The University of Ruhuna was the only university to
receive funds from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to establish a Cultural Centre, which was due to untiring efforts of Mr. Jayantha Amarasinghe, a Lecturer in Sinhalese. A grant amounting to about Rs 2 million was received from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, including several valuable musical instruments and audio-visual equipment. In addition, a Cultural Officer from the Ministry, Mr. Mahinda K. Udawaela, has been attached to the Centre to assist the University in promoting activities in keeping with its scope.

Mr. Amarasinghe, who has been appointed the coordinator of the Centre, initiated a series of activities rekindling interests in students in cultural activities. As a result, an exciting cultural pageant was staged in February, 2002 where more that 100 students took part. This is a very healthy trend, which the university is keen to foster and promote. Thanks to this Centre, the University now does not hire drummers, dancers etc. for its functions, but obtains the services of student artistes for such purposes. This besides cutting down expenditure would give the student artistes recognition and prominence. It is hoped to provide this service at competitive rates to outside institutions before long. The ultimate goal of this Centre is to provide leadership to bring about a cultural renaissance in Ruhuna, which enjoyed a rich cultural heritage in the past.

A Resource Center for Modern Lanuages is being set up at a cost of about Rs. 7 million in the university library which includes an auditorium with a seating capacity over 100, a computer laboratory, an audio room and a video room equipped with modern audio-visual and IT facilities. To start with, classes in Tamil, Japanese, French and German will be offered for which already over 600 students have applied. It is proposed to conduct classes in Swedish, Russian, Hindi, Arabic etc. as well in the future.

This Centre is to be inaugurated shortly, giving the University a new dimension. Dr. A.J. Ruhunuhewa serves as the coordinator of this Centre and it is hoped to offer certificate courses, diplomas etc. in foreign languages and extend this facility in the future to outsiders, thereby catering to the growing interest in foreign languages

A university should have a conducive academic atmosphere and intellectual climate to liberate the intellectual potential latent in its staff and students so that it would be a fountain head of new ideas, new concepts, new knowledge, creative work and technological innovations. While ensuring uninhibited freedom to give vent to creative talents of students in arts and crafts, culture, literature, science, technology etc., several student societies are being established under the guidance and direction of senior dons affording opportunities for such work.

Young Inventors Club under the guidance of Prof. W.W.G. Dhamaratne, Cultural Centre under the patronage of Mr. Jayantha Amarasinghe, Film Society under the direction of Mr. G.P.D.P. Liyanage, are to name a few. It is hoped that these would result in blossoming of the inborn talents of students. The University proposes to conduct a talent show on a regular basis enabling them to display their talents and creative work.

  A cultural dance by student artistes