University of Peradeniya is the oldest and largest residential public higher educational institution in Sri Lanka. The University comprises nine (9) faculties; Agriculture, Allied Health Sciences, Arts, Dental Sciences, Engineering, Management, Medicine, Science, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, offering internal bachelor’s degrees and four postgraduate institutes offering degrees leading to masters and doctoral degrees. In addition to offering internal bachelor’s degrees, the university offers external degrees as well. At present, the total internal and external undergraduate student enrolment for the university is 12,756 and 10,400 respectively. Further, 7,500 local and foreign postgraduate students are studied in the university.

The University of Peradeniya is been annually funded by Rs. 7,000 Million of government grants and around Rs. 2,000 Million external and internal research grants and other funds. In addition, the four (4) affiliated postgraduate institutes are being financially functioned by handling Rs. 500 Million each year.

Moreover, the total strength of the permanent staff of the university is 3,054 which include 840 academics, apart from the 900 temporary staff. Out of which, only 57 performs administerial and financial functions.

The prime objective of the University of Peradeniya is to be a centre of excellence in higher education with national, regional and global standing. The university strives to offer undergraduate and postgraduate education by conducting professional and curriculum-based teaching and learning and conducting high-quality research for national regional and global needs.