Formation of the National Universities

On the recommendation of the Committee on Affiliated University Colleges, nine affiliated university colleges located in different provinces were reorganized. This process eventually led to the establishment of Rajarata and Sabaragamuwa Universities of Sri Lanka.

Establishment of Rajarata University

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka was established as one of the new national universities, creating new opportunities for higher education in the region.

Agricultural Sciences at Wayamba

The Affiliated University College of the North Western Province included academic sections in Home Science and Nutrition and Agriculture. Two faculties were subsequently established at the Wayamba Campus.

• Plantation Management
• Horticultural Sciences
• Food Technology and Agricultural Engineering

Wayamba University Established

Following recommendations to upgrade the Wayamba Campus to a fully-fledged university, Wayamba University was established in August 1999.

With the transfer of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences to Wayamba University, Rajarata University temporarily ceased to have an Agriculture Faculty.

Faculty of Agriculture Re-established

A new Faculty of Agriculture was established at Puliyankulama, close to the ancient city of Anuradhapura and approximately ten kilometres from Mihintale.

The Faculty initially operated from a renovated paddy-store complex that had previously housed the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Three Founding Departments

The Faculty began its academic activities with three departments:

• Agricultural Systems
• Soil and Water Resources Management
• Plant Sciences

A New Agricultural Curriculum

A new curriculum was developed with the objective of contributing to the advancement of agriculture in the dry zone of Sri Lanka.

The Faculty introduced a four-year special B.Sc. Degree in Agriculture.

First Student Intake

The first batch of 17 students was recruited on 21 April 2001 under the patronage of the first Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Puliyankulama, Prof. S. H. Upasena.

Curriculum Development

Since its establishment, the Faculty has continued to improve its academic programmes in response to emerging agricultural needs.

Comprehensive curriculum revisions were carried out in 2003, 2006 and 2014.

A Growing Faculty

The Faculty has continued to expand its contribution to agricultural education, research and knowledge dissemination.

The annual student intake has grown to approximately 165 students.