In the 1990s, Sri Lanka saw a growing need to strengthen its IT industry as a key driver of economic growth. This vision, however, was challenged by a severe shortage of IT professionals in the Country at the time. Universities produced only a limited number of IT graduates then, falling short of the industry’s growing demand for skilled talent. This gap sparked the idea of establishing an institute dedicated to cultivating the required IT talent.

Prof. Lalith Gamage, one of the founding fathers and the current Vice Chancellor/CEO of SLIIT, who was the then Director of the Computing Services Centre of the University of Moratuwa (UoM), leveraging his extensive network with both industry and government, undertook the responsibility of developing a proposal to establish an institute to produce IT graduates within the UoM with government backing, under the governance of the then Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food, Mahapola Trust Fund and the UoM.

Accordingly, a comprehensive proposal in the form of a cabinet paper to set up an IT institute was presented to the then Cabinet of Ministers in 1998, which the Cabinet approved in principle, however, the National Planning Department at the time considered the proposal unfeasible, citing challenges in recruiting qualified teachers to deliver the programs and the potential financial strain the institute would place on the National Budget.

Despite numerous efforts to bring it to fruition, the then government could not support this initiative, as such, the plan to establish an IT institute within the UoM was ultimately abandoned, and never materialized.

Undeterred by the previous setback and remaining steadfast in their vision, Prof. Gamage, along with a group of eminent academics and professionals, revisited the idea of establishing an IT institute– this time, taking it forward in their personal capacities. Driven by their commitment, they worked together, investing their time, effort, and personal funds to bring the vision to life.

In 1999, their determination paid off– marking the beginning of our story! Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) was born.

In March 1999, SLIIT was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, a type of company that, under company law, has no owners/shareholders and is instead managed by a group of Members who do not receive dividends or profit shares. Any profit remaining after covering operational expenses in these types of entities is reinvested back into the entity to further its mission and objectives. The group of dedicated academics and professionals who worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life became the initial Members of SLIIT in their personal capacities, independent of their official positions or organizations they represented at the time.

The first SLIIT campus was launched in a rented facility, at the Bank of Ceylon Merchant Tower in Colombo 3 offering IT diploma programs to 400 students. The programs quickly gained popularity in Sri Lanka, resulting in a surge in demand and prompting the need for further expansion.

In 2000, SLIIT obtained degree-awarding status, and simultaneously initiated the development of its academic partnership network with global universities, beginning with Curtin University, one of Australia’s top ranked universities. This led to the introduction of a three-year IT degree program at SLIIT conferred by Curtin University. By offering various programs designed with multiple entry and exit points, SLIIT was able to supply skilled IT professionals to the industry within a short period of time, playing a significant role in the growth of Sri Lanka's IT sector, which saw a 25% increase year on year.

After a year of operations, in 2000, SLIIT pursued expansion, where Mahapola Trust Fund (MTF) stepped forward, agreeing to lease its land in Malabe to SLIIT. Further, MTF committed to funding the construction of buildings and infrastructure to develop a campus on this site. With these agreements in place, construction of the SLIIT Malabe campus commenced.

The construction of the Malabe campus progressed smoothly until MTF could not provide the agreed-upon funds any longer. This funding shortfall left SLIIT in a challenging position, as construction had to be halted midway. However, SLIIT’s leadership remained unwavering in its commitment to progress. Despite obstacles, SLIIT demonstrated resilience and determination, actively exploring all possible avenues to secure alternative funding sources. Consequently, SLIIT secured a bank loan, however, given SLIIT’s early stage of development, the bank required SLIIT directors to personally guarantee the loan. The funds obtained this way were then used to resume and complete the construction.

In 2002, the SLIIT Malabe campus came to life, marking the establishment of SLIIT’s second regional campus!

After one year, both SLIIT and MTF recognized the need for a formal lease agreement for the Malabe land. Consequently, a fresh agreement was signed between SLIIT and MTF in 2003 and later amended in 2005 at MTF’s request. This arrangement remained in place until 2015, when MTF requested SLIIT to repay the funds initially provided for the Malabe campus construction, along with interest. In response, both parties entered into new agreements in 2015, through which SLIIT fully repaid MTF, including interest, as a final settlement while securing an extended lease for the Malabe land.

As the Malabe campus developed, SLIIT strategically explored opportunities for expansion across the Country. These efforts took shape in 2001 with the establishment of the Matara Centre, extending SLIIT's presence to Sri Lanka's Southern Province. Building on this momentum, SLIIT continued its growth by establishing the Kurunegala Centre in 2013, followed by fully-fledged campuses in Kandy and Jaffna in 2023.

Today, SLIIT stands as the premier non-state tertiary education provider in Sri Lanka, empowering thousands of students to achieve their higher educational aspirations and secure rewarding career opportunities for a brighter future.