History of Computing at Colombo

13/04/2026

Dear all,
Do not response to any messages coming to you. My WhatsApp was hacked few hours ago.

28/03/2026

26/03/2026

Digital Pioneers on Wheels (1985)
Rewinding to 1985…

This was the birth of the Mobile Computer Lab concept in Sri Lanka — a pioneering collaboration between CINTEC, the British Council, and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

A Japanese Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa van was transformed into a high‑tech classroom on wheels, taking computer awareness to schools and exhibitions across the island.

Technical Flashback
Hardware: Ten networked BBC Model B microcomputers

Software: Custom‑developed at the University of Colombo

Mission: To empower the next generation with digital literacy long before the internet era began

In this photograph, Sisira Senaratna of CINTEC is seen giving instructions to visitors.

A proud moment in our technological heritage.
Did anyone encounter the famous “Computer Bus” at their school?

12/01/2026

In 1978, the Demographic Training & Research Unit (DTRU) of the University of Sri Lanka, Colombo Campus, acquired an IBM computer system—the first computer to be installed in a non‑computing academic unit within the entire University system.

With this background in mind, I began searching for any trace of the machine once assigned to the DTRU at the University of Colombo.

That search led to an unexpected and delightful discovery.

Prof E L Sunethra J Perera mentioned that there was “a computer in the storeroom” and invited me to take a look. When I visited the Department of Demography, I found—carefully stored away in their warehouse—an Apple IIc computer. This was not the IBM system I had been searching for, but it was an equally valuable artifact from the early era of personal computing.

The Apple IIc is a machine we do not currently have in the UCSC Computer Museum. Its arrival fills an important gap in our collection, representing a generation of compact, user‑friendly microcomputers that shaped the computing landscape of the 1980s.

This Apple IIc will soon take its place in the UCSC Computer Museum, preserved as a testament to the evolution of computing in Sri Lanka and the institutions that embraced these technologies early.

10/12/2025

1989, Sinhala Word Processor 'වදන් තරුව'

18/11/2025

A group of students from St. Joseph’s College, Anuradhapura, visited the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) as part of their study tour to explore computing education and related activities.

They spent almost half a day with us, engaging in thoughtful discussions with many of our senior staff. One of the main highlights of their visit was discovering how the history of computing has evolved into today’s IT industry — through Sri Lanka’s one and only Computer Museum, preserved at UCSC.

I had the privilege of guiding them through the museum, sharing the remarkable journey of computing in Sri Lanka, which spans more than 60 years since the early 1960s.

Here are some photographs capturing this memorable visit — not only for the St. Joseph’s students, but also as a way to share with others across the country how our computing history began and continues to inspire future generations.

14/11/2025

From dial-up to fibre speed, from floppy disks to flash drives – my trusty Windows XP machine has witnessed it all. Launched in 2001 and still humming along in 2025. No updates, no drama, just pure vintage resilience.

01/11/2025

With the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka – University of Sri Lanka, Colombo Campus—the library we used during my first degree, known as “Lanka Mandiraya – ලංකා මන්දීරය”. Originally built for the 1964 Industrial Exhibition.

19/10/2025

A Milestone in Sri Lanka’s Computing History
01 August – 30 September 1986, University of Ruhuna

A Milestone in Sri Lanka’s Computing History 01 August – 30 September 1986, University of Ruhuna In 1986, the University of Ruhuna hosted...

19/10/2025

Introduced in 1981, the IBM PC’s open architecture not only launched the worldwide personal computer industry but also set enduring standards still followed across the field. (Photo courtesy: Turrance Nandasara)