Business

How the University of Peradeniya has weathered the politico-economic storms of the decades

Published

2 years ago

2024/08/29

Emeritus Professor W.I. Siriweera

Extracts from the speech delivered by one of Sri Lanka’s most eminent historians, Emeritus Professor W.I. Siriweera, on being conferred the Degree of the Doctor of Letters by the University of Peradeniya at its convocation of August 22nd, 2024.

Peradeniya University began in 1952 when sections of the old University College in Colombo including the Faculties of Law, Arts, Oriental Studies, Agriculture and Veterinary Science were shifted there with around 1200 students. They were accommodated in five Halls of Residence: Jayatilake, Arunachalam, Marrs, James Peiris and Hilda Obeysekara. Halls of Residence have proliferated subsequently and according to the UGC statistics the internal student population at Peradeniya in 2022 was 15108. Student profile has also changed substantially. The sex ratio of the Arts Faculty in 1960 was 56.5 per cent males and 43.5 per cent females. This has changed over the years and in 2008/2009 the approximate percentage of females has increased to 79 per cent and by 2022 to 81 per cent. The percentage of girls in Agriculture, Dental Sciences, Veterinary Science and Allied Health Sciences is also relatively high.

In student politics, the traditional left was powerfully represented in the campus until late 1960’s. The Fourth International Trotskyites dominated the scene while there were quite a few Moscow wing or Peking wing communists. They agitated against and highlighted global events. For example, in June 1960, the untimely demise of the African leader Patrice Lumumba was sufficient reason for the anti-imperialist, anti bourgeois, socialist to the core intellectuals in training, to march to Kandy in a massive procession to let the people of Kandy know of the great injustices perpetrated by the imperialists on the people of Africa.

It was a long procession carrying placards and banners with strong anti-imperialist slogans. We were crying out slogans asking the Imperialists to go home. But we did not know who these Imperialists were or where they were. Those who did not know the slogans cried out whatever that came to their mind: even the titles of popular Indian films at the time.

By 1968/69 all other Marxist or leftist groups were overtaken by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and also later by its offshoot: the Peratugami Samajavadi Pakshaya. These two groups have dominated student politics up to now. Unlike the earlier left-wing politicians, they have focused attention on local problems within a Marxist framework. Agitations against student suppression, against limited financial allocations, against efforts to privatize education have been their main concerns.

Food culture in Halls of Residence has also changed considerably since the beginning of the university. Professor Halpe, one of the first undergraduates has stated that “life was luxurious”. According to him food served in the Halls of Residence was better than home cooked ones.

Campus meals in 1950’s and 1960’s were of a high standard. For breakfast, toast and eggs or boiled chick peas were served. Those who did not like eggs, got a sizeable chunk of Kraft cheddar cheese. For lunch, rice and curry with beef or fish with several vegetables were served. Dinner was varied with fish or beef alternated with western food like vegetable soup, beef steaks with mashed potatoes and bread. Dessert followed both lunch and dinner.

However, as everything else, food situation too has gradually deteriorated over the years. By early 1970’s serving meals at the dining tables was discontinued and students had to queue up with their meal tickets to be served at the food counters. Even this practice was stopped in the early eighties and since then undergraduates, academic staff living in Halls of Residence and sub-wardens purchase meals from canteens or prepare their meals in rooms.

Drama activities were at their best in mid nineteen fifties and early nineteen sixties. Professor E.F.C. Ludowyk had played a key role in this development. He had persuaded the university authorities to hire Jubal, an East European, on contract basis to promote Western drama. About the same period, professor Sarathchandra was instrumental in establishing the Open Air Theatre with the surrounding terraces.

His dramas such as Maname and Sinhabahu mesmerized the crowds in that balmy atmosphere. In the case of reviving Tamil folk theatrical traditions, professor Vidyanandan played a key role.

After mid nineteen sixties, Golden era of Peradeniya university came to an end. Cultural as well as academic activities declined. But the university has been resilient in trying circumstances and has faced up to challenges and realities of the time. Amidst changes, the university has survived with some of its spirit intact.

It is up to the academic staff, students and administrators to retain its spirit irrespective of the vicissitudes of the campus environment and campus life.

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Business

Sri Lanka secures 10% US tariff rate: JAAF thanks the President and government for decisive action

Published

43 mins ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Today’s announcement by USTR of the finality of the Section 301 investigations into countries’ ability to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour sees 18 countries placed on a 10% tariff, with the balance of 42 countries facing a 12.5% tariff.

Initial indications were that Sri Lanka would fall into the 12.5% category, a position that would have placed the country at a real disadvantage against a number of key competitor nations.

Following Sri Lanka’s submissions to the USTR earlier this month, JAAF is pleased to see that Sri Lanka is now among the countries placed on the 10% tariff rate, on par with competitors including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia.

