Ruhunu

Ruhunu, also Rohana, is a historic geographical and political region of Sri Lanka situated in the island’s southern part. The name appears in ancient and medieval Sinhala chronicles as Ruhuna or Rohana and is linked to the southern portion of the island that extends from the central highlands toward the coast. The region roughly overlaps with parts of the modern Southern Province and Uva Province.

Historically, Ruhuna functioned as a distinct political and cultural zone. It was at times ruled by local dynasts and acted as a power base for factions aligned with or opposed to the central kingdoms at Anuradhapura and later Polonnaruwa. The Mahavamsa and Culavamsa portray Ruhuna as a homeland of noble families and a frequent site of uprisings, battles, and political maneuvering. The region also played a role during periods of external invasions and in southern resistance against northern-central powers.

Culturally, Ruhuna is associated with Buddhist monuments, monasteries, and pilgrimage sites such as Kataragama and the ancient monastic complex at Tissamaharama. The landscape includes ruins and archaeological remains in the southern coastal belt and inland areas that symbolize the historic Ruhuna heartland.

In modern usage, Ruhuna is primarily a historical and cultural designation rather than an administrative unit, used to describe the southern Sri Lankan belt and its distinct identity within the broader national narrative.