View source for Organization:Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

{{Short description|University in Sri Lanka}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
 | native_name            = ශ්‍රී ලංකා තොරතුරු තා‌ක්ෂණ ආයතනය<br />இலங்கை தகவல் தொழில்நுட்ப நிறுவனம்
 | image                  = SLIIT Logo Crest.png
 | image_size             = 150px
 | established            = {{start date and age|1999}}
 | motto                  = Discover Your Future
 | top_free_label         = Slogan
 | top_free               = The Knowledge University
 | founder                = Kingsley Wickramaratne, Richard Pathirana
 | type                   = Private
 | owner                  = 
 | administrative_staff   = 200
 | faculty                = 400
 | provost                = 
 | principal              = 
 | rector                 = 
 | chancellor             = Lakshaman L Rathnayake
 | vice_chancellor        = Lalith Gamage
 | dean                   = 
 | head_label             = President/Vice Chancellor
 | head                   = 
 | students               = 19,000<ref name= "Daily Mirror">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/features/Building-higher-education-as-an-industry-A-rejoinder-to-Dhammika-Perera/185-231001|title=Building higher education as an industry: A rejoinder to Dhammika Perera - Features &#124; Daily Mirror|website=www.dailymirror.lk|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 16,000<ref name= "Daily Mirror" />
 | postgrad               = 3,000<ref name= "Daily Mirror" />
 | doctoral               = 
 | other_name             = SLIIT University
 | city                   = Malabe (Main Campus)<br /> [[Place:Colombo|Colombo]] (Metropolitan Campus)
 | country                = Sri Lanka
 | campus                 = Multiple Sites
 | campus_size            = 
 | colors                 = {{color box|navy}}{{color box|#FFFFFF}}{{color box|#e95708}}
 | athletics_affiliations = 
 | free_label             = Campus size
 | free                   = Malabe, {{cvt|25|acre|order=flip}}
Metro, 8 Floors
 | website                = {{URL|www.sliit.lk}}
 | accreditation          = [[Organization:University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)|UGC]],<ref name="UGC1">{{cite web |title=Other Recognized Degrees |url=https://www.ugc.ac.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=37&lang=en |website=ugc.ac.lk |publisher=UGC |access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref> [[Organization:Institution of Engineering and Technology|IET]]
 | academic_affiliations  = {{ubl|
|Association of Commonwealth Universities
|International Association of Universities
|Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
|RIBA
|Institution of Engineers Australia
|[[Organization:Institution of Engineering and Technology|Institution of Engineering and Technology]]}}
 | logo                   = New Logo of SLIIT.png
}}

'''Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology''' ({{lang-si|ශ්‍රී ලංකා තොරතුරු තා‌ක්ෂණ ආයතනය}}; {{lang-ta|இலங்கை தகவல் தொழில்நுட்ப நிறுவனம்}}; also known as '''SLIIT''') is a private university located in Malabe and [[Place:Colombo|Colombo]], Sri Lanka. It specialises in various fields like technology and management.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Extraordinary)|url=http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2017/7/2026-35_E.pdf|website=Department of Government Printing|publisher=documents.gov.lk |access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ugc.ac.lk/en/policy/universities-act/29.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801013147/http://www.ugc.ac.lk/en/policy/universities-act/29.html|url-status=dead|title=Universities Act of Sri Lanka|archive-date=1 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=gazette /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Silva|first1=Anusha|title=SLIIT to launch UGC approved Engineering degrees|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130120/education/sliit-to-launch-ugc-approved-engineering-degrees-29075.html |publisher=The Sunday Times|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>

