Sanskrit at Peradeniya

Sanskrit is one of the oldest Departments of the University of Peradeniya although it was later amalgamated with the Department of Classics to form the present 'Department of Classical Languages'. Now the Department joins hand in hand the other three Universities offering Sanskrit in Sri Lanka, i.e., University of Jaffna, University of Kelaniya, and University of Sri Jayawardhenapura, to deliver quality undergraduate, postgraduate, and non-degree programs. The Department of Classical Languages at Peradeniya endeavors to offer the richest and most comprehensive Sanskrit course in Sri Lanka for the undergraduates in Sanskrit Special Degree Program. Notably it has widened the horizons of Sanskrit studies to attract students from outside the discipline, such as those on Archaeology, History, Sinhala, Fine Arts, Pali & Buddhist Studies, Philosophy, and Education. As the Sanskrit motto on the University logo ('sarvasya locanaṃ śāstram' - knowledge is the eye unto all) rightly states, the Department is committed to disseminate, to all interested parties, not only the knowledge of Sanskrit language and related disciplines but also that of becoming a refined person imbued with rich human values.

Degree and Non-Degree Program in Sanskrit

The Department offers the following programs in Sanskrit. Depending on the number of the students registered, their interest, and the availability of the faculty, all courses are offered in both Sinhala and English media.

Degree Programs

Non-Degree Programs

Research

The Department welcomes and facilitates advanced research in Sanskrit and Indological Studies by both local and international students and scholars. We have access to an impressive collection of research materials on Sanskrit housed in the main library of the University of Peradeniya for the use of researchers. Further, we are proud about the research culture initiated and nourished by the world-renowned Sanskrit scholars from this Department, namely, Profs. O. H. De A. Wijesekara, Jayadeva Thilakasiri, and Ratna Handurukande, whose most of the research publications have become prescribed literature for both local and international students on Sanskrit & Indology, Pali and Buddhist studies, Philosophy, Literature, and Fine Arts etc. The current Sanskrit faculty of the Department has highly diverse research interests while working individually and collaboratively to explore untouched plus understudied scopes and to refine the grey areas of the discipline. Moreover, to the credit of Sanskrit, the majority of the current postgraduate students of the Department of Classical Languages are engaged in Sanskrit-related research.