The Open University of Sri Lanka
The Open University of Sri Lanka is a national university which is unique within the Sri Lankan university system for being the only university to offer programs of study leading to certificate, diploma, degrees and postgraduate degrees up to PhD level, facilitated through the innovative Open and Distance Mode of Learning. The degrees awarded by the university are under the preview of the University Grants Commission and are aligned with Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework.
Vision
Mission
Open and Distance Learning
Why: ODL is especially useful for potential students who are unable to access learning opportunities where they are provided. For these students, learning opportunities need to be offered where they are located, and provided at a time which best suits them and their circumstances. ODL also offers students choices in relation to entry and exit points, as well as selection of courses, making it particularity suitable for lifelong-long learners who wish to continue with their education while in employment or engaged with domestic work.
How: ODL methods use a wide variety of technologies to bridge the divide that is created by the physical separation of learners from the teachers and the educational institution. These include printed as well as digital learning resources, audio and video conferencing, online learning management systems, mobile devices, as well as a growing list of social media tools.
Vice Chancellor's Message
Senior Professor P.M.C. Thilakerathne
Vice-Chancellor
The Open University of Sri Lanka
The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) is one of the public universities in Sri Lanka. The OUSL was established as an Open Distance Learning (ODL) University in 1980 under Section 23 (1) and Section 18 of the Universities Act No.16 of 1978 and the OUSL Ordinance No.3 of 1980 which was subsequently amended as the Open University of Sri Lanka Ordinances No.1 of 1983 and No. 12 of 1996. Among the ultimate objectives of this initiative was “to ensure life-long education and the right of every citizen to improve life-chances through access to higher education”. The OUSL consists of six faculties: Engineering Technology, Natural Sciences, Health Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Education and Management Studies. The OUSL offers certificates, diplomas, degrees, master’s, Master of Philosophy and Doctoral degrees in above all discilines. The OUSL brings education to doorsteps of learners with the objective of to reach the unreached. It operates through 9 regional and 19 study centers all around Sri Lanka. The OUSL is dedicated to producing industry ready graduates.
Our journey as an institution dedicated to open and accessible education has been marked by resilience, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to empowering minds across the globe. The OUSL has always been a trailblazer in embracing change, and now, more than ever, we find ourselves at the intersection of tradition and transformation. Let us harness the power of technology, pedagogical advancements, and collaborative spirit to redefine the future of education.
Our strength lies in our diversity and the global community that makes up the OUSL. Whether you are a student, faculty member, staff, or alumni, your unique perspectives contribute to the rich tapestry of our institution. Let us celebrate this diversity and continue to foster an environment where ideas flow freely, and differences are embraced. In the years ahead, we will continue to consolidate international footprints. Our commitment to innovation in teaching and learning is unwavering. From cutting-edge ODL courses to immersive learning experiences, we will strive to provide you with the tools and resources needed to excel in your academic journey.
Your well-being is of paramount importance to us. As we embark on your academic journey, let us prioritize not only academic success but also the mental and emotional well-being of our community. We are here to support each other, to listen, and to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. The OUSL is not just an institution; it is a community of learners, educators, and innovators. I invite each one of you to actively engage in the collaborative spirit that defines us. Together, we can achieve remarkable feats and inspire positive change in the world.
In closing, I am excited about the journey ahead and the incredible potential that resides within the OUSL community. Let us move forward with determination, curiosity, and a shared commitment to excellence.
Snr. Professor P.M.C. Thilakerathne, PhD
Vice Chancellor
People
Professor Dhammika Tantrigoda
Chancellor
The Open University of Sri Lanka
Professor Dhammika Tantrigoda is the 5th Chancellor of The Open University of Sri Lanka. He was appointed on 09 September 2020 by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka.
Snr. Prof. P.M.C. Thilakerathne
Vice-Chancellor
The Open University of Sri Lanka
Mrs Vindhya Jayasena,
Registrar
Phone : +94 112853038
Fax : +94 112853038
Email : registrar@ou.ac.lk
I take great pleasure in sending a message to the website of the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Our University with its objective of distant and open education, is constantly exploring modern technological techniques to impart reliable information for the benefit of our students. The OUSL is the only University in Sri Lanka that engages in educational activities adopting the Distant Education method and it is also a University in the National University system. The Distant Education system embodies a large number of unique components and accessing teachers’ instructions via the internet is the most significant of them all. The fifth generation of students of the OUSL are directed towards following study techniques via the internet thanks to open technology. Our aim is to broaden the horizons for them.
This year the OUSL completes 30 years. Founded in 1980, this University is heading for excellence, passing various milestones. The message of open education has reached distant areas, consequent to bold experiments, teaching quite successfully Engineering and Natural Science technologies via distant education. The education message of the University has spread out to distant areas through the network of provincial centres, rendering yeomen service to students of such areas.