SLIIT has three campuses. The main campus being based in Malabe, Metropolitan Campus in [[Place:Colombo|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 [[Organization:Liverpool John Moores University|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 [[Organization:University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-28 |title=SLIIT makes History with 2023 QS Asia University Ranking – Sunday Observer |url=https://www.sliit.lk/print-coverage/sliit-makes-history-with-2023-qs-asia-university-ranking-sunday-observer/ |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=SLIIT |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==
===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 [[Organization:University of Moratuwa|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.lk/columns/Unfair-attempts-to-acquire-SLIIT-by-some-politicians/4-725975|title=Unfair attempts to acquire SLIIT by some politicians &#124; Daily FT|website=www.ft.lk|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Trade Minister urged to initiate process of taking over SLIIT |date=25 October 2021 |url=https://island.lk/trade-minister-urged-to-initiate-process-of-taking-over-sliit/}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alphabetic Search |url=http://www.drc.gov.lk/App/comreg.nsf/pageS?OpenPage&Start=17500 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009150649/http://www.drc.gov.lk/App/comreg.nsf/pageS?OpenPage&Start=17500 |archive-date=9 October 2016 |access-date=7 October 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2012/11/1785-22_E.pdf The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka] gov.lk</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=COPE Special Report reveals subtle yahapalana move to remove Mahapola Trust Fund from ownership of SLIT |date=9 April 2021 |url=https://island.lk/cope-special-report-reveals-subtle-yahapalana-move-to-remove-mahapola-trust-fund-from-ownership-of-slit/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Govt. MP moves SC to cancel SLIIT deal, action against ex-Minister et al |date=30 October 2021 |url=https://island.lk/govt-mp-moves-sc-to-cancel-sliit-deal-action-against-ex-minister-et-al/}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Debate on COPE reports mooted |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/08/07/local/256018/debate-cope-reports-mooted}}</ref>

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|electronic engineering]] and business management in collaboration with [[Organization:Sheffield Hallam University|Sheffield Hallam University]].<ref>[http://www.itpro.lk/node/1109 SLIIT offers UK recognised BBA Degrees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125215421/http://itpro.lk/node/1109 |date=25 November 2010 }}, ITpro.lk</ref> SLIIT also expanded its presence from [[Place:Colombo|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 [[Social:Bachelor of Business Administration|Bachelor of Business Administration]] degrees in Human Capital Management, [[Finance:Accounting|Accounting]] and [[Finance:Finance|Finance]], [[Social:Marketing management|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),<ref name="arc">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cahm.lk/|title=William Angliss Institute @ SLIIT|website=William Angliss Institute @ SLIIT|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Globally recognized Hospitality Management degree now offered for the first time in Sri Lanka at SLIIT |date=29 November 2017 |url=http://www.sliit.lk/news/globally-recognised-hospitality-management-degree-now-offered-for-the-first-time-in-sri-lanka-at-sliit/}}</ref><ref name=history>{{cite web|title=History of SLIIT|url=http://www.sliit.lk/history-sliit/|access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502081130/http://www.sliit.lk/history-sliit/|archive-date=2 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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 [[Organization:Sheffield Hallam University|Sheffield Hallam University]].<ref name=gazette>{{cite journal|title=THE UNIVERSITIES ACT, No. 16 OF 1978|journal=The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka|date=21 November 2012|issue=1785/22|url=http://documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2012/PDF/Nov/1785_22/1785_22%20(E).pdf|access-date=2 June 2015}} {{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 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.<ref name="phd">{{cite news|last1=Indrajeewa|first1=Ajith|title=SLIIT as PhD and MPhil Awarding Institute|url=http://observereducation.lk/2016/11/15/sliit-as-phd-and-mphil-awarding-institute/|access-date=4 July 2017|work=Observer Education}}</ref>

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==
[[File:SLIIT MLB 2.jpg|thumb|250px|The Malabe Campus]]
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 ===
[[File:SLIIT-Kandy-UNI.jpg|thumb|236x236px|SLIIT Kandy UNI]]
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.<ref name="guide">{{cite book |url=http://www.sliit.lk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/StudentGuide2014_2015.pdf |title=2014/2015 Student Guide |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202112919/http://www.sliit.lk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/StudentGuide2014_2015.pdf |archive-date=2 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="dailynewsrank" />

