Kosgoda

Kosgoda
town
Kosgoda
Coordinates: 06°20′56″N 80°01′18″E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Southern Province
District	Galle
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+6 (Summer time)

Kosgoda is a small coastal town located in Southern Province in Sri Lanka. The area of Kosgoda is home to a population of nearly 3,000 people. It is approximately 72 kilometres (45 mi) south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1 metre (3.3 ft) above the sea level. The area is becoming one of the most vibrant tourist areas in Galle District in Sri Lanka due to the locations beautiful beaches, Kosgoda Lagoon (perfect place for watching birds and boat trips) and its Turtles and Turtle hatcheries.

History

Kosgoda was traditionally associated with the cultivation, fishing and production of cinnamon. Prior to the arrival of Europeans the Sinhala kings had been long been trading in cinnamon, with Sri Lanka's cinnamon considered to be the world's finest, selling on the European markets at a high price. The highest quality cinnamon coming from around Negombo, Colombo, Kalutara and Galle. The Portuguese were initially satisfied with the cinnamon produced by the Kotte kingdom, which had a royal monopoly on the trade. They subsequently increased cinnamon collection, with each cinnamon peeler required to provide a specified quantity of cinnamon. The various cinnamon workers, such as collectors and peelers, were tightly organized. Welitara and Kosgoda were reserved for the Chaliyas, who were obliged to collect cinnamon. When the Dutch defeated the Portuguese in 1658, the Dutch East Indies Company took control of the cinnamon trade. In order to increase production the Dutch commenced the domestication cultivation of cinnamon, with cinnamon production moving to the western and southern coastal areas of the island. Following the British taking control of the island from the Dutch in 1796 the cinnamon monopoly moved to their control, however the relative importance of spices in the world market was declining due to the emerging plantation crops such as tea and rubber.

Kosgoda is particularly renowned for its sea turtle conservation project operated by the Wildlife Protection Society of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1988 to protect Sri Lanka's turtles from extinction.