Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (ශ්‍රී ලංකා තොරතුරු තා‌ක්ෂණ ආයතනය; இலங்கை தகவல் தொழில்நுட்ப நிறுவனம்; also known as SLIIT) is a private university located in Malabe and Colombo, Sri Lanka. It specialises in various fields like technology and management.

SLIIT has three campuses. The main campus being based in Malabe, Metropolitan Campus in Colombo and the new Kandy Campus based on Pallekele. There are also four regional centers around the island. SLIIT is associated with several world class universities such as University of Queensland, Curtin University and Liverpool John Moores University. SLIIT offers more the 75 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees on a vast field ranging from Computer Science to Education. These degrees are either affiliated with a foreign university or offered by the SLIIT themselves under the approval from the UGC.

SLIIT is one of the few Sri Lankan universities on the QS Asia University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It is the only non-state university to be named on both of the lists.

Foundation
In the early 1990s with the rise of IT sector Prof. Lalith Gamage, who would eventually be the first president of SLIIT recognized the necessity of generating a substantial number of IT professionals in Sri Lanka to fulfill the increasing demand for such expertise. At the time, Prof. Gamage held the position of Senior Lecturer and was also the Director of the Computing Services Centre at the University of Moratuwa. He drafted a proposal for creating an institute of information technology within UoM and forwarded it to Hon. Kingsley T. Wickramaratne, who was the Minister of Internal and International Commerce and Food at that time. In June 1998, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Ministry of Internal and International Commerce and Food jointly brought a proposal to the Cabinet to have the Malabe institute funded by the Mahapola Trust Fund and provided with land. The Chairman of the MTF, who was always the Chief Justice, was consulted on this matter. Although the Cabinet agreed to the project in principle, the Ministry of Finance expressed concerns about the lack of qualified academics to teach at the new institute and the financial burden it would place on the Consolidated Fund.

In 1999, Prof. Gamage requested a meeting with Mr. Wickramarathne, the Minister of Internal and International Commerce and Food, to discuss the creation of an institute. The meeting involved Ministry officials, professionals, and academics, and it was proposed to form a company limited by guarantee as an interim measure. This would allow for the project to move forward until cabinet approval was obtained, at which point the Government could take over the Institute and attach it to the University of Moratuwa.

Establishment of the Institute
Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology was established in 1999 at BOC Merchant tower, Colombo as a nonprofit company by guarantee with the ability to award Bachelor of Science degrees following amendments to the Universities Act the same year, thus gaining recognition from the Minister of Higher Education. SLIIT was established primarily to educate and train information technology professionals. SLIIT was established as an independent institution, as the initial guarantors did not represent any organization and the government or MTF did not have any ownership in it.

In September 1999, SLIIT commenced its operations by offering a two-year Diploma Programme at a leased space situated in its Colombo campus. The institute received a staggering 3,150 applications, out of which only 400 were granted admission.

Expansion in to the Malabe Campus
SLIIT approached the Mahapola Trust Fund to develop the Malabe Campus due to increasing demand for their programmes. Unlike before, this time SLIIT approached MTF as an independent entity rather than a part of UoM. In September 2000, MTF agreed to provide LKR 500 million for construction work and allocated the land in Malabe. Construction started the following year in 2001.

After a change in government in 2001, promised funding from the MTF for the construction of the Malabe Campus stopped abruptly, leaving the MD/CEO to finance the completion of the first phase with his own personal resources. Negotiations with the MTF eventually led to an agreement in 2005 for SLIIT to lease the land and operate independently as a separate legal entity. In exchange, SLIIT would provide board seats for MTF nominees and pay 20% of financial surpluses generated only from the Malabe Campus to the MTF. This agreement remained in effect until another change of government in 2015.

In 2015, the Mahapola Trust Fund requested to review and amend their agreement with the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), asking for the return of all funds originally contributed, including interest. SLIIT had invested over LKR 2 billion into the Malabe Campus between 2005 and 2015. A new agreement was signed in which SLIIT paid LKR 408.5 million to the MTF, which included the initial funding plus interest. The MTF renewed the lease of the land to SLIIT for 60 years, with a lease rental of LKR 20 million per annum, and increasing every five years up to LKR 45 million. The MTF withdrew its members from the board of SLIIT after receiving full payment. The ownership of the land remained with the MTF, and they earn lease rental income from it.

Further Expansion of the University
In 2007, SLIIT started expanding into new fields of study. These include electronic engineering and business management in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University. SLIIT also expanded its presence from Colombo and its suburbs to other parts of the country, by establishing centres in Kandy and Matara, making SLIIT accessible in six locations.

In 2011, SLIIT established its Faculty of Business after it was accredited by the UGC to award Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Human Capital Management, Accounting and Finance, Marketing Management, Quality management and Management Information Systems.

