As a pirivena it is a monastic college (similar to a seminary) for the education of Buddhist priests. From 1958 to 1972 it was known as the Vidyodaya University and from 1972 to 1978 it was known as the Vidyodaya Campus, University of Sri Lanka during which time it became a secular state university. However since the renaming of Vidyodaya Campus as the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, led to the
re-emergence of the Maligakanda Pirivena which has since claimed to be the successor to the Vidyodaya Pirivena. The Vidyodya Pirivena had been founded due to the efforts of Venerable Sangharaja Sri Saranankara whose demise took place as far back as 1778 during the Dutch period. The land at Maligakanda (a suburb of Colombo) and funds for its foundation were given by the philanthropist Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana. The Venerable Mohottiwatte Gunananda in 1873 following his success in the Panadura Debateplayed a key role its development. His aim was to train educated orator monks to save Buddhism and for that purpose he made logic compulsory in pirivena education. The Pirivena taught Buddhist studies as well as pseudo-sciences like Astrology, widely accepted and held in high esteem in taditional society. In 1956, following a change of government with Solomon Dias Bandaranaike as the Prime Minister, following the policy of promoting national languages and culture, it was decided to establish a new university, by conferring university status on the Vidyodaya Pirivena. Accordingly the Vidyodaya University Act No 45 of 1958, established the one university at the Vidyodyaya Pirivena at Maligakanda. Welivitiye Soratha Maha Thero who was the Principal of the Vidyodaya Pirivena was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of the Vidyodaya University. The university was ceremonially opened on 16 February 1959. However, the transition from Pirivena to University gradually converted it to a secular center of learning. The University was moved to Gangodawila, some 10 miles south east in 1961. In 1978 the name of the University was changed to University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