=== 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

==Faculties and Schools==
===Faculty of Computing===
[[File:SLIIT Faculty of Computing Building.jpg|thumb|250px|Faculty of Computing]]
The origins of the Faculty of Computing goes back to the formation of SLIIT in 1999, when it introduced degrees in [[Engineering:Information technology|Information technology]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Faculty of Computing | url=https://www.sliit.lk/computing/}}</ref> SLIIT offers a 4-year Honours degree in [[Engineering:Information technology|Information technology]]. Students can choose to specialise on 7 different fields. They are Information Technology, Computer Systems and Network Engineering, [[Software engineering|Software Engineering]], [[Engineering:Systems engineering|Information Systems Engineering]], [[Computer security|Cyber Security]], [[Interactive media|Interactive Media]] and [[Data science|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 [[Organization:University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)|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 [[Social:Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]] degree programs.<ref>{{cite web | title=Business School | url=https://www.sliit.lk/business/}}</ref> 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 [[Organization:University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)|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 [[Organization:Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business|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 [[Organization:University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)|University Grants Commission]] and the Ministry of Higher Education in Sri Lanka. Alternatively, students have the option to pursue offshore programs from [[Organization:Liverpool John Moores University|Liverpool John Moores University]] and [[Organization:Manchester Metropolitan University|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 {{wipe|United Kingdom}}, the {{wipe|United States}}, {{wipe|Canada}}, or {{wipe|Australia}}.

===Faculty of Engineering===
Established in 2013, the Faculty of Engineering offers  BSc programs in Engineering degree programs.<ref>{{cite web | title=Faculty of Engineering | url=https://www.sliit.lk/engineering/}}</ref>  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 [[Organization:Liverpool John Moores University|Liverpool John Moores University]] in the {{wipe|United Kingdom}}.
[[File:SLIIT Engineering Department Building.jpg|thumb|250px|Faculty of Engineering]]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===
[[File:SLIIT FOHS.jpg|thumb|Faculty of Humanities & 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 [[Medicine:Nursing|nursing]].<ref>{{cite web | title=humanities and sciences| url=https://www.sliit.lk/humanities-sciences/
|access-date=23 November 2020}}</ref> 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.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

===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.<ref name="phd"/>

=== William Angliss Institute @ SLIIT ===
The William Angliss Institute was started as Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management<ref>{{Cite web |title=William Angliss Institute @ SLIIT |url=https://www.cahm.lk/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=William Angliss Institute @ SLIIT |language=en}}</ref> 2012 as a joint venture with SLIIT and William Angliss Institute of TAFE, offering degrees in tourism and hospitality management.<ref name="arc"/>

===School of Architecture===
The School of Architecture was established in 2015 offering BSc and MSc degree programs in architecture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sliit.lk/architecture/|title=Architecture|website=SLIIT|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref> 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 [[Organization:Liverpool John Moores University|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.<ref>{{cite web | title=sliit | url=https://www.sliit.lk/about/campuses-centers/sliit-academy/e17.html|access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref>

