About Us

The Ceylon Institute of Space Science (CISS) was established as a Private and Public Partnership project in collaboration with the Distance Learning Centre Limited (DLC), which comes under the Ministry of Public Administration, Sri Lanka. CISS was registered as an educational institution on 07-12-2023 with Company Number PV 00290029. The CISS is the only institution that offers a Higher Diploma in Astronomy in Sri Lanka. Our main objective is to grow as a research institute. Therefore, we pay more attention to research in all areas of the field of astronomy.  Because astronomy is not much in Sri Lanka, we always encourage our students to do activities and collaborate with foreign countries. 

Astronomy and Astrophysics are very popular subjects in this country, but there wasn’t a proper place for people (students and adults) to study the subject systematically. To fill this gap, we are conducting certificate courses for school children throughout the country via Zoom. We are gathering students physically for observation camps and activities. As an academic institution, we also offer Cambridge and Edexcel AS /AL Physics and Mathematics classes. We offer a Diploma in Astronomy course for students who have passed a minimum of C passes for Mathematics, Science, and English in Ordinary Level exams (local/foreign). A Diploma in Astronomy is the pathway to the Higher Diploma in Astronomy and a top-up degree.

Through the CISS, we have introduced numerous international astronomy events to the country, conducted by organizations such as NASA, ESA, CERN, and the Institute of Competition Sciences, among others.  We used our official website, social media, and online forms, as well as seminars, to popularize the international events for Sri Lankan students. Other than that, we taught the subject to the students and encouraged them to participate in those events. As a result of our hard work, we were able to achieve the Award for Most Finalists in IAAC 2024 and 2025. One of our students became the youngest participant of the world at IAAC 2024 (Denith Minruka Weerasinghe – Bronze Medal). For the first time in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan team that participated in the CISS, in the CERN Beamline for Schools 2025 competition, became shortlisted.

Astronomy is not in the school curriculum in Sri Lanka. By popularizing Astronomy among schools in Sri Lanka and imparting knowledge about Astronomy, we hope to create new industries and job opportunities based on Astronomy by promoting Astronomy qualitatively in Sri Lanka. For that, we direct students to build Astronomy societies in schools. Through that, we identify students who are inclined to Astronomy in schools and refer them to our Courses. Since we can provide students with a pathway from the certificate course to the Higher Diploma, we will be able to direct more students to this field in the future. We are connected with the schools in Sri Lanka, and we are conducting night observation camps, workshops, research, and short-term courses. Our institute organizes workshops to inform people about Astronomy and popularize this field in society. In particular, we conduct workshops on the handling and maintenance of telescopes and night camp workshops for the general public. As CSR projects, we promote Astronomy in schools in the remote areas of Sri Lanka. We are trying our best to give all the facilities that they want to engage in the field of Astronomy to the children of those provinces.

Stars are not born only in the sky, but right here on this Earth, too. We shape them to glitter more brightly.