The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government has allocated Rs. 1,500 million under the 2026 Budget to launch a project to construct 55 new hostels across the state universities and a further Rs. 853 million to renovate and upgrade existing hostels, while addressing the Parliament on 08 October.
Pointing out that only 63,318 of the 150,815 students enrolled across the state university system currently have access to hostel facilities, accounting for approximately 42% of the total student population, the Prime Minister outlined the Government’s plans to address the existing shortage of university accommodation.
In addition to the 17 universities operating under the University Grants Commission (UGC), Sri Lanka has five other state universities functioning under different institutions. Providing details on the availability of hostel facilities at these universities, the Prime Minister stated that all 465 students enrolled at the Sri Lanka Bhikkhu University have been provided with residential facilities.
At the University of Sri Lanka Pali and Buddhist, 442 of the total 551 students, comprising 475 local students and 76 foreign students, have access to hostel facilities. Accordingly, accommodation is available to 80% of local students and 100% of foreign students.
However, at the Ocean University of Sri Lanka, only 196 of the 1,516 students enrolled have access to residential facilities, accounting 12.92% of the student population. Similarly, at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, hostel facilities are available to only 406 of the 8,218 students, accounting for 4.94%.
At the University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), only 332 of the 4,348 students have access to hostel facilities, accounting 7.6% of the student population. The Prime Minister also pointed out that these facilities are currently limited to female students, with no hostel accommodation available for male students.
The Prime Minister further stated that, as there had been no formal policy governing university student accommodation, the University Grants Commission is currently developing a new hostel policy to ensure transparency, safety, fairness and inclusivity.
In addition, steps are being taken to introduce regulatory guidelines to ensure the quality of facilities and the safety of students residing in private hostels.
Outlining further development plans, the Prime Minister stated that a Cabinet Memorandum seeking approval to relocate the Ocean University of Sri Lanka to a new premises, with the capacity to accommodate 1,600 students, has been submitted for approval. Further, plans are underway to construct a multi-storey complex on an 80-perch plot of land for the University of Vocational Technology. The proposed complex will include hostel facilities for 600 male students, modern lecture halls and a cafeteria with seating for 300 people. The Prime Minister stated that Cabinet approval has also been sought to implement the project using domestic funding during the 2027–2029 period.
Prime Minister’s Media Division