General Convocation 2024

Message from the Chancellor

It is with great pleasure that I’m issuing this message for the graduation ceremony of the University of Colombo as the university’s Chancellor.
One moment can change a day
“One day can change your life, and one life can change the world
With our thoughts, we make the world” (Lord Buddha)
To make the world a better place, we must see the world correctly. For this, education is very important. If we are to see the world correctly, we must follow the process of learning properly. Let’s see the meaning of the word education. The word is made up of nine letters: Energy, Discipline, Unity, Confidence, Aim, Talent, Interest, Opportunity, Nationality
Accordingly, nine words are formed from the nine letters in the word education. If we correctly integrate that collection into our lives, we can create a better world. It can also be passed down to future generations.
This each person embarking on a journey of higher education at the University of Colombo. This could be considered a privilege and blessing while enjoying its benefits. This is the duty & responsibility of every member of the university community. To fearer the goodwill of the place and stand out as a brilliant individual among the other academics in the country.
Dear students, this is the right time to think about this. If we manage our personal lives, families, villages, and our country properly, we will conquer the world.
That’s what re-birth or Clean Sri Lanka is…..
May the triple gem bless you!!

Sasana Keerthi Sri Buddha Sasana Shobhana
Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Nayaka Thero
Chief Sanghanayake Western Province
Chancellor, University of Colombo

Message from the Vice Chancellor

It is a great honor and privileged to issue this message at this momentous occasion, the General Convocation of the University of Colombo-2024. Today, this institute has over 45,000 learning partners, nearly 800 academic staff members and annually publish over 3100 scholarly output. As mentioned in the Benchmarking “Elsevier” Research Snapshot summary document, University of Colombo’s overall research impact (FWCI) is highest among the Top 5 Universities in Sri Lanka. The University of Colombo was ranked 1st among Sri Lankan universities throughout 2023 in the Webometric rankings, The Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed by the University of Colombo within the top 600-800 universities among 1799 universities in 104 countries. This institution, a beacon of knowledge and intellectual pursuit, has played a pivotal role in shaping the minds of countless individuals who have gone on to make significant contributions to Sri Lanka and the world.
As you embark on this new chapter of your lives, I urge you to cherish the invaluable experiences and friendships you have forged within these hallowed halls. The knowledge and skills you have acquired will serve as the foundation for your future endeavors. I extend my warmest compliments to all the awardees for achieving your degrees and higher diplomas from your esteemed study programs. It is indeed a big day for students of the University of Colombo as every student enrolled in a university waits for the day of graduation –the day of convocation, the flagship ceremonial event of the University. This day comes after a long interval for each student but for the University, it has remained an annual event. It is on this day, the University looks back to measure its achievement, while this day marks the beginning of a new journey for the students. The University feels proud witnessing the smiling faces of its graduates coming out with ceremonial gowns and being graduated on this momentous occasion. I am sure your learning experience has been the most fulfilling and satisfying. Without a doubt, it is an honor to receive a globally recognized degree from the number 1 university in Sri Lanka. I am proud and thankful for the untiring efforts and the continuing support and commitment of our highly qualified staff in producing globally acceptable graduates and good citizens. Graduation should never mean goodbye. As the Vice Chancellor, I sincerely hope you will remain connected in some way to the university. As it will always be a place of interaction among extraordinary and diverse people. I wish you every success. The world needs progressive, responsible, and compassionate graduates like you. And I am certain you will continue to make us proud. Remember that the true measure of success lies not only in your academic achievements but also in your ability to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Use your education to inspire, innovate, and create a better future for all. I encourage you to continue to be curious, to question, and to seek knowledge. The world is constantly evolving, and it is imperative that we adapt and grow with it. As you step out into the world, I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors. May you continue to strive for excellence, pursue your passions, and make a lasting difference.

Senior Professor (Chair) H.D. Karunaratne
Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo