Eastern University, Sri Lanka

The Eastern University, Sri Lanka, was established on the 01st of October 1986 by a University Order dated 26th September 1986 issued under Section 2 of the Universities Act No: 16 of 1978. The University was preceded by the Batticaloa University College established on 01st August 1981 which was started in the buildings of the Vantharumoolai Madya Maha Vidyalayam. In addition, over 100 acres of land have been added to the original Campus. Student hostels and staff quarters have been constructed on this land and many new buildings are planned. The Batticaloa University College began with two faculties: The Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Agriculture and both these faculties were affiliated to the University of Peradeniya. Two new faculties viz. the Faculty of Commerce & Management with the Departments of Economics, Commerce & Management, and the Faculty of Cultural Studies with the Departments of Arabic, Islamic Studies and Fine Arts were established in 1988. The Faculty of Cultural Studies was then expanded to include the Department of Languages and the Department of Social Science and renamed the Faculty of Arts & Culture in 1991.

The degree programme is to offer a range of modules both compulsory an optional and permit the selection of modules on year by year basis. A student will be able to build the degree around the core modules along with optional modules available in the Faculty and in other Faculties. This will allow maximum flexibility and the avoidance of mass production of 'Clones'. The students will be able to select modules that would provide better career opportunities.

• Be a forum to produce scholars with action oriented with global, independence and social perspectives.
• Play a major role in generating action-oriented scholars of versatile to the global trend, absorbing local identities, knowledge and values of the nation.
• Centre of excellence for higher learning in Sri Lanka.
• To facilitate learning, research, and dissemination of knowledge to produce competent graduate through conducive environment with industry-community collaboration to serve socio-economic and cultural needs of the community.

At present the FHCS offers degree programmes in MBBS and BSc (Nursing), internal and external. The organisational structure and curricula of the programmes have been designed to match contemporary global trends of Outcome Based Education. Problem Based Learning (PBL), Small Group Discussion (SGD), Tutorials etc. are examples of teaching learning techniques followed here. Early clinical exposure and abundant clinical experiences gained from the Teaching Hospital Batticaloa during the undergraduate period are our strength. Steps are underway to start degree programmes in Pharmacy and Public Health in the near future.

Faculty of Science is to be a National Centre for Excellent in teaching and research. Our teaching and research is geared to regional and national needs. Batticaloa District has ample of human and natural resources. Curriculum is geared to education and training suited to modern needs of the globe, thereby enhancing the socio-economic development of the region and people. The faculty is committed to work for this goal.