LOCATION

On a site that touches the lower slopes of the lush mountains of Hanthana, University of Peradeniya is famous for its natural beauty. Its picturesqueness has inspired many intellectuals like Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Sri Lanka's premium playwright.^[8] Th university is in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, eight kilometres from the sacred city of Kandy (the historic capital of the last kingdom of Sri Lanka) and about 110 kilometres from Colombo. A tourist attraction, Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya is close by. The university spans an area of nearly 700 hectares in the Mahaweli flood plain. Most of the area remains afforested. Climate around the university is mild, and the temperature fluctuates between 18 to 30 degrees Celsius.
The main entrance to the university is through Galaha road. The Faculty of Engineering is located on one side of the Mahaweli River and all other faculties on the other side. The Akbar bridge links the two banks of the river. Considered as a marvel of civil engineering, it was designed by late Prof. A. Thurairajah (Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, 1975–77 and 1982–85) and built by the first batch of the faculty, in the year of its inception. The Sarasavi Uyana railway station is on campus. Another bridge known as Yaka Paalama links the railway to the other bank. Daily shuttle bus services operate from Kandy to Galaha junction and Kandy to the university.
A separate subcampus was established in 1968 at Mahailuppallama, North Central province for the Faculty of Agriculture.^[9] Separate residential facilities are provided to this subcampus.