Abstract
The island nation of Sri Lanka has a long history to its education dating back two millennia. Free education to all is a fundamental right provided by the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The beginning of modern higher education in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was in 1870. From then to the present, many significant advancements were made which were the outcome/result of changes in the political systems as well as economic policies in the country. For the most part of the history of higher education in Sri Lanka, the State was the most significant and the only provider. In the early 1990s, the concept of private higher education was initiated which picked up momentum in the late 1990s. State higher education is provided by 15 State Universities across the country. The admission to these is through a very competitive and rigorous procedure handled by the University Grants Commission where district quota system and the “Z score” are criteria used. Non-state higher education providers have their own admission criteria, but their degree awarding status is controlled by the Ministry of Higher Education. Professional and vocational qualifications are awarded by other entities. Currently the Sri Lanka Qualification Framework is operative for qualifications in higher education. The Quality Assurance Council ensures the quality of higher education in State Universities.
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Bandara, D.C. (2021). The Sri Lankan Higher Education Journey. In: Sarangapani, P.M., Pappu, R. (eds) Handbook of Education Systems in South Asia. Global Education Systems. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0032-9_65
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