The Open University which makes way for students of Sri Lanka to fulfill their higher education requirements is exploring what more is needed to be done. I must state that our leadership and the staff are dedicated for this purpose.
Dr. W.M.K.G.A. Wickramasinghe
(MBA (PIM-SJP)(B.B.Mgt (Key),LICA,,CIPFA(SL),CIPFA (UK),FPFASL)
Bursar
Phone : +94112369762
Email : bursar@ou.ac.lk
Dr. W.M.K.G.A. Wickramasinghe assumed duties as the Bursar of the Open University of Sri Lanka in Jan 2014. He is the seventh Bursar of the OUSL. He joined the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka as a Senior Assistant Bursar in June 2002 and promoted to Deputy Bursar post in 2011.
He graduated from the University of Kelaniya in 1998 and obtained his Master of Business Administration from the Postgraduate of Institute of Management (PIM) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He holds Doctor of Philosophy from Management Science University ,Malaysia.
History
The Diyawanna Oya and the marshlands surrounding it are ancient waterways, celebrated in Sinhala poetry. These marshlands now form part of the suburbs of the modern commercial capital Colombo and encircle the administrative capital, Sri Jayawardenepura. Reclaimed in the 1950s for state purposes, the marshes now have been converted into bustling thoroughfares crowded with buildings. It is in these reclaimed marshes that the story of the Open University of Sri Lanka begins. Where once there was water and muddy soil, now there stands, along the canal that leads from Nawala through Narahenpita to Wellawatte, a scatter of state-of-the-art facilities that provide for the needs of thousands of students all over the island. What once began as an innovative experiment has evolved through thirty years into a national educational enterprise that that seeks to establish equity and excellence in all that it does.
An Experiment in University Education in Sri Lanka
The idea of an Open University for Sri Lanka first came to life not as a result of academic innovation but through a political vision. To understand the germination of this idea, it is useful to look back on the development of university education in Sri Lanka and in particular to the 1970s and 1980s, the era in which OUSL was nurtured into being.
University education in Sri Lanka began in colonial days in 1921 in Colombo, through the University College, a college affiliated to the University of London and set up on Thurstan Road on the site which is now the University of Colombo. The University College, regarded as a fore-runner to a national university was essentially a liberal arts college though it also had a science faculty which taught the basic sciences. Professional education for fields such as Law and Medicine was conducted in separate institutions the Ceylon Medical College established as far back as 1870 and one of the oldest such colleges in Asia, and the Law College established in 1874 at Hoofddorp. In 1893, technical studies were provided for through the founding of the Ceylon Technical College at Maradana. In 1933, the Ceylon Technical College established engineering as an academic field by commencing studies for the external degree in engineering of the University of London. In 1942, the University College and the Medical College were amalgamated. The links with the University of London were severed and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) set up its own higher education institution, the University of Ceylon at Peradeniya.
From the 1940s to the 1960s, education at the University of Ceylon expanded uneventfully. The university at Peradeniya was a residential university, based on the Oxbridge model, with spacious halls of residence set in beautifully landscaped grounds. All academic disciplines were taught here although Colombo continued to retain a faculty of science and the prestigious Medical College. In the mid- 1950s, social changes precipitated by the establishment of Sinhala as the only official language of the country impacted on the status of the national university. National policy decisions demanded a shift in the medium of instruction at university level from English to the national languages. This resulted in an expansion of the number of new entrants particularly to the Arts stream. To cope with the increase in numbers, the government decided to open up other universities. In 1958, two Buddhist pirivenas, Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara which had conducted studies in Sinhala from their very inception were converted into secular universities. Commenting on the development of the University of Ceylon, K M de Silva states that by 1966,
“The University of Ceylon had lost the monopoly over university education it had enjoyed since its establishment; it was no longer residential; and its autonomy was under serious threat”.
The Higher Education Act of 1966 repealed the charter of the University of Ceylon, and the university which until then had enjoyed a measure of autonomy now came under the control of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). By mid-1966, a separate university had been established at Colombo to absorb new students. Admissions to the arts and social sciences streams had swelled to 3990, and 2094 of these students were accommodated at Colombo. These developments were unplanned decisions with ad hoc arrangements being made for academic teaching. At Peradeniya, the situation was particularly unsettling as over-crowding of students led to the dismantling of residential facilities for mid- career students. In the other universities too, conditions were equally disastrous at Colombo for example, an abandoned race-course grandstand was hastily provided as the venue for the Arts Faculty. When these ill-prepared students graduated, they faced other issues — a lack of employment as the subjects they had studied had not prepared them for the world of work in a modern economy. These developments led to frustration and bitterness among undergraduates and the university system faced its first major crisis when in 1971, young people led by the revolutionary Janatha Vimukti Peramuna rose in armed combat against the government.
