SLIIT’s contribution to National Development by reshaping and promoting higher education
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Today, SLIIT is recognised as the nation’s largest and among the most prestigious non-state degree awarding Institutes; a higher education success story. Over the past two decades SLIIT has been rooted in its commitment to support educational excellence, creating an environment for students to gain vital skills thus contributing towards shaping the national economy.
Inspired by leading globally reputable international universities, SLIIT has over the years developed a new higher education model that has never been seen in the country, supporting and inspiring graduates to make a difference on a global scale.
In 1999, with an aim to produce sufficient Information Technology professionals to support the country’s growing industry, SLIIT’s initial intake was 390 students for its first campus in Kollupitiya. Today, after two decades, SLIIT has cemented its position among higher education institutions; 65% of individuals who are employed in the field of information technology in Sri Lanka, have graduated from SLIIT.
Additionally, SLIIT has to-date, produced over 27,000 successful professionals with over 93% employed by the time of graduation, demonstrating the Institute’s ability to equip students with a wider range of employability skills vital for the modern workplace.
SLIIT was founded in 1999 as a company limited by guarantee (a not for profit entity), as the initial discussions held by the Government of Sri Lanka with the University of Moratuwa and other stakeholders in higher education and information technology to establish a higher educational institute in the IT Sector affiliated to the University of Moratuwa did not materialise
Although the Government (especially, the Ministry of Industries) was initially interested in establishing a higher educational institute for the IT sector as part of the Moratuwa University, the said idea was not implemented. However, experts and professionals who participated in several initial meetings called for by the Government understood the need for establishing such an institute and when the Government initiative was delayed and not implemented, they decided to take the initiative to establish such an institute. Accordingly, SLIIT was commenced by a group of qualified professionals from various fields, who had a heart to develop the IT industry in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (Guarantee) Limited (a not for profit company) was incorporated on the 26th of March 1999, and SLIIT commenced its educational activities at its campus in Kollupitiya.
Prof. Dayantha S. Wijeyesekera who was the Vice-Chancellor, University of Moratuwa in 1999, voicing his views notes, “Institute of Information Technology was originally planned to be established as an affiliated institute to the university of Moratuwa. There was opposition from staff and students regarding the SLIIT that was being set up under the University of Moratuwa. Within a few days, the decision was taken to disassociate any formal links with SLIIT. Though some were surprised by the decision we took, by the University of Moratuwa, it was for the betterment of both SLIIT and the University of Moratuwa.
This is very evident with the infrastructure and academic development at SLIIT and the continuation of academic interaction between the two higher education institutes.
During the initial expansion of SLIIT’s facilities, the Mahapola Trust Fund (MTF) assisted by leasing a land to the said not for profit company and had also contributed approximately Rs.373 million toward constructing the first building at the Malabe campus. Since then, SLIIT’s campus has grown to a sprawling facility with the Institute’s earnings utilized to develop infrastructure, new programmes, laboratories and recreational facilities currently valued at a colossal Rs.3.5 billion.
MTF also shared this vision of developing the IT industry in Sri Lanka. Therefore, in order to make this vision a reality, in or around the year 2000, SLIIT was granted a sum of approximately Rs. 373 million in installments to construct a building on a land belonging to MTF in Malabe and MTF invited SLIIT to run one of its campuses in the Malabe land owned by MTF. Pursuant to this building being constructed on the Malabe land, MTF and SLIIT entered into a written agreement in 2003 under which SLIIT was granted permission to possess the Malabe land and carry out educational activities on the said land. Thereafter several agreements were entered between SLIIT and MTF. In addition to paying a rental for the use of the land under the effective agreements, SLIIT has also offered scholarships to students on behalf of the MTF.
Most recently in 2015, SLIIT entered into two agreements with the MTF, wherein SLIIT paid a sum of approximately Rs. 408 million to MTF in lieu of the support provided by MTF in the construction of the first building on the Malabe land. Further, MTF under the said agreements entered into in 2015 has granted a lease over the Malabe to SLIIT for a period of 60 years under which SLIIT has to pay an approximate annual lease rental of Rs. 20 million for the first 5 years to MTF and which increases in the manner set out in the agreement.
It must be noted that although MTF assisted in the construction of the first building at the Malabe land, SLIIT has subsequently constructed with its own funds several buildings and facilities on the Malabe land which are valued at approximately Rs. 2.5 billion. which have in turn enhanced the spectrum of graduate and post graduate courses offered by SLIIT to local students. We can proudly say that SLIIT has managed to save large amounts of foreign exchange draining out of the country by offering world class degree programmes to students, in collaboration with several internationally acclaimed higher education institutions from several parts of the world.
Today, in addition to the Malabe Campus, SLIIT has established campuses across the countries in major cities including Jaffna, Matara, Kandy and Kurunegala.
Among SLIIT’s main achievements has been the ability to provide students a holistic education, transforming them into professionals, especially in its ability to produce a sufficient number of information technology professionals to meet industry demand.
SLIIT and its graduates have contributed significantly towards the immense growth of the IT industry which is currently the fifth largest export earner in the country, marking a significant contribution to Sri Lanka’s economy.
SLIIT notes with pride the wealth of its academic staff. Students are inspired by over 300 of the best academic minds who are loyal and committed lecturers. SLIIT’s intellectual faculty combined acclaims 5000-years of collective experience anchoring the Institute on a path of excellence. SLIIT’s two-decade success is also attributed in its ability to gain affiliations with over 25 high-achieving, forward-thinking global universities in UK, Australia, Canada and the USA.
With SLIIT’s diverse programme offerings, many students do not have to travel overseas to obtain world-class education. Instead, SLIIT’s many affiliations afford a multitude of opportunities to complete higher education at home at a fraction of the cost. Moreover, this reduces the sizeable drain on foreign exchange for the country.
Enriching teaching, learning and research SLIIT has over two decades reimagined a new standard for higher education in Sri Lanka, drawing parallels from other world-class top-ranking universities such as Harvard and Stanford which operate on similar models. These are all non-state, not-for-profit organisations that from time to time receive grants from the governments to develop and promote higher education.
Despite introducing this model with the aim of promoting higher education in Sri Lanka, supporting and helping more students gain access to world-class education, several citizens are yet to understand its true worth. Notwithstanding the outstanding achievements recorded by SLIIT over the years, parties with vested interests have been spreading false rumours regarding SLIIT and its Management with a view to achieving their narrow, self-centered objectives without considering the effect it has on SLIIT, its students and the IT industry as a whole. However, we believe that the students have so much trust and confidence in SLIIT, especially going by the results we have produced over the years, which has propelled SLIIT to the number one slot in non-state Higher Education Institutions operating in Sri Lanka.