This was followed in 2012, with the establishment of the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM). The project is a joint venture of SLIIT, Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM), and William Angliss Institute of Australia. It has been developed in line with international standards, housing a training kitchen, banqueting facility, training restaurant, model bedrooms, an IT training centre, and team rooms for students' practical training to prepare students for the degree of Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

The Faculty of Engineering was formed in 2013, with it awarding its own Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees and master's degrees from partner universities such as Curtin University and Sheffield Hallam University. The SLIIT Computing was established as a privately managed subsidiary of SLIIT in Kollupitiya to further expand undergraduate studies.

In 2015, SLIIT established its School of Architecture, offering a three-year degree in architecture. In 2016, introducing 16 new research-based degrees including PhD and MPhil degrees approved by the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation of Sri Lanka.

In 2017, the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences was established as the newest division that provides the most extensive assortment of programs offered by any faculty on the campus. This faculty offers programs in diverse areas, including Biotechnology, Education, Law, Mathematics, Nursing, and Psychology.

Campuses
SLIIT has three main campuses. Two in the Western Province, a Metropolitan campus in central Colombo, and a flagship suburban campus at Malabe. The new Kandy campus is currently under construction. The institute also has regional centres in Kandy, Matara, Jaffna, and Kurunegala.

Malabe
The Malabe campus spans 25 acres of land close to Malabe city, and provides a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Its contemporary buildings are includes a fourteen-story structure for Administration and Examinations, a ten-story building for the Computing Faculty and the main library, a seven-story building for the Engineering Faculty, and a two-story building with a spacious auditorium. The building complex covers more than 200,000 square feet, and comprises lecture halls, laboratories, auditoriums, communication facilities, a library, administrative and service facilities, and common areas for students, including several canteens.

Colombo City
The Metropolitan campus is located within the Bank of Ceylon Merchant Tower at Kollupitiya. Metropolitan campus only offer undergraduate degrees from the Faculty of Business and Faculty of Computing. After completing their first 2 years of study, students are transferred to the Malabe campus for further specialized education. Additionally, the campus has in-house facilities for conducting Professional Development and Research and Development programs.

Kandy
The Kandy Campus is situated next to the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and is scheduled to begin operating in March 2023. The Campus comprises a seven-storey academic building and a ten-storey hostel building, which can accommodate up to 8,000 students upon full completion and 2,000 students during the first phase. The Campus boasts modern facilities such as state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, a hostel that can house up to 600 students, libraries, research and development facilities, a conference hall, a medical and wellbeing center, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, as well as communal spaces. All degree programmes currently available at the SLIIT Malabe Campus are expected to be offered at the Kandy Campus.

Governance
The university is governed by a board of directors headed by a chairman; the current chairman is Professor L. Rathnayake, who succeeded founding chairman Professor Sam Karunaratne. The Board delegates power over academic and administrative affairs of the institute to the President, who also acts as CEO of the institute. Professor Lalith Gamage is the current President.

Current Board

 * Prof. Lakshman L. Ratnayake
 * Prof. Lalith Gamage
 * Prof. Nimal Rajapakse
 * Mr. Thilan M. Wijesinghe
 * Mr. Reshan Dewapura
 * Mr. Jehan Amaratunga
 * Dr. Harsha Cabral

Faculty of Computing
The origins of the Faculty of Computing goes back to the formation of SLIIT in 1999, when it introduced degrees in Information technology. SLIIT offers a 4-year Honours degree in Information technology. Students can choose to specialise on 7 different fields. They are Information Technology, Computer Systems and Network Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Systems Engineering, Cyber Security, Interactive Media and Data Science. Students choose the specialise from the 2nd year onwards and some specialisations are restricted by a particular CGPA threshold.

The faculty offers an array of academic programs that encompass diverse domains within the information technology sector. These programs are structured to enable students to select a specialization. SLIIT Faculty of Computing is bolstered by an around 150 academics, who are complemented by computer laboratories.

The degrees conferred by the Faculty of Computing are accredited by SLIIT and have received approval from the University Grants Commission pursuant to the Universities Act of Sri Lanka. Additionally, SLIIT is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities as well as the International Association of Universities.

In 2022, Bsc (Hons) in Computer Science degree and a Bsc (Hons) in Computer Systems Engineering degree was introduced.

SLIIT Business School
SLIIT Business School, which was formally known as the Faculty of Business was established in 2011, offering BBA degree programs. The BBA Honours Degree, offered by SLIIT, is structured to facilitate students in assimilating theoretical constructs and effectively applying them to pragmatic contexts.

SLIIT business degrees are accredited by the University Grants Commission as per the stipulations of the Universities Act. Additionally, SLIIT holds memberships in the Association of Commonwealth Universities and International Association of Universities. The institute is also affiliated with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. In recognition of potential constraints that may arise for students, the program permits enrollees to temporarily discontinue their studies. However, re-entry into the program is contingent upon adherence to registration protocols and securing approval from SLIIT.

Students enrolled in the BBA Honours Degree program have the option to complete the entire four-year course under the auspices of SLIIT, as sanctioned by the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Higher Education in Sri Lanka. Alternatively, students have the option to pursue offshore programs from Liverpool John Moores University and Manchester Metropolitan University in Sri Lanka through SLIIT.

