Hanwella
 |
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (July 2008) |
Hanwella is a small town in Sri Lanka, situated about 30 km from Colombo, the commercial capital of the country. Hanwella lies on the Colombo-Ratnapura main road, on the banks of the Kelani River.
Importance
This historical city belongs to the Colombo district and Avissawella electorate. Hanwella is one of the three major towns in the Seethawake pradeshiya sabha, the other two being Kosgama and Padukka. Hanwella is unique in that it lies on both of the Colombo - Ratnapura roads, namely the "Highlevel" and "Lowlevel" roads. Currently, the part of the town situated on the Highlevel road is gradually developing into a separate town called Pahatgama. The "Kelani" river, which is one of Sri Lanka's major rivers, runs alongside the town. Hanwella shares borders with the Gampaha district. The nearest towns to Hanwella are Padukka (8 km), Pugoda (8 km), Kosgama(8 km) and Nawagamuwa (8 km).
History
Hanwella was an essential part of the ancient Seethawaka kingdom. Many ruthless battles between marauding Portuguese soldiers and Sinhalese troops have taken place in Hanwella and the surrounding areas. These sites have been preserved and can be seen in the Hanwella restaurant area. Portuguese and other colonial influences are still visible in the town. A significant proportion of its inhabitants follow Roman Catholicism, which they inherited from the Portuguese colonialists. Several Christian churches scattered in and around Hanwella are testimony to these influences. Prior to the construction of the Colombo-Kandy highway by the British, the main access road to Kandy and the interior of the country was via Hanwella.
Urbanization
Today, Hanwella is rapidly becoming urbanized. Several factories have been built in and around the city. The local version of the Disneyland "Leisure World" is a main attraction for kids just a few kilometers away from the town. There are some waterfalls, though not as many as in the hill capital, nearby. Some lush green hills and rubber plantations surround the city. Two main reservoirs, called Labugama and Kalatuwawa, are situated closer to Hanwella and supply water to the metropolis.
Government Institutions in Hanwella
Among government institutions, the Divisional secretariat office is located in Pahatgama town on Highlevel road. The main schools are Rajasinghe Central College, Roman Catholic, and Mayadunna vidyalaya. MOH office, Hanwella is located about 8 km away from the town at Kosgama.