Students are encouraged to join the societies in the Faculty and in the University for the purpose of furthering academic and social objectives. There are a number of societies and associations registered in the University. Some of them are listed below.
Societies of the University and Faculty of Science
- Applied Sciences Society
- Art Circle of Faculty of Science
- Astronomical Society
- Botanical Society
- Buddhist Brotherhood Association/Science
- Ceylon University Chemical Society
- Computer Society
- English Drama Society
- Environmental Science Society
- Explorers' Club
- Gandarwa Sabhawa
- Geological Society
- GIS Club
- Hantana Conservation Society
- Helahanda Students' Society
- Hindu Students Society
- Mathematical Society
- Music Society
- Muslim Majlis
- Newman Society
- Operations Research Society
- Photographic Society
- Physical Society
- Robotics Society
- Rotaract Club
- SEDS Pera Chapter
- Sinhala Natya Mandalaya
- Sinhala Sangamaya
- Soba Sansadaya
- Socialist Students' Union
- Society of Industrial Relations & Entrepreneurship Development
- Statistical Circle
- Student Christian Movement
- Tamil Society
- Wildlife and Nature Photography Society
- Zoologists' Association
Some of the Societies contribute towards magazines that are published at varying intervals depending on the availability of articles. The Geological Society brings out a magazine each year under a name related to a current topic. "Sigma" is published by the mathematics Society, "Phyta" by the Botanic Society and " Alembic" by the Chemical Society.