The University of Colombo, as a metropolitan national university with historic links to the First University College, strives to be a centre of excellence of regional and international repute, that will create new knowledge and sustain a culture of learning and critical inquiry, and foster a spirit of service and commitment to national development and democratic values in a plural society.

To be a centre of excellence in teaching and research, with commitment to producing men and women of high ethical standards and social responsibility who are capable of creative, analytical and independent thinking, and facilitate the creation of and dissemination of knowledge, and contribut to national development through partnerships between staff, students and relevant sectors of society.

The corporate plan has seven goals, each with related detailed programmes, objectives and associated activities.

The following is not a dictionary definition:

A mandate is a legal command by a superior to an inferior body. In the case of a university it is the authority granted to the university by the organs of Government, possibly enacted through some legal instrument. It is the source of the authority of the university.

Note that the University of Colombo's document does not mention the university's mandate.