 Owing to the persistent demands of the Association the government decided in 1913 to set up a University College affiliated to the University of London.However, indecision regarding the nature and status of the institution to be set up, its location, and eventually the intervention of the First World War hindered further progress and it was only in 1920 that the government purchased a private building called the "Regina Walauwa" which came to be known as "College House" for the purpose of setting up the University College.The Ceylon University College was formally declared open in January 1921 in the building that was originally the main building of Royal College located on Thurstan Road opposite College House.