SLIIT business school has also established a collaborative alliance with the University of Queensland, which is among the top 50 universities globally. This collaboration offers students an unparalleled opportunity to undertake the initial academic year in Sri Lanka and subsequently transfer to the University of Queensland for the remaining duration of the program. Additionally, students have the flexibility to complete their degree at one of SLIIT's affiliated institutions in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, or Australia.

Faculty of Engineering
Established in 2013, the Faculty of Engineering offers BSc programs in Engineering degree programs. All engineering degrees conferred by SLIIT have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Higher Education of Sri Lanka under the purview of the Universities Act. Additionally, SLIIT Quantity Surveying program is offered through a partnership with the Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom. The engineering curricula at the undergraduate level are developed in compliance with the Washington Accord Accreditation criteria via the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, and are in the process of acquiring recognition by IESL. The Quantity Surveying program is also in the pursuit of accreditation from the Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Sri Lanka, and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for domestic instruction at SLIIT.

The Faculty of Engineering at SLIIT has also collaborated with the University of Queensland. This partnership avails students of the opportunity to undertake the initial two years of their studies in Sri Lanka and culminate their degree at the University of Queensland.

The Faculty of Engineering has introduced Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy programs in engineering, which have received approval from the Ministry of Higher Education, Sri Lanka. These programs offer students the possibility to compete for full or partial scholarships, which include stipends.

Faculty of Humanities and Sciences
The Faculty of Science and Education was established in 2017, with the introduction of a degree programs in Biotechnology, natural sciences, law, education, psychology and nursing. The Faculty of Humanities & Sciences is an academic division. To facilitate the academic programs, significant investments have been made in developing the needed infrastructure. This includes laboratories, classrooms, moot courts for legal training, and access to electronic repositories as well as a collection of reference books.

The Faculty is an ever-growing body of over 45 full-time members. Among these, 12 hold PhD degrees and 5 hold the rank of Professor.

Faculty of Graduate Studies
The Faculty of Graduate Studies is a graduate school that conducts taught and research postgraduate degree programs in the fields of engineering and computing.

William Angliss Institute @ SLIIT
The William Angliss Institute was started as Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management 2012 as a joint venture with SLIIT and William Angliss Institute of TAFE, offering degrees in tourism and hospitality management.

School of Architecture
The School of Architecture was established in 2015 offering BSc and MSc degree programs in architecture. Currently, the SLIIT School of Architecture offers two primary degree programs: the Bachelor of Science with Honors in Architecture, and the Master of Science (MSc) in Architecture. These programs are delivered in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, located in the United Kingdom.

SLIIT Academy
SLIIT Academy was established to provide educational opportunities to a wider range of students who wish to progress their higher education with an industrial oriented learning experience. SLIIT Academy offers Foundation Programs & Degrees in IT, Business, Engineering & Health and Life Sciences and Post-Graduate Program in MSc in PM.

Affiliations
Partnerships with foreign universities allow students to finish their degree in Sri Lanka.

Research
SLIIT holds various research symposiums annually. SLIIT Business School, has recently initiated the International Conference on Sustainable & Digital Business (ICSDB) in 2022. ICSDB is expected to make significant strides and innovations in the realm of international academic conferences.

SLIIT conducts IT and computer-related research and is a partner of ConceptNursery, Sri Lanka's technology incubator.

Professional courses
SLIIT conducts the Cisco Network Academy courses (CCNA, CCNP and CCSP) under the regional Cisco Network Academy in Sri Lanka. SLIIT is also one of the Microsoft Academies in Sri Lanka offering Certification Courses.

Ownership
The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) was established as a government owned but privately managed institute and was built on a property that belonged to the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund. In 2015 SLIIT Board of Directors had transferred the assets of SLIIT to a company limited by guarantee, which was set up to manage SLIIT. The government auditor department said such a transfer was in contravention of the law and resulted in Mahapola not getting the correct amount of funds from SLIIT. In September 2018, Dr. Rajapakshe submitted a Cabinet paper, attempting to establish SLIIT as a fee-levying institution under the Government, but this has so far been unsuccessful.

In 2021, SLIIT has been asked to appear before the Committee On Public Enterprises (Sri Lanka) for the investigations but SLIIT refused to appear before the Committee citing it was not state-owned and COPE expressed its displeasure. In 2020, the Sri Lankan parliament appointed a committee to investigate the misuse of public funds by the SLIIT; this committee included 22 members of the Sri Lankan parliament, and its final report was released in April 2021. According to this report, the top management of the SLIIT has taken a series of informal steps to vest state resources in private ownership. Hence, this committee recommends that legal action be taken under the Public Property Act against parties who alienated state ownership and management of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology without proper authority.

Sport
The Malabe campus has a range of sporting facilities including cricket, rugby, basketball, netball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, badminton, chess and carrom. SLIIT sporting teams compete in a range of local and national competitions.