 These are the University of Colombo, the University of Peradeniya, University of Kelaniya (Vidyalankara University) and the University of Sri Jayawardanapura (Vidyodaya University).Agitation for the provision of higher education in the island and for the establishment of a University began by the mid 19th century.This agitation gathered momentum by the beginning of the 20th century and the Ceylon University Association, formed in 1906 by Sir James Peiris, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam and Sir Marcus Fernando with some other modern/western educated elite, urged the establishment of a national University.