Department of Commerce was established in 1972 at the very outset of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce. It offered the prestigious B.Com (special) degree in English medium. The department commenced an external degree program for externally registered students and offered a four year B.Com (special) external degree program in 1975 for creating more avenues for those who have passed the Advanced Level examination but were unable to get admitted to the National University system to obtain a degree in Management disciplines. Later in 1996, B.Com (Special) external degree program was replaced by a three year general external degree programme in Commerce (B.Com (General) External degree) including fifteen (15) subjects. With the emerging requirements of the society particularly in higher education sector, the department identified that the programme needed to shape and align with the emerging realities in wider society. The department revised existing degree pragramme in 2012 and the revised curriculum consists of eighteen (18) compulsory courses and one (01) non-credit course. The department provides a highly reputed and successful B.Com (General) external degree program in Sinhala and English mediums.
By offering the B.Com (General) External degree, the Department mainly indents to discharge a national duty of empowering Sri Lankan students with a higher education qualification of national and international reputation and recognition in order to help prosper their lives.
The goal of Bachelor of Commerce (general) External Degree programme is to prepare its graduates to succeed in complex and competitive world.
On the successful completion of the external degree program students must be geared up to take real world challenges and have confidence and capability to fulfill the aspiration of the Department of Commerce in the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Aim of the Department and vision of the University is essentially founded on the concept of nation building, and national institutions. Having said that, the ideal student the department anticipates on the completion of the external degree program should have;