The University of Ruhuna, as one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka is committed to provide quality education, promote innovations through research excellence, build and maintain strong industrial partnerships and enhance community development. 7350 undergraduate students and 620 postgraduate students are reading for their degrees in eight faculties under the guidance of highly qualified 480 academic staff. 35 administrative staff and nearly 835 non- academic staff support the functioning of the University.

The University was first established as the Ruhuna University College by special presidential decree in September 1978 with four faculties, namely, Agriculture, Arts, Medicine and Science. On 1st February 1984, the Ruhuna University College was elevated to a full-fledged university and shifted to the new premises, designed by the world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, in 72 acre architectural landscape at Wellamadama, two kilometers from Matara facing Matara –Kataragama main road in Southern Sri Lanka.

Currently, Faculties of Science, Management and Finance, Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences and Graduate Studies, including the Central Administrative Unit of the University are located in the main campus premises at Wellamadama (Matara) while faculties of Agriculture, Medicine and Engineering are located in Kamburupitiya (Matara), Karapitiya (Galle) and Hapugala (Galle) respectively. Bachelors and Postgraduate Degree programs (B.A, B.B.A., B.Sc., M.B.B.S, M.A. M.B.A. M.Sc. M.Phil. and Ph.D.) including Diploma and Certificate Courses in respective disciplines are offered by the University under these faculties. The student life is enhanced by the University facilitating services, such as Library services, Medical services, Career Guidance, Cultural and Sports etc.

The University of Ruhuna, today at its 37th year of journey to reaching its vision, to be the prime intellectual thrust of the nation, has been recognized for its excellence in teaching, research and varieties of services offered to the regional, national and international communities. In keeping with its mission, academic staff of the University of Ruhuna strive to advance knowledge and skills through their teaching, research and services to serve the society and disseminate the knowledge by serving as consultants and advisors to a wide variety of national and professional bodies, making a significant contribution to the national and regional development of the country.