Department of Mathematics

Welcome to the Department of Mathematics at University of Colombo. Here you will find information on the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs, course offerings, faculty research interests, facilities and departmental events.

The Department of Mathematics has been an integral part of the Sri Lankan University system since its inception in 1921 and is one of the most prestigious and well-recognized mathematics departments of the present-day university system. Until 1967 when the University of Colombo was formed, the Department of Mathematics served both the Science and the Arts Faculties. Mathematics Honours Classes were held from as early as 1922. The department has been housed in the central building of the University, the old Royal College building, since the acquisition of it in 1923.

The department conducts five undergraduate programs that lead to the BSc Honours degrees (BSc in Mathematics, BSc in Applied Mathematics, BSc in Computational Mathematics, BSc in Mathematical Finance, BSc in Finance and Insurance), two postgraduate programs that lead to the MSc degrees (MSc in Financial Mathematics, MSc in Mathematics Education) and one external program that lead to the BSc in Financial Engineering. Further, the Department of Mathematics enrolls students to pursue MPhil and PhD degrees under the supervision of senior academics of the department.

BSc Honours in Mathematics 

The program that leads to the BSc Honours Degree with Academic Orientation (Mathematics) intends to provide a deep and broad understanding of mathematics itself and targets students with strong theoretical interests. It provides a solid preparation for further studies and research in pure and applied mathematics.

BSc Honours in Applied Mathematics

The program that leads to the BSc Honours Degree with Academic Orientation (Applied Mathematics) is designed to provide an adequate foundation for advanced academic and professional activities in applied mathematics.

BSc Honours in Computational Mathematics

Particularly designed to cater to the growing demands in the industry, the program that leads to the BSc Honours Degree with Academic Orientation (Computational Mathematics) lays a solid foundation for providing mathematical and computational solutions to real problems

BSc Honours in Mathematical Finance

The program that leads to the BSc Honours Degree with Academic Orientation (Mathematical Finance) is designed to provide theoretical, practical and professional knowledge in the field of finance and actuarial sciences.

BSc Honours in Finance and Insurance

Program is designed to provide insight into insurance, banking, finance and fundamentals of management in aspects of both theory and practice. The degree in Finance and Insurance will enable students to pursue a wide range of careers in the financial services industry and to gain professional qualifications.

The department have wide research interests, including

• Mathematical Modelling in various fields
• Dynamical Systems
• Graph Theory
• Quantum Algorithm
• Group Theory
• Associative Algebra and Category Theory

The Centre which is affiliated to the department, conducts research on various branches in both theoretical and applied mathematics, and mainly focuses on developing models related to real-world problems of vital importance. Accordingly, the scope of the Centre varies from epidemic modelling and forecasting to discrete modelling and optimization models. The Centre consists of department members, associates and collaborators, who are diligently involved in research activities. Centre facilitates collaboration between academics, industry and community, both foreign and local, through research, industrial & community projects and workshops/conferences.