Colonial

The origin of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts can be traced back to 1893, the era in which the Ceylon Technical College was established. Drawing and Design were among the first courses to be taught there. Approximately five decades later, on 1 October 1949, the Department of Arts and Aesthetics shifted its locality from Horton Place to Heywood College.^[5] The restructuring of the university system in Sri Lanka affiliated the institute with the University of Kelaniya in 1980. A Special Gazette Notice formally announced the creation of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts on 1 July 2005. Sarath Amunugama was assigned as First Vice Chancellor.^[6][7]

The University of Visual and Performing Arts has a history spanning over 120 years. The origin of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts can be traced back to 1893, the era in which the Ceylon Technical College was established. Among the first courses to be taught at the college were Drawing and Painting. On 1 October 1949, the Department of Drawing and Painting moved from the Technical College at Maradana to the ‘Heywood’ building at Horton place and was subsequently renamed as the ‘School of Art’. A diploma in Fine Arts was awarded to students upon the completion of five years of study. Prominent painter and teacher J.D.A. Perera was the first Principal of this institution.^[8]

On 2 July 1952, Music and Dance were included in to the curriculum and the institute became named the ‘Government College of Fine Arts’. On 1 October 1953, the Departments of Music and Dance were moved to 21, Albert Crescent in Colombo 7, while the Art and Sculpture courses continued to be conducted at the ‘Heywood’ Building. Three years after this, in 1956, this institution was once again renamed the 'National Institute of Arts' and it was taken under the purview of the Ministry of Education and converted into three schools, namely, the School of Art and sculpture, School of Music and School of Dancing and Ballet. All schools came under the administration of Dr Stanley Abeysinghe, Dr Lionel Edirisinghe and Dr S. Panibharatha respectively.

As a result of the first university Act of 1972, the institution became known as the Institute of Aesthetic studies and got affiliated with the University of Ceylon in 1974. The Institute had 03 Schools and an Academy, namely: The School of Art and Sculpture, the School of Music and School of Dancing and Ballet, and the Ramanathan Academy of Jaffna. In 1975, the Ramanathan Academy became affiliated with the University of Jaffna.

For the first time, in 1978, 63 students were awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree. Consequently, the restructuring of the University System in Sri Lanka brought about the affiliation of this Institute to the University of Kelaniya in 1980.

University status

The special Gazette notice issued by her Excellency the President of Sri Lanka formally announced the establishment of the University of Visual and Performing Arts with effect from 1 July 2005. This university was founded in order to promote and develop the Visual and Creative Arts as well as to offer recognized higher educational qualifications in these spheres of study. The President appointed Dr. Lester James Peiris and Professor Sarath Amunugama as the first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively. The university consists of three faculties, Dance and Drama, Music and Visual Arts and Jayasena Kottagoda, Sanath Nandasiri and Sarath Gunasiri Perera were elected as the first Deans of the faculties respectively.

21st century

There are 22 departments functioning under these three faculties. The present Chancellor of the university is Sanath Nandasiri and the Vice Chancellor is Jayasena Kottagoda, the first Vice-Chancellor who is a former student of this institution. They were elected into office in 2008. Currently, in his second term as Vice-Chancellor of the UVPA, Kottagoda was also the first Professor, and Senior Professor of this university apart from holding the post of the initial Dean of the Faculty of Dance and Drama.

Officers of the university

Chancellor

The Chancellor is the head of the university and awards all degrees, although most duties are carried out by the Vice-Chancellor. The appointment is made by the President of Sri Lanka, to a distinguished person in academics, clergy or in civil society. The chancellor is Prof. Sanath Nandasiri.

Vice-Chancellor

Day-to-day management of the university is undertaken by the Vice-Chancellor, appointed by the President of Sri Lanka. The current Vice-Chancellor is Prof. Sarath Chandrajeewa.

Past Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors

Alumni

• Miyuru Somarathne
• Nuwandhika Senarathne
• Sujatha Attanayake
• Gunadasa Kapuge
• Titus Thotawatte
• Priya Suriyasena
• Tissa Ranasinghe
• Malani Bulathsinhala^[9]
• Mahagama Sekara
• Rohana Weerasinghe
• Tilake Abeysinghe^[10]

Faculty

University of the Visual and Performing Arts faculty includes scholars such as renowned Sri Lankan musicologist W. D. Amaradeva, Mahagama Sekara and Lionel Edirisinghe