Wayamba University readies for Deyata Kirula exhibition

By Shirajiv Sirimane

It is a known fact that a University pass mark has been set for GCE Advanced level students. This is because the government-funded University Education system could cope up with a limited number of vacancies that are available.

The government has been trying to bridge this gap by introducing more universities and increasing facilities to lower the pass mark and allow more students to gain university entrance. The investment made by the government to the University Education system is now paying dividends today with the increased number of University intakes.

The 2014 Deyata Kirula exhibition which is being held in Kuliyapitiya while helping to add more infrastructure to the province has also helped universities to have more facilities.

Commencing as an Affiliated University College, thereafter as the Wayamba Campus of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and presently having the status of a national university, this Institution has successfully faced many challenges along the way and is now in a position to compete with reputed Universities in Sri Lanka.

Prof. S.J.B.A. Jayasekera, Vice-Chancellor of the University

"Thanks to hosting the Deyata Kirula exhibition the University is now well on its way to achieving its vision of becoming a centre of excellence in higher education in Sri Lanka," said Prof. S.J.B.A. Jayasekera, Vice-Chancellor of the University.

The eighth Deyata Kirula National Development Program commenced officially last June at Wayamba University under the patronage of Hambantota MP Namal Rajapaksa, after laying the foundation stone in the University premises. The chairman of Deyata Kirula Committee, Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake and Minister Anura Piyadarshana Yapa were also present at the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Massive construction works are being carried out in the Wayamba University for the Deyata Kirula exhibition, which includes the construction of an Auditorium, an Indoor Stadium, a Nano-Technology Laboratory, and the Student Centre. Few more permanent buildings are being constructed in the Technical College and Kuliyapitiya Central College for the exhibition. "The government planned to construct permanent buildings for the exhibition this time, which could be utilised by the three educational institutes after the exhibition."

Auditorium - side view

Gymnasium

Student centre

Prof. S.J.B.A. Jayasekera said that the air conditioned auditorium that is being constructed and ready for the exhibition would be the biggest in the region and it could accommodate over 1,000 guests. "This alone costs over Rs. 250 million and such a structure was beyond the dreams of our management and the students."

Nano technology is the future of the world and the government realising this has also invested Rs. 30 million to build a Nano-Technology Laboratory. "This saw an investment of Rs. 30 million".

A student centre and a hostel too is built and this would help increase the intake of the University by another 15%. "It would also help to have more than 100 more employment opportunities from the higher academic level to lower levels.

"Three of the other key developments are the two libraries, one each for Makandura and Kuliyapitiya and ICT centre that are shaping up. This is fulfilling a great void for the University."

The Campus also saw another major development with over 15 km being widened and re-laid with carpets.

"Even the existing buildings were repainted and this alone would be a saving of over Rs. 5 million."

One of the biggest problems faced in the University and in the area was lack of drinking water facilities and this problem has been resolved with the building of a water tank by the national water supply and drainage board.

Nano laboratory

Auditorium

This has cost over Rs. five million. "If the Deyata Kirula exhibition was not hosted in Kuliyapitiya this important infrastructure could not have been made possible for at least another 15 years," he said.

He said that the young blood on the University knows the value of hosting the exhibition here and have been more than supportive for the developments that are taking place at the university."

During the early construction there were a lot of workers in the Campus premises, dust, noise and heavy machinery and the students never protested as they were briefed about these developments.

They knew they had to do a small sacrifice for a better future not only for them but even for other students in the future."

Campus history

During the first few months of 1991, the University Grants Commission in collaboration with relevant universities examined the viability of Kuliyapitiya Technical College, to be established as an Affiliated University College in the North Western Province.

Subsequently, the idea was mooted to seek some premises within the Kurunegala municipal limits, as the space available at the Kuliyapitiya Technical College was deemed to be inadequate.

Future

Subsequently, seven acres of land that belonged to the Divisional Engineer's Office on the Vidyala Mawatha, including the buildings thereon, together with two other buildings that belonged to the Department of Buildings were earmarked to be taken over to establish the proposed Affiliated University of the North Western Province.

After the officers of the Divisional Engineering Office vacated the premises in 1991, the renovation of the existing buildings, effecting necessary changes to suit the University Courses of Study and the requirements of the University administration, were undertaken.

After the renovation of buildings, a University College, named as the Affiliated University College of the North Western Province [AUC-NWP] was ceremonially opened in 1991, together with the other Colleges of the Affiliated University College System of Sri Lanka. On completion of the Foundation Courses of studies for the students of the Agricultural Section, conducted at the Affiliated University Premises at Kuliyapitiya, they were transferred to the Makandura Centre on 1992.

"I am proud to state that the employability of our graduates is at a very high rate with some Faculties recording 100% success."

The infrastructure that was added due to the Deyata Kirula exhibition is well over Rs. 700 million and once again I want to say that this would never have been possible for the university if not for the assistance we got from Deyata Kirula. Now with the assistance of the Ministry of Higher education we are looking at building a swimming pool and also a synthetic track."

"In addition we are also looking at introducing new education courses," he said.