Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

What Rajarata University of Sri Lanka does

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (RUSL) is a public higher education institution established on January 31, 1996, as the eleventh university in Sri Lanka, headquartered in Mihintale approximately 14 kilometres east of Anuradhapura. The university delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, external degree, diploma, and certificate programs across six faculties: Agriculture, Applied Sciences, Management Studies, Medicine & Allied Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, and Technology. It reports more than 10,000 staff and students and operates across three sites in the Mihintale area, including a Puliyankulama campus for the Faculty of Agriculture.

The university's core delivery infrastructure consists of conventional higher-education assets — e-learning platforms, a digital library (Digital Library Wall, launched 2023), research laboratories, and specialized facilities such as the Japanese Language Laboratory (funded by a 12 million LKR Government of Japan grant). RUSL is recognized for research output: it was ranked Sri Lanka's best university for research in 2022, second-best overall research performance on Scimago in 2023, and first in research percentile on Scimago in 2024, with multiple faculty members appearing in the Stanford/Elsevier World's Top 2% Scientists list.

RUSL's revenue model is dominated by government block funding channeled through the University Grants Commission, supplemented by self-funded external degree tuition (BBA General, BSc in Biological/Physical Sciences), short-course and diploma fees (IT, English, Environmental Management, Agripreneurship, CTHE), and licensing of research outputs through the University Business Linkage Cell (Omega-3 foods with Lakmee Exports, Ayurvedic products with L.B. Kangara Aushadhalaya, Trichoderma formulations with Ceylon Agro Food Technologies). It conducts recruitment primarily through Sri Lanka's centralized national university admission system for undergraduates and direct application channels for postgraduate, external, and continuing education students, with no publicly disclosed tuition pricing.

Name

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Legal name

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Website

https://rjt.ac.lk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka is a public university in Mihintale, established 1996 as Sri Lanka's eleventh university, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and external degree programs across six faculties and serving the North Central Province with government-funded higher education and applied research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Branch/Partner Community Colleges (EDAHADAO), Consortia & Network Exchange Programs (EDAIABAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• University degree programs
• Academic research services
• Postgraduate education
• Professional certificate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mihintale

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Public university funded primarily through Sri Lankan government allocations via the University Grants Commission
2. Tuition - External Degree Programs: Self-funded external degree programs including Bachelor of Business Administration (General), BSc in Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences for working professionals
3. Short Courses and Certifications: Diploma and certificate courses in IT, English, Environmental Management, Teaching in Higher Education, Agripreneurship, and other professional development programs
4. Research Commercialization: Licensing of university research outcomes to commercial partners through University Business Linkage Cell, including Omega 3 foods, Ayurvedic products, agricultural innovations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka is a public higher education institution that delivers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, external degree programs for working professionals, diploma and certificate courses, and short-term professional development programs across six faculties. The university also conducts applied research and commercializes research outcomes through its University Business Linkage Cell, licensing innovations such as Omega-3 foods, Ayurvedic products, and agricultural technologies to industry partners.

