The Government has allocated Rs. 1,500 million under the 2026 Budget to construct 55 new hostels at state universities and a further Rs. 853 million to renovate and upgrade existing facilities, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament yesterday (08).
The Prime Minister noted that only 63,318 of the 150,815 students enrolled in the state university system currently have access to hostel facilities, representing approximately 42% of the total student population.
She said the Government was taking steps to address the shortage of university accommodation through new construction projects and improvements to existing facilities.
Of the five state universities operating outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) system, all 465 students at the Sri Lanka Bhikkhu University have residential facilities. At the University of Sri Lanka Pali and Buddhist, accommodation is available to 442 of the 551 students, including all foreign students and 80% of local students.
However, hostel access remains limited at several other institutions. At the Ocean University of Sri Lanka, 196 of its 1,516 students have accommodation, while at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, 406 of 8,218 students have access to hostel facilities. At the University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), 332 of 4,348 students have accommodation, currently limited to female students.
The Prime Minister further stated that the University Grants Commission was developing a formal hostel policy to ensure transparency, safety, fairness and inclusivity. Regulatory guidelines are also being prepared to improve the quality and safety of private hostels.
Meanwhile, Cabinet approval has been sought to relocate the Ocean University of Sri Lanka to new premises with capacity for 1,600 students. Plans are also underway to construct a multi-storey complex for UNIVOTEC, including hostel facilities for 600 male students, modern lecture halls and a cafeteria with seating for 300 people. The project is proposed to be implemented using domestic funding during 2027–2029.
