Matara, Sri Lanka
| Matara මාතර மாத்தறை |
|
|---|---|
| — City — | |
 |
|
 Matara
|
|
| Coordinates: 5°57′N 80°33′E / 5.95°N 80.55°ECoordinates: 5°57′N 80°33′E / 5.95°N 80.55°E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Southern |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Upul Nishantha |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,283 km2 (495 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,270 km2 (490 sq mi) |
| • Water | 13 km2 (5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 76,254 |
| • Density | 59/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30) |
| Postal code | 81xxx |
| Area code(s) | 041 |
Matara (Sinhala: මාතර, Tamil: மாத்தறை) (originally Mahathota) is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka.[1] It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.
Contents |
[edit] History
Matara historically belongs to the area called Ruhuna, one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka (Thun Sinhalaya). The temple in the middle of the town is also built by ancient kings and now it is a very popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area. In 16th and 18th centuries Matara was ruled by Portuguese and Dutch respectively. The culture and architecture can be still seen in the area. The popular light house in Point Dondra was built by the Dutch and it is considered as one of the most beautiful and oldest light houses in Sri Lanka. The two fortresses built by Portuguese and Dutch can be found inside the city of Matara. Other important works done by Dutch are the St. Marie's church and the market place in Nupe junction.
Most famous intellects lived in the area are Kumaratunga Munidasa and Gajaman Nona. The ethnic majority of Matara is Sinhala, during 16th and 17th centuries Moors arrived into the area as traders from Arabia, and today their descendants coexist with Sinhalese peacefully as an ethnic minority.
[edit] Polling divisions
- Akuressa
- Deniyaya
- Devinuwara
- Hakmana
- Kamburupitiya
- Matara
- Weligama
- Malimbada
[edit] Education
[edit] Universities
[edit] Schools
- MR/ Godapitiya National School,establish in 1946
- Palatuwa Gunarathana Central College, established in 1926.
- St.Thomas' College, established in 1844.
- St. Servatius College, established in 1897.
- St. Mary's Convent (Convent of Mary Immaculate) established in 1908. Private school.
- Sujatha Vidyalaya, established in 1929.
- Rahula College, established in 1923.
- Matara Central College, Matara, Sri Lanka, established in 1932.
- St. Thomas Girls' High School
- Matara Central College
- Thalalla South Maha Vidyalaya
- Thihagoda Central College
- MR/Dharul Uloom M.V
- Ilma Muslim Girls' School
- Telijjawila Central College, Matara
- Rajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya -Telijjawila
- Narandeniya National College
- Sariputha vidyalaya, Pamburana
- Thalpawila Central College
- Mahanama Vidyalaya, Walgama
- Rohana Special School
- M/r Urumuththa Almeda Maha Vidyalaya
- Akuressa Maha Vidyalaya
- MR/Ehalape vidyaraja M.V
- mailduwa maha vidyalaya
[edit] Daham Pasal දහම් පාසල්
- Sri Medananda Daham Pasala උනැල්ල ශ්රී මේධානන්ද දහම් පාසල established in 1974.
- Sri Mihidu Daham Pasala Kirimatimulla කිරිමැටිමුල්ල ශ්රී මිහිදු දහම් පාසල established in ?.
- sri rewatha daham pasala මැදගොඩ ශ්රී රේවත දහම් පාසල established in ?.
- siri penathis daham pasala සිරි පැනතිස් දහම් පාසැල
- sri Damruwan Mahimi daham pasala සිරි දම්රුවන් මාහිමි දහම් පාසල established in ?.
- sri Rathanapala daham pasala පාලටුව සිරි රතනපාල දහම් පාසල established in ?.
- Sri kemananda Daham Pansala - established in 1925
[edit] Vocational Training Centers වෘත්තීය පුහුණු ආයතන
- National Youth Service Council – Training Center - ජාතික තරුණසේවා සභාව - අකුරැස්ස පුහුණු මධ්යස්ථානය
[edit] Transport
Matara is the terminus of Sri Lanka Railways' Coast line, though an extension to Kataragama is under construction.
Matara is served by the A2 highway, which runs through the city. It is also planned to be the southern terminus of stage 2 of the E01 expressway.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Template:Sri Lankan Urban Councils kasn kalhara
|
||||||||||
