The mission of the Department of Economics & Statistics is to strive to produce graduates, who can think critically and engage themselves in issues that confront society at large, and to create knowledge in economics as well as disseminate it to a wider audience. 

The Department offers two Bachelor of Arts degree programmes, one leading to a general degree and the other to a special degree. The Department has the largest enrollment in a Special Degree Programme in Economics at any Sri Lankan university.

The Department also offers four postgraduate programmes: Postgraduate Diploma in Economics, Master of Arts degree in Economics, Master of Philosophy degree in Economics, and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics.

The Department is equipped with a well-qualified academic staff numbering 30, of which 24 are in permanent positions and 6 temporary. Of the 24 permanent members, 9 hold PhDs and 15 are MA or MPhil qualified. Four of the latter are in the process of completing their PhDs, with three currently abroad.