The emblem of the University takes the form of a circle with three concentric circles placed close together on the periphery, all on a background of yellow. In the centre of this circle is a smaller concentric circle enclosing a full blown lotus, nelumbo nucifera, in abstract form, and consisting of two tiers of petals one underneath the other. In the center of the circle stylized stamens enclosed in two concentric circles surround the receptacle. Between the outer set of concentric circles and the central lotus is a wide circular band carrying the motto of the university on the upper half of the band, while the name of the university appears in the lower half, both written in Sinhala characters.
The Motto, taken from an ancient Buddhist text, reads:
‘vijja upp thathan settha’
(‘among all that rise knowledge is the greatest’)
Prosper lives through Education
Develop globally competent citizens through our education for a sustainable future, drawing inspirations from our cultural heritage and wisdom
The University is committed to the pursuit and transmission of knowledge through teaching, scholarship and research and active service to the community in an environment which values creativity, freedom of intellectual thought and expression, equal opportunity, fairness and professional growth. The University’s endeavour is to contribute to national development by providing a balanced education which blends the finest in theory and practice and by forging interactions between the University and the wider polity.