It is the only university in Sri Lanka to exclusively offer special degree programs in visual and performing arts.

[3][4] The origin of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts can be traced back to 1893, the era in which the Ceylon Technical College was established.

Approximately five decades later, on 1 October 1949, the Department of Arts and Aesthetics shifted its locality from Horton Place to Heywood College.

The origin of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts can be traced back to 1893, the era in which the Ceylon Technical College was established.

On 1 October 1949, the Department of Drawing and Painting moved from the Technical College at Maradana to the ‘Heywood’ building at Horton place and was subsequently renamed as the ‘School of Art’.

On 1 October 1953, the Departments of Music and Dance were moved to 21, Albert Crescent in Colombo 7, while the Art and Sculpture courses continued to be conducted at the ‘Heywood’ Building.

The special Gazette notice issued by her Excellency the President of Sri Lanka formally announced the establishment of the University of Visual and Performing Arts with effect from 1 July 2005.

This university was founded in order to promote and develop the Visual and Creative Arts as well as to offer recognized higher educational qualifications in these spheres of study.

University of the Visual and Performing Arts faculty includes scholars such as renowned Sri Lankan musicologist W. D. Amaradeva, Mahagama Sekara and Lionel Edirisinghe