The Department of Microbiology
The Department of Microbiology is one of the eight departments within the Faculty of Science. The department was established in 1986 and the academic works commenced in 1991 and this is the only department in the entire Sri Lankan University system that offers microbiology as a major subject to B. Sc degree programme.
Before 1990s, the teaching of microbiology in universities of Sri Lanka had been traditionally confined to the teaching of medical microbiology in medical faculties. Some basic knowledge of microbiology was also imparted to the students via botany or biology syllabuses in science and other biological based degrees. However these did not fulfill the demand in expertise in various disciplines in microbiology, especially in Applied Microbiology related areas.
With the changes in economic policies of the country, the need & demand for expertise in the other fields of microbiology such as Food & Dairy microbiology, Agricultural microbiology, Microbial biotechnology, Water and wastewater microbiology, Fermentation technology, were high in industrial sector as well as semi government and government sectors. To provide such expertise and to train the graduals in different fields of microbiology, M. Sc degree programme in Microbiology was commenced in 1978 under the Department of Botany of the Faculty of Science. Eventually this led to the establishment of the Department of Microbiology in the Faculty of Science
The Department of Microbiology offers two postgraduate study programmes i.e. M. Sc in Applied Microbiology and M. Sc in Food & Nutrition to meet the present demand of expertise in the field of applied microbiology and nutrition. The enrolment for the M. Sc in Applied microbiology is generally restricted to 20 and for the M. Sc in Food & Nutrition is restricted to 12. M. Sc in Food & Nutrition is conducted by the Food & Nutrition unit which is under the preview of the Head of the Department of Microbiology.
At present every year the demand for graduates with expertise in food microbiology / food technology for quality control work in industries, molecular biology, agricultural microbiology, wastewater biotechnology, nutrition, dietetics etc, is increasing. Industrial sector as well as other institutes needs to train their staff in various chosen fields in microbiology and in nutrition. To assist these requirements, the Department carries out two M. Sc programmes.
The two post graduate programmes also contributes immensely to improve the research capabilities in the department and it also acts as a link between the department and industries, institutes etc.
Our educational priorities are to train both postgraduate & undergraduate students in various disciplines in Applied Microbiology especially in Food Microbiology and Food Technology and Microbial biotechnology, Agricultural Microbiology, Medical Microbiology etc.
Our Vision:
To be a catalyst of Applied Microbiology education in the country
Our Mission:
To provide basic and advance knowledge in various disciplines in General & Applied Microbiology to both undergraduate and postgraduate students