The Department of Mathematics and Statistics was established in 1974 and is the founding Department of the University of Jaffna. It was also the first Department in Sri Lanka to offer a Statistics Honours Degree since 1975. The University is the main centre of Higher Education in Northern Sri Lanka, dedicated to promoting Education and Culture in the  Community.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is the largest department in  the University of Jaffna and conducts academic programme in three subjects: Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics.  The department conducts courses for more than 200 credits in an academic year.  Approximately 1100 students are registered with the Faculty of Science, of which around 700 students follow at least one of the three subjects offered by the Department (most of the students follow at least  two  subjects). Of these approximately 20 students in each year are selected (at the end of level 2) to study for an Honours Degree programme in Mathematics or Statistics. Moreover, around 10 students in each year are selected (at the end of level 3) to follow Applied Science degree programme in   Financial Mathematics and Industrial Statistics.