During the recent economic crisis, at the request of the Vice Chancellor, the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya Colombo Chapter (AAUP-CC) and Peradeniya Engineering Faculty Alumni Association-Colombo (PEFAACC) came forward to financially assist 300 needy students for a period of six months with the help of donors. The university suggested converting it to a Working student Assistantship Programme to add more value to the generous contribution of the alumni. The Working Student Assistantship Programme (WSAP) is a short-term placement of undergraduates as trainees with externship providers within the University.

This programme aims to assist the students financially while developing their career skills toward a successful and self-led future. Further, it creates practical work exposure in the university to increase the career skills of the students. This is the first time such a programme is launched in a university in Sri Lanka. Under the programme, jobs have been created in all nine faculties and other entities of the university and offer the students flexible working hours to suit their academic timetable. Students are employed on a part-time basis in a wide range of jobs created within the university such as translators, web designers, data analysts, graphic designers, aquarium assistants, event coordinators, legal assistants, HR assistants, Management assistants, social media coordinators etc.

This programme is managed by the Career Guidance Unit of the University. A ceremony was held on September 23 at the University Grant Commission (UGC) under the patronage of UGC Chairman Sampath Amaratunge to officially introduce the programme. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya Prof M.D Lamawansa and Director of Career Guidance unit of the University of Peradeniya Prof Dileep de Silva, The President of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya Colombo Chapter and the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Engineering Colombo Chapter Vipula Jayampathi and 20 representatives including the official from the alumni associations participated at this indelible event.