University of Ruhuna

The enactment of the Universities Act No. 46 of 1978 enabled the University Grants Commission to establish the Ruhuna University College. As a result, on 27 August 1978, the Prime Minister J. R. Jayawardene declared open the Ruhuna University College at Meddawatta, Matara, with Prof. Mervyn W. Thenabadu as its Director.

The Ruhuna University College was shifted to the new premises in 1984 following which it was elevated to full university status. The new location was selected for the main campus at Wellamadama, two kilometers from Matara facing Matara-Kataragama main road. Professor G. P. Samarawickrama was the first Vice-Chancellor of the University. Hon. Ronnie De Mel, inaugurating the University after being elevated from campus to University status in 1984. During the past 25 years, it has witnessed considerable progress and development in the academic, research and outreach spheres with substantial improvement in intellectual and infrastructure resources and has emerged as a leader of higher education in Sri Lanka. To date, it has produced about 50,000 graduates and over 75 postgraduates.[11] Around 100 postgraduate students are pursuing master and doctoral programs in disciplines that are of relevance to the development of the region in particular and the country in general.

Chancellor

The Chancellor is the head of the university and awards all degrees, although most duties are carried out by the Vice-chancellor. The appointment is made by the President of Sri Lanka, to a distinguished person in academics, clergy or in the civil society. The chancellor is Rajakeeya Panditha Pallaththara Sri Sumanajothi Nahimi Thero.

Vice-chancellor

Day-to-day management of the University is undertaken by the Vice-chancellor, appointed by the President of Sri Lanka. The current Vice-chancellor is Prof Sujeewa Amarasena.

If this place doesn't turn students into civilized beings, nothing will!

— Geoffrey Bawa-1988[12]

A new building complex for the university was designed by the world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa[13] and was constructed at Wellamadama with a unique architectural landscape.[14] The RUC was shifted to the new premises in 1984, and it was elevated to full university status. Edward Reed & Beg Company designed the buildings and the Ballast Nedam Company of the Netherlands completed the construction at all three sites: Wellamadama, Mapalana, and Karapitiya with a unique architectural landscape.

The 30-hectare site straddled three steep hills, the westernmost overlooking the sea and separated from the other two by a low-lying valley that carried the main road from Matara to Hambantota.Architects placed the vice-chancellor's lodge and a guest house on the western hill and flooded the intervening valley to create a buffer between the road and the main campus. He then wrapped the buildings of the science faculty around the northern hill and those of the arts faculty around the southern hill, using the depression between them for the library and other central facilities.[15]

University Complex, Wellamadama

After Peradeniya, which was selected for the beauty of its surrounding, Ruhuna university was the only other campus built with similar ambition. Located in the south of the island, this was the second university complex since the University of Ceylon, to be designed on the same lavish scale and style.

In Geoffery Bawa's architecture, the central role of geography must be a highlight. The buildings as they are conceived are influenced by the "character of the natural terrain, the vegetation, the potential for developing vistas out into the landscape and hence light and shade and of course the related and ever-present aspect of climate".In the Ruhuna campus construction are intimately tied to the topography and the territory they occupy.[16]

The Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium is the largest auditorium in any of the universities in Sri Lanka.[17][18][19][20]

"Rohana" is a multidisciplinary refereed journal devoted to publishing high-quality research articles related to Applied & Natural Sciences, Management & Social Sciences, and Medical Sciences. Since its commencement in 1985.

The University of Ruhuna, Northern hill

According to the amended University Act of 1988, Section 26, students of each faculty can form the Faculty Union of all students of that faculty. The main objective of this Union is to promote academic actions of the student population and to work for the advancement and welfare of the students and the faculty.

The university is equipped with a large gymnasium which is the third best in Sri Lanka with seating capacity for 3,000.

The Department of physical education provides sports equipment to students for games organised by the university and for training sessions free of charge. The University is a participatant in the Sri Lanka University Games, a multi-sporting event held between public universities in Sri Lanka.

Each year ten financially disadvantaged students from Civil and Environmental Engineering program are entitled to a special scholarship sponsored by Ceylon Steel Corporation[29]