Message of Director-ISM

It is with great pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I serve as the 31 st Director of the Institute of Surveying and Mapping (ISM), Diyatalawa. As the academic arm of the Survey Department of Sri Lanka—the oldest government department in Sri Lanka, established in 1800—ISM carries forward a distinguished national legacy in surveying, mapping, and geospatial sciences.

Originally established as the Surveyor General's Training School in Diyatalawa in 1924, the institution was elevated to the Institute of Surveying and Mapping in 1967 to incorporate emerging technologies in surveying and mapping. The formal incorporation of the Institute took place under Parliamentary Act No. 21 of 1969. In 1990, the Ministry of Higher Education recognized ISM as a Degree Awarding Institute. Most recently, the degree conferred by ISM was officially recognized as Bachelor of Science Honours in Surveying Sciences – BSc Hons (Surveying Sciences).

For over a century, ISM has remained the cornerstone of professional education in surveying in Sri Lanka. Our graduates contribute directly to land administration, infrastructure development, environmental management, and national planning.

The 2024 Periodic Institutional Review conducted by the Ministry of Education confirmed ISM’s compliance with national standards across governance, management, financial sustainability, physical resources, and academic quality assurance. This achievement reflects our structured governance system, qualified academic staff, disciplined training environment, and strong institutional planning aligned with the National Higher Education Policy Framework.

We remain committed to integrate advanced technologies such as GNSS, GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry, and digital mapping into our academic programs while strengthening research, innovation, and international collaboration.

At ISM, we cultivate not only technical excellence but also positive attitudes, integrity, leadership, and professional responsibility. Together, we continue shaping the future of surveying and geospatial sciences in Sri Lanka.


M.A.M.Somalatha
Director/ Senior Deputy Surveyor General (Training),
Institute of Surveying and Mapping,
Diyatalawa.