SLIIT offers more the 75 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees on a vast field ranging from Computer Science to Education.

[7] In the early 1990s with the rise of IT sector Prof. Lalith Gamage, who would eventually be the first president of SLIIT recognized the necessity of generating a substantial number of IT professionals in Sri Lanka to fulfill the increasing demand for such expertise.

At the time, Prof. Gamage held the position of Senior Lecturer and was also the Director of the Computing Services Centre at the University of Moratuwa.

Although the Cabinet agreed to the project in principle, the Ministry of Finance expressed concerns about the lack of qualified academics to teach at the new institute and the financial burden it would place on the Consolidated Fund.

The meeting involved Ministry officials, professionals, and academics, and it was proposed to form a company limited by guarantee as an interim measure.

This would allow for the project to move forward until cabinet approval was obtained, at which point the Government could take over the Institute and attach it to the University of Moratuwa.

Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology was established in 1999 at BOC Merchant tower, Colombo as a nonprofit company by guarantee with the ability to award Bachelor of Science degrees following amendments to the Universities Act the same year, thus gaining recognition from the Minister of Higher Education.

[12][13] In September 1999, SLIIT commenced its operations by offering a two-year Diploma Programme at a leased space situated in its Colombo campus.

SLIIT approached the Mahapola Trust Fund to develop the Malabe Campus due to increasing demand for their programmes.

After a change in government in 2001, promised funding from the MTF for the construction of the Malabe Campus stopped abruptly, leaving the MD/CEO to finance the completion of the first phase with his own personal resources.

Negotiations with the MTF eventually led to an agreement in 2005 for SLIIT to lease the land and operate independently as a separate legal entity.

The project is a joint venture of SLIIT, Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM),[16] and William Angliss Institute of Australia.

This faculty offers programs in diverse areas, including Biotechnology, Education, Law, Mathematics, Nursing, and Psychology.

[23] The BBA Honours Degree, offered by SLIIT, is structured to facilitate students in assimilating theoretical constructs and effectively applying them to pragmatic contexts.

Students enrolled in the BBA Honours Degree program have the option to complete the entire four-year course under the auspices of SLIIT, as sanctioned by the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Higher Education in Sri Lanka.

This collaboration offers students an unparalleled opportunity to undertake the initial academic year in Sri Lanka and subsequently transfer to the University of Queensland for the remaining duration of the program.

[24] All engineering degrees conferred by SLIIT have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Higher Education of Sri Lanka under the purview of the Universities Act.

Additionally, SLIIT Quantity Surveying program is offered through a partnership with the Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom.

This partnership avails students of the opportunity to undertake the initial two years of their studies in Sri Lanka and culminate their degree at the University of Queensland.

This includes laboratories, classrooms, moot courts for legal training, and access to electronic repositories as well as a collection of reference books.

As a key part of the student experience, SIS organizes a wide range of events and activities that cater to both academic and extracurricular interests.

The society upholds the values and standards of SLIIT by ensuring that all activities adhere to institutional rules and maintain the decorum of the university.

SIS plays a crucial role in creating a sense of community among students, promoting interaction, teamwork, and leadership.

Established to enhance students' academic and professional skills, FCSC aims to prepare its members for the competitive job market in Sri Lanka’s IT and computing sectors.

The community focuses on nurturing both hard and soft skills through a range of co-curricular activities, industry engagement events, and skill-building workshops.

This community is made up of students from various academic disciplines, including Natural Science & Education, Law, Psychology, Nursing, and Mathematics.

The FHSSC is dedicated to enhancing student satisfaction by addressing both academic and non-academic concerns, contributing to a well-rounded and enriching university experience.

The community works closely with senior faculty members to find effective solutions, ensuring that students receive the support they need to excel in their studies.