Sri Lanka’s apparel industry competes in a crowded field, and even a 2.5 percentage point difference in tariff treatment can be the difference between winning and losing an order to a rival sourcing destination. Securing parity with Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia protects the competitiveness of an industry that remains the country’s largest export earner and a major source of employment, particularly for women, across the country.

JAAF recognises that this result did not happen by chance. It reflects sustained, coordinated engagement between industry and government at every level, from the submissions made to USTR to the direct representations carried out in Washington. We view this as a strong example of what can be achieved when the private sector and government work in close partnership on issues that directly affect Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness.

We remain committed to continuing this collaboration, both to safeguard the gains secured on Thursday and to ensure Sri Lanka’s apparel and textile industry is well positioned to compete on a level playing field internationally.

Business

CAHM students shine at National Bartenders Competition and Dainties 2026

Published

48 mins ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Students of the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) at SLIIT once again demonstrated their talent, creativity, and professional excellence by securing outstanding achievements at two prestigious national hospitality competitions held recently in Sri Lanka.

The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) is Sri Lanka’s leading private hospitality education institute, established in 2013 and located at the SLIIT Main Campus in Malabe. Renowned for delivering internationally recognised qualifications in partnership with the William Angliss Institute (RTO 3045), Australia—the Australian Government’s specialist hospitality education institute and the country’s leading provider of hospitality, tourism, foods and events education—CAHM offers Australian-standard vocational qualifications that combine international best practices with hands-on practical training and strong industry relevance, enabling graduates to pursue rewarding careers around the world.

At the 31st National Bartenders Competition (NBC), organized by the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association (SLHGA) in partnership with International Distillers Limited (IDL), CAHM student Anurasi Chandrasoma (Commercial Cookery Batch 22) emerged as the Winner in the highly competitive Hotel School Category. The competition, held on 26 May 2026 at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management (SLITHM), Colombo, attracted more than 75 participants from hospitality education institutions across the country.

Representing CAHM alongside the winner were Dishala Gunawardhana (Hospitality Management Batch 37), Sunera Sathindu (Commercial Cookery Batch 21), and Devindu Amarasekara (Patisserie Batch 11), all of whom showcased exceptional bartending skills and professionalism. The achievement marks another significant milestone for CAHM, reinforcing its reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s leading hospitality education institutions.

Business

Asia-Pacific business leaders to convene in Sri Lanka for UN Global Compact’s flagship regional event

Published

48 mins ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Asia-Pacific stands at the forefront of one of the defining transitions of our time. Home to many of the world’s fastest-growing economies, the region is also confronting some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to widening inequalities, geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological transformation. As these challenges reshape the global business landscape, businesses are increasingly being called upon not only to respond, but to lead.

Against this backdrop, Sri Lanka will host Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026: Driving Business Leadership for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, the United Nations Global Compact’s flagship regional event for Asia-Pacific. Bringing together more than 200 business leaders, sustainability practitioners, policymakers, representatives from the United Nations and UN Global Compact Country Networks from across the region, the two-day event will provide a platform to strengthen partnerships, exchange practical solutions and mobilize business leadership in support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Led by the UN Global Compact Asia-Pacific Regional Hub and hosted in collaboration with UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, the regional event reflects a shared commitment to advancing responsible business and strengthening regional collaboration at a time when sustainable development depends on collective leadership and cross-sector cooperation.

The event will welcome Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General, CEO & Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, whose presence spotlights the strategic importance of the Asia-Pacific region within the United Nations Global Compact. Her first official visit to Sri Lanka signals the growing role of the region in driving responsible business and sustainable development, while offering participating companies a unique opportunity to engage with global leadership, showcase their sustainability journeys, and help shape the next chapter of collective action towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Alongside Sanda Ojiambo, the Forum will also convene more than 60 global and regional leaders from business, the United Nations and civil society, including Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company and Chairman of UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, and Sandra Wu, ESG Executive Adviser at Mirait One Corporation, fostering dialogue and collaboration to accelerate business leadership for sustainable and inclusive growth across Asia-Pacific.

Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 also marks an important milestone in advancing the United Nations Global Compact’s 2026–2030 Strategy, which places renewed emphasis on equipping businesses with the knowledge, tools and partnerships needed to accelerate sustainable business transformation, catalyzing collaboration to address shared global challenges, and advancing responsible business leadership as a cornerstone of sustainable development. As one of the first flagship regional events aligned with this strategic direction, the event will help translate global ambition into regional action by connecting leaders, sharing practical experience and fostering the partnerships needed to create lasting impact.

Register Your Interest

Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 11–12 August 2026.

To register your interest or learn more about the event, please contact:

Chamath Kalupahana

Country Focal Point – Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026

Manager – Participant Engagement & Strategic Planning

UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka

Email: chamath@unglobalcompact.org.lk