The idea of a University of Ruhuna was proposed by the Cabinet Minister of Education & Higher Education at the time, Dr. Nissanka Wijeyeratne.
ðɪ aɪdˈiə əvə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv ɹuːhˈuːnə wʌz pɹəpˈoʊzd baɪ ðə kˈæbᵻnət mˈɪnɪstɚɹ ʌv ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən ænd hˈaɪɚɹ ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən æt ðə tˈaɪm, dˈɑːktɚ. nɪsˈæŋkə wˈaɪdʒjɚɹˌætni.