Product overview

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka is a public higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs across six faculties: Agriculture, Applied Sciences, Management Studies, Medicine & Allied Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, and Technology. The university provides undergraduate external degrees (BBA, BSc in Biological and Physical Sciences), diploma and certificate programs in IT, postgraduate programs (MAgri, MPhil, PhD in Agriculture, MBA, PhD in Management), and professional development courses including Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. The university also conducts continuing education through its Center for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE) and various short courses. The institution is recognized for research commercialization through its University Business Linkage Cell, which has successfully commercialized multiple research outcomes including Omega-3 incorporated foods, Ayurvedic products, and agricultural innovations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Business Administration (General) Degree An external undergraduate degree program in business administration offered to working professionals who cannot attend regular on-campus classes, delivered through the Center for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE).
• Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences/Physical Sciences) Degree An external undergraduate degree program covering biological and physical sciences, delivered to working professionals through the Center for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE).
• Diploma in Information Technology A diploma program offered through the IT Center covering information technology skills and competencies.
• Certificate in Information Technology A certificate program offered through the IT Center providing foundational IT knowledge.
• Master of Agriculture (MAgri) A postgraduate degree program in agriculture offered by the Faculty of Agriculture.
• Master of Philosophy in Agriculture A research-oriented postgraduate degree program in agriculture.
• Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture The highest academic degree program (doctoral) in agriculture research.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Rural Development A postgraduate diploma program focused on rural development studies, available in multiple languages.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) A postgraduate MBA program in business administration, with the XXII Intake inaugurated in July 2023.
• Ph.D. in Management A doctoral program in management studies inaugurated in 2023.
• Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (CTHE) A professional development program for academic staff members, currently in its ninth batch.
• Short Course on Agripreneurship A short course aimed at developing agripreneurs, conducted by the Department of Agricultural System, Faculty of Agriculture.
• Diploma in Environmental Management A diploma program in environmental management, currently at Intake IV.
• Diploma in Business Economics A diploma program covering business economics.
• Diploma in Agripreneurship A diploma program focused on agripreneurship skills and knowledge.
• Diploma in English A diploma program in English language proficiency.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Education A postgraduate diploma program for educators, currently at Intake VIII.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked as Sri Lanka's best university for research in 2022
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tesla Consumers (Pvt) LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026MoU signed for partnership and collaboration as announced in May 2026.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 December 2023MoU for collaboration in accounting education and professional development.
• L.B. Kangara Aushadhalaya (Pvt) LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2023MoU for commercialization of Ayurvedic skin care soap developed jointly by Faculty of Management Studies and Faculty of Technology. Product rich in antioxidants with high total fatty matter content.
• National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 September 2023Brain into Business Program held September 15-17, 2023 for undergraduate students. NEDA awards selected business proposals with LKR 25,000. Jointly organized with Career Guidance Unit.
• University of JaffnaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Social Reconciliation Center engagement with Jaffna University including food festival and environment heritage program. Part of 50 Jaffna University students and 10 faculty visited.
• Ceylon Agro Food Technologies (Pvt.) LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2023MoU for research and commercialization of Trichoderma virens culture and solid based formulation from Faculty of Agriculture. Both parties to work towards further product development.
• Sri Lanka Institute of Local GovernanceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023MoU signed in February 2023 for collaboration in local governance education and research.
• Chartered Institute of Personnel ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2022MoU signed for collaboration in human resources and personnel management education and training.
• Ulankulama Dairies (Pvt.) LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2022MoU signed for commercialization of two research outcomes funded by World Bank research grants, carried out by scientists from Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Applied Sciences.
• Lakmee Exports Lanka (Pvt) LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2022MoU for commercializing Omega 3 research outcomes customized for the company. Four license agreements signed enabling development of Omega 3-added food items. University received upfront fee for technology exchange.
• Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022MoU signed to promote Capital Market education within the University, opening internship opportunities for undergraduates, and granting funds for student activities.
• Cankiri Karatekin University (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2022Higher Education Student and Staff Mobility agreement 2022-2028 between Rajarata University and Cankiri Karatekin University, Turkey. Meeting held April 2023 between Vice Chancellors to enhance cooperation.
• Gunawardhana Ayurveda Holdings (Pvt) LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2022MoU signed through University Business Linkage Cell with Department of Bioprocess Technology (Faculty of Technology) for developing commercializable research outcomes. Focus on industry research collaboration, sharing expertise, laboratory facilities, and exposure.
• Organic Federation of Ukraine / IFOAMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2022Dr. Eugene Milovanov, President/CEO of Organic Federation of Ukraine and IFOAM executive visited RUSL for exploratory visit seeking future collaborations in organic agriculture knowledge and resource sharing.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Colombo: Sri Lanka's largest public university by enrollment, also operating six-plus faculties and competing in the same UGC-funded, admission-system-based higher education market. Directly comparable on governance, funding model, and program breadth.
• University of Moratuwa: Premier technology and engineering-focused public university in Sri Lanka, with strong industry partnerships and applied research orientation. Comparable as a UGC-governed research-active institution with technology-led commercial output.
• Wayamba University of Sri Lanka: Smaller regional public Sri Lankan university with agriculture and applied sciences focus. Direct peer as a UGC-governed regional university serving similar undergraduate and external degree markets.
• University of Peradeniya: Sri Lanka's oldest and most prestigious public research university, with a similarly broad faculty structure and strong research output. Directly comparable as a multi-faculty state university under the same UGC governance and competing for the same Scimago ranking positions.
• University of Sri Jayewardenepura: Major Sri Lankan public university known for management studies and applied sciences. Directly comparable as a UGC-funded multi-faculty state university competing for the same national student pool.
• University of Jaffna: Public university in Sri Lanka's north with established faculties across sciences, humanities, and medicine. RUSL has an active social reconciliation partnership with Jaffna, and the two compete for UGC funding and ranking recognition.
• Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka: Another relatively newer regional Sri Lankan public university with a similar faculty composition including Agriculture and Applied Sciences. Comparable in scale, governance, and mission to expand regional higher education access.
• University of Kelaniya: Multi-faculty public university in Sri Lanka with strong humanities, science, and social sciences programs. Direct peer under the same UGC system, with similar admissions-based undergraduate model.

Regional players

• South Asian University: SAARC-sponsored regional university offering postgraduate programs across South Asia. Comparable as a multi-country, research-oriented higher education institution; RUSL competes with and complements SAU in the South Asian graduate education market.
• Patronage-linked Indian State Universities (e.g., University of Mysore): Comparable as a multi-faculty state university with strong research output and South Asian regional relevance. Provides a regional benchmark for RUSL's research commercialization and agricultural-science strengths.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RajarataUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faculty-of-agriculture-rajarata-university-of-sri-lanka

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rajarata University of Sri Lanka