The Sri Lanka University Games are a multi-sporting event held between public universities in Sri Lanka. History Inter-University sports championships have been organized since the latter part of the 1950s. The first University Sports Festival was held in 1980 at the University of Peradeniya in response to a suggestion made by the Director of Physical Education of the University of Peradeniya, Mr. Lesley Handunge. Mr. Lesley Handunge, a graduate of the University of Peradeniya himself, was a skilled sportsman who had represented Sri Lanka twice in boxing at the Olympic Games. Furthermore, as he had led the Sri Lankan team at the World University Sports Festival and at a number of other international sports festivals. Mr. Handunge was able to organize a festival among universities in keeping with the standards and traditions of the Olympic Games. Thus, following this tradition, the Sri Lankan universities organize a festival once in three years and the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka organized XII Sri Lanka University Games in 2016. The first Sri Lanka University Sports Festival which organized by the University of Peradeniya was held in 1980. Participant Universities The first Sri Lanka University Games saw the participation of six public universities and by 2013 the participation has risen to 14 universities Events The first Sri Lanka University Games included 12 events and by 2013 it has risen to 36 events under 22 sport categories. Hosts and Champions 9th Sri Lanka University Games 2007 2nd Nov 2007 to 11th Nov 2007, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka More Pictures The University of Kelaniya has its origin in the historic Vidyalankara Pirivena, founded in 1875 as a centre of learning for Buddhist monks. It was one of the two great national centres of traditional higher learning, heralding the first phase of the national movement and national resurgence. With the establishment of modern Universities in Sri Lanka in the 1940s and 1950s, the Vidyalankara Pirivena became the Vidyalankara University in 1959, later the Vidyalankara Campus of the University of Ceylon in 1972 and, ultimately, the University of Kelaniya in 1978. Today, the University of Kelaniya is one of the major national Universities. It is located just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the ancient and historic city of Kelaniya, on the north bank of the Kelani River. It has two major campuses, seven locations, six faculties and four institutions. More than 5,000 participants from 13