The universities were closed for over 15 months and the government response to the insurrection was to tighten control over the universities. In 1972, a new University Act relegated the status of the universities to mere campuses of a single entity, the University of Sri Lanka, governed by officers appointed by the minister. In 1977, the government changed and once again the university system was changed. This time the pendulum swung back to autonomy for the universities. With the University Act 16 of 1978, the campuses (Colombo, Jaffna, Kelaniya, Moratuwa, Peradeniya and Sri Jayawardenepura) of the monolithic University of Sri Lanka reverted to their previous status as separate universities.1978 also saw the establishment of a Ministry of Higher Education and the guidance of policy by the University Grants Commission. It was in this period that the idea of an Open University for Sri Lanka was pursued.
The need for an Open University for Sri Lanka in fact seems to have been thought of as early as 1969, a few years after an Open University had been established in Britain. Documents recording the deliberations of the NCHE reveal that a member Wilmot Perera had mooted the idea long before it actually became a reality.
In the late 1970s, the concept outlined by Wilmot Perera took concrete shape, supported by a realization that in spite of all the expansion and development of education in modern Sri Lanka, there still remained a great reservoir of people who had not availed themselves of the opportunity for further education. The bitterness and resentment of the 1971 insurgency had shaken the established order and made them aware that even though free education had been offered to the people from primary through to tertiary level, choices and opportunities for social advancement still remained very limited.
Commenting on the establishment of the Open University, Professor P D Gunatilleke, the first Vice- Chancellor asserts that the realization of a need to offer the public a second opportunity in education was one of the highlights of the manifesto of the United National Party, the party that won the election in 1977. He believes that this was the first time the idea of an Open University was set down in “black and white
Thus, like the OUUK, the main impetus was derived from a political pronouncement. And as in Britain, the development of this pronouncement into an established entity fell upon a committee of dedicated professionals. The committee included Professor Stanley Kalpage, then Chairman of the University Grants Commission and later the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education who was the driving force behind the idea. Others in this committee included Dr RP Jayawardene, Chairman of the National Research and Science Authoriry(NARESA), Esmond Wickremasinghe, Chairman, Lake House and academics such as Professor PD Gunatilleke. Inspired by the example of the British Open University and the success of distance education in countries such as Australia and Canada, the committee set about creating an institution which adopted elements from other countries but was to be a university suited to the context of Sri Lanka.
At the beginning the enterprise was viewed as an exciting experiment but an experiment based on a worthwhile vision. Speaking of the principles that underpinned the establishment of OUSL, Gunatilleke states that the idea of the OUSL was not merely to cater to adult education but a concept that embodied the beliefs that learning was a life-long process and that all individuals had a right to be provided opportunities for such learning. The original vision thus embraced the notions that;
- Educational opportunities could be delivered through distance learning and the use of new instructional technology
- Learning could be accomplished through teaching, research, professional and community services
- Lifelong learning included a commitment to high academic standards
- The needs of the students and the communities served by the OUSL should be handled sympathetically
- Knowledge could be advanced through reflection and research
- Integrity should be a hallmark of all institutional functions.
This exciting vision of new beginnings for adult learners however ran into snags which were remarkably akin to those faced by OUUK. One of the major problems was staffing. Although OUSL had been established with the concurrence of the University Grants Commission, there was controversy over the university’s mode of operation. The authorities assumed that as there was comparatively little face-to face teaching, the new institution did not need permanent academic staff and could work with a few senior administrators. Academic input was to be contributed entirely by expertise from other institutions. This perception ignored the fact that the conduct of academic work in a HE institution was complex and needed appropriate staffing. It took a great deal of persuasion to convince the UGC that the OUSL needed its own full time academic community to fulfill the aims and objectives that had been established.
The first vice-chancellor also found that when he managed to win over staff from other institutions to move to OUSL, the appointments were opposed by the very UGC that had set up the Open University. It was Gunatilleke’s determination and dedication to his vision and refusal to be browbeaten by the UGC that ultimately made it possible for the OUSL to commence work with a small but enthusiastic band of academic staff. Another issue was the location of the new university. In the words of the first vice-chancellor, what was finally allocated was “mostly a paddy field six feet below road level” and his first visit to the site could hardly be called auspicious- “put on boots and entered the land and was greeted by a buffalo.”
The land so allocated was about thirty acres of swampy marshland in Nawala, a suburb to the east of Colombo. At that time, in the late seventies, this area was not considered a favourable residential area and in view of the marsh grasslands, much of it was given over to cattle farmers whose herds roamed freely over the swamps.
The vice-chancellor however persevered and in this he was greatly supported by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and Minister in charge of Housing and Construction.
By 1980, Professor (Gunarilleke and his team had accomplished many tasks. A competition had been conducted to create an identity for the new institution and suitable create had been selected. UNESCO too had assured Professor Gunatilleke assistance. An administrative building, the Colombo Regional Centre, was in place and so were key academic and administrative personnel. In June 1980, the Open University at Nawala opened with much pomp and ceremony With Dr Gamani Corea as its first Chancellor and Professor P D Gunarilleke as its first vice chancellor.
