Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya announced a comprehensive hostel construction and renovation programme aimed at housing 16,000 university students, alongside new national guidelines for both state and private student accommodation.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya outlined a multi-year initiative to expand university student housing during parliamentary proceedings this week. The programme allocates approximately Rs. 2.1 billion across 2025 and 2026, combining domestic funding with foreign loan financing to construct 55 new hostels and renovate existing facilities.
Domestic allocations total Rs. 2.3 billion, with the University Grants Commission investing Rs. 376 million in 2025 and Rs. 453 million in 2026 for renovations, while the Ministry of Education allocated Rs. 400 million for renovations and Rs. 1.5 billion for new construction in 2026. Additional foreign-financed allocations include Rs. 321 million under the Wayamba Urban Development Project (funded through Saudi Development Loan) and Rs. 331 million for a hostel at Sabaragamuwa University's Faculty of Medicine. The government stated that these projects proceed without additional borrowing.
Universities in non-urban areas have been prioritised, with initial projects launched at the University of Vavuniya. Focus has been directed toward institutions experiencing acute shortages, including the University of Jaffna–Kilinochchi Campus, South Eastern University, Uva Wellassa University, and Sabaragamuwa University. According to the Prime Minister, the 55 planned hostels are expected to benefit approximately 16,000 students when completed.
Concurrently, the University Grants Commission is developing a national accommodation policy intended to standardise both state-operated and private student housing. The policy will establish minimum requirements for sanitation, safety, accessibility, affordability, and student welfare, with particular emphasis on students with disabilities. It will also create oversight mechanisms including a supervisory committee, regular inspections, and enforcement provisions for non-compliant facilities. The Prime Minister noted that the policy recognises students unable to secure university hostel places may access registered private accommodation. NewsWire reported that discussions regarding public-private partnerships for additional hostel construction using government-provided land are also underway.