== Academics ==
===Affiliations===
Partnerships with foreign universities allow students to finish their degree in Sri Lanka.<ref name="businesstoday">{{cite news|title=La Trobe University, Australia Offers New Programmes For Business As Well As IT/IS Students|url=http://www.businesstoday.lk/article.php?article=10374|access-date=1 March 2018|agency=Business Today|publisher=businesstoday.lk|date=October 2015}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
! Country
! University/Institution
! Country
! University/Institution
|-
| rowspan="4" | {{flagicon|Australia}} Australia
| Curtin University<ref>{{cite web|title=Media Releases|url=http://announce.curtin.edu.au/release2001/c5901.htm|website=announce.curtin.edu.au|publisher=Curtin University of Technology|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829203047/http://announce.curtin.edu.au/release2001/c5901.htm|archive-date=29 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="auspartners">{{cite web|title=Australian Universities|url=http://www.sliit.lk/partner_universities/australia-universities/|website=sliit.lk|publisher=Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121103626/http://www.sliit.lk/partner_universities/australia-universities/|archive-date=21 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rowspan="4" | {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom
| rowspan="4" | [[Organization:Liverpool John Moores University|Liverpool John Moores University]]<ref name="ukpartners">{{cite web |title=British Universities |url=http://www.sliit.lk/partner_universities/england-universities/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422070506/http://www.sliit.lk/partner_universities/england-universities/ |archive-date=22 April 2014 |access-date=1 March 2018 |website=sliit.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SLIIT in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University|url=http://dailynews.lk/2017/12/11/business/136869/sliit-partnership-liverpool-john-moores-university|access-date=1 March 2018|agency=Daily News|publisher=dailynews.lk|date=11 December 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Deakin University<ref name="auspartners"/><ref>{{cite news|title=SLIIT strengthens ties with Deakin University|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/091227/Education/edu04.html|access-date=1 March 2018|agency=The Sunday Times|publisher=sundaytimes.lk|date=27 December 2009}}</ref>
|-
| Queensland University of Technology<ref name="auspartners" /><ref name="transfer">{{cite news |date=24 October 2013 |title=Transfer options to prestigious foreign universities through SLIIT |publisher=ft.lk |agency=Daily Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.lk/article/204758/Transfer-options-to-prestigious-foreign-universities-through-SLIIT |access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref>
|-
| William Angliss Institute<ref name="auspartners" />
|}

===Research===
SLIIT  holds various research symposiums annually.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sliit.lk/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070130195137/http://www.sliit.lk/Research%20Symposium%202006/Index.html|url-status=dead|title=SLIIT|archive-date=30 January 2007|website=SLIIT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/110123/Education/ed14.html|title=SLIIT Research Symposium to focus on making Sri Lanka the future hub of knowledge|website=www.sundaytimes.lk|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SLT-MOBITEL sponsors 7th CIPM International Research Symposium 2023, reinforcing commitment to HRM best practices |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230611/education/slt-mobitel-sponsors-7th-cipm-international-research-symposium-2023-reinforcing-commitment-to-hrm-best-practices-522199.html |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://colombo.usembassy.gov/22march07.html|title=Keynote Address to the hSenid 10th Anniversary Celebration, 22 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815104651/http://colombo.usembassy.gov/22march07.html|date=22 March 2007|archive-date=15 August 2007|publisher=Embassy of the United States}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://srilankamirror.com/news/16533-probe-underway-to-identify-fraudulent-slit-scam-directors-in-trouble |title = Probe underway to identify SLIIT scam: Directors in trouble}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/05/01/assets-of-mahapola-owned-sliit-worth-billions-swindled/ |title = Assets of Mahapola owned SLIIT worth billions swindled| date=May 2019 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://menafn.com/1101422318/Sri-Lanka-COPE-expresses-displeasure-after-SLIIT-rejects-summons | title=Sri Lanka- COPE expresses displeasure after SLIIT rejects summons }}</ref><ref name="dailynews.lk">{{cite web |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2018/09/01/local/161349/sliit-will-be-taken-back-minister |title = SLIIT WILL BE TAKEN BACK - MINISTER {{!}} Daily News}}</ref><ref name="newsfirst.lk">{{cite web | url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/04/10/wijeyadasa-rajapakshe-to-make-statement-on-misuse-of-suraksha-and-mahapola-funds-at-pcoi/ | title=Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to make statement on misuse of Suraksha and Mahapola funds at PCoI | date=10 April 2019 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/comreports/1617702223080560.pdf |title=Second Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises Special Report Presented by the Committee on Public Enterprises on The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) Invested and Established by the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund |date=2021-07-30}}</ref>

