelaniya (UoK) will celebrate its 60th anniversary at its premises tomorrow.
UoK Chancellor and Parivenadhipathi of the Vidyalankaraya, Most Ven. Welamitiyawe Shri Kusaladhamma will preside over the celebrations with Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof D.M. Semasinha and other guests, to be held at the UoK’s Shri Dharmaloka Hall.
The President of the Association of Past Graduates from the UoK, Gotabhaya Jayaratna will explain the objectives of their association, while the VC Prof Semasinha will also address the gathering. The keynote speech will be delivered by Prof Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa.
The UoK has its origin in the historic Vidyalankara Pirivena, founded in 1875 by Ratmalane Sri Dharmaloka Thera, as a centre of learning for Buddhist monks.
The Vidyalankara Pirivena became the Vidyalankara University in 1959, later the Vidyalankara Campus of the University of Ceylon in 1972, and ultimately, the University of Kelaniya in 1978.
It is one of the 1st universities to teach Science in Sinhala and the 1st to restructure the traditional Arts Faculty into 3 Faculties- Humanities, Social Sciences and Commerce & Management.