The Faculty of Medicine was opened in the premises of the General Hospital, Galle, in July 1980.It was then affiliated to the University of Colombo. The first five batches of medical students were admitted to the Ruhuna University College,but attended the preclinical course at the Faculties of Medicine in Colombo and Peradeniya. Students a dmitted in 1978 and successful at the Second Examination for Medical Degrees held in Colombo and Peradeniya, commenced their Para-clinical and Clinical training at Galle in 1980. Construction of buildings for the Faculty at Karapitiya commenced in December , 1980 and the Faculty moved to its new premises in September 1983. From the Academic Year 1983/84, onwards students were admitted direct to the Faculty of Medicine, Galle and the entire course is now conducted at the Faculty .
The Faculty provides academic, research and service functions through its fourteen academic departments and three units that are recognized by the University Grants Commission. The new Teaching Hospital at Karapitiya is situated just across the road from the Medical Faculty . The Medical Units, Surgical Units, Paediatrics Units, Psychiatry Unit and several finer speciality Units are functioning in this hospital. The University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is situated in the premises of the old hospital at Mahamodera. Teaching in all clinical disciplines is done in these two hospitals. Teaching in Community Medicine is done at the Field Training Area at Bope-Poddala located close to the Faculty of Medicine. The students also spend 4 weeks in Rural Health training at Akuressa District Hospital.