==Rankings==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-style="text-align:center;"
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Publications'''
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Category'''
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''2016'''
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''2017'''
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''2018'''
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''2020'''
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''2021'''
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''2022'''
| style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''2023'''
|-
| QS||Asian Universities<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/sri-lanka-institute-information-technology-sliit |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref>||-||-||-
| -
| -
| -
|701-750<ref name=":1" />
|-
|rowspan="2"| Webometrics Ranking of World Universities||Sri Lankan Universities<ref name=ranking>{{Cite web|url=https://www.webometrics.info/en/Asia/Sri+Lanka+|title=Sri Lanka &#124; Ranking Web of Universities: Webometrics ranks 30000 institutions|website=www.webometrics.info|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=slrank>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lankauniversity-news.com/2013/08/sri-lanka-university-ranking-2013-2014.html|title=Sri Lankan Universities Ranking 2017/2018 Released|publisher=Lanka University|access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref>||14<ref name="rankings2016">{{cite web|title=Sri Lanka Private University Ranking 2016/2017 Official|url=http://www.lankauniversity-news.com/2016/12/sri-lanka-private-university-ranking.html|website=Lanka University News|access-date=19 January 2017}}</ref>||14<ref name="rankings2017">{{cite web|title=Sri Lanka|url=http://www.webometrics.info/en/Asia/Sri%20Lanka|publisher=Ranking Web of Universities|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731002212/http://www.webometrics.info/en/Asia/Sri%20Lanka|archive-date=31 July 2017}}</ref>||12<ref name="rankings2018">{{cite web|title=Sri Lanka|url=http://www.webometrics.info/en/Asia/Sri%20Lanka%20|website=www.webometrics.info|publisher=Ranking Web of Universities|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref>||12<ref name="rankings2020">{{cite web |title=Sri Lanka |url=http://www.webometrics.info/en/Asia/Sri%20Lanka%20 |website=www.webometrics.info/ |publisher=webometrics |access-date=14 May 2020}}</ref>
|16<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=Best Universities in Sri Lanka 2021-2022 Webometrics, QS & THE World Ranking |url=https://studentlanka.com/2021/09/21/best-universities-in-sri-lanka-2021-2022-webometrics-qs-the-world-ranking/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Student Sri Lanka Education |language=en-US}}</ref>
|8<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-19 |title=Top Universities in Sri Lanka 2022-2023 |url=https://studentlanka.com/2022/09/19/top-universities-in-sri-lanka-2022-2023/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Student Sri Lanka Education |language=en-US}}</ref>
|13<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka {{!}} Ranking Web of Universities: Webometrics ranks 30000 institutions |url=https://www.webometrics.info/en/Asia/Sri%20Lanka |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=www.webometrics.info}}</ref>
|-
|Higher Education Institutes in Sri Lanka<ref name=dailynewsrank>{{cite news|title=Webometrics ranking of World Universities, picks SLIIT number one|url=http://epaper.dailynews.lk/art.asp?id=2015/04/06/pg34_0&pt=p&h=|access-date=15 June 2015|work=Daily News|date=6 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=dailyftrank>{{cite web|title=SLIIT ranked SL's highest private educational institution in Webometrics 2015 Rankings|url=http://www.ft.lk/article/403685/SLIIT-ranked-SL%E2%80%99s-highest-private-educational-institution-in-Webometrics-2015-Rankings|website=Daily FT|access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref>||1<ref name="rankings2016"/>||2<ref name="rankings2017"/>||2<ref name="rankings2018"/>||1<ref name="rankings2020"/>
|1<ref name=":2" />
|1<ref name=":3" />
|1<ref name=":4" />
|}
<!--Do not add rankings without providing a reliable source. Rankings must be explicitly mentioned in the source or it will be removed-->

==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.<ref name=guide/>

==See also==
*Information Technology in Sri Lanka

==Further reading==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150801013147/http://www.ugc.ac.lk/en/policy/universities-act/29.html Section 25A of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 of Sri Lanka]
* [http://documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2012/PDF/Nov/1785_22/1785_22%20(E).pdf 21 November 2012 - Extra Ordinary Gazette 1785/22] {{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Coord|6|54|52|N|79|58|20|E|type:city |display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Information technology research institutes]]
[[Category:Universities in Sri Lanka]]

{{Sourceattribution|Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology}}