Narammala

Coordinates: 7°26′4″N 80°13′17″E / 7.43444°N 80.22139°E / 7.43444; 80.22139
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Narammala
නාරම්මල
நாரம்மல
Town
Narammala is located in Sri Lanka
Narammala
Narammala
Coordinates: 7°26′4″N 80°13′17″E / 7.43444°N 80.22139°E / 7.43444; 80.22139
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceNorth Western Province
DistrictKurunegala District
Established1232 (Over 700 years ago) as Kingdom of Dambadeniya
Government
 • TypePradeshiya Sabha
 • PresidentH. P. M. Parakrama Sampath Thilakarathne (SLPP)
Area
 • Town99.68 km2 (38.49 sq mi)
 • Land91 km2 (35 sq mi)
 • Water34 km2 (13 sq mi)
Highest elevation
163 m (535 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2012)
 • Town56,279
 • Rank14th in Kurunegala District
 • Density493.7/km2 (1,279/sq mi)
 • Urban
7,513
 • Rural
48,766
DemonymNarammalians
GDP
 • TotalLKR 12 million
US$ 38,850
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone)
Postal Code
60100
Area code+37
Websitehttp://narammala.ds.gov.lk/index.php?lang=en

Narammala (Sinhala: නාරම්මල, romanized Nārammala, Tamil: நாரம்மல, romanized Nāram'mala), is a town in Sri Lanka, situated in the middle of the North Western Province, 85.3 km (53.0 mi) from Colombo, via the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway or 54 km (34 mi) from Negombo, via Mirigama-Nakalagamuwa Expressway. Narammala is the location of the world's first and only betel research lab and institute, which is located at Dampelessa, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from Narammala.[citation needed]

According to history, the tooth relic of Gautama Buddha was brought there with the establishment of Kingdom of Dambadeniya. The Dambadeniya King's Palace is located about 9.3 km (5.8 mi) away from Narammala, in the Kingdom of Dambadeniya.[citation needed]

According to the 2012 census, the population of Narammala is 56,279.[citation needed], with an urban population of 7,513 and rural population of 48,766. The main export industry is textiles and ready-made garments. Many textile factories run by government and private institutions are located in Narammala, with the finished garments exported to Japan, USA, Germany, Australia, Singapore, India and United Kingdom.[citation needed]

Narammala was founded by King Vijayabahu III.[citation needed]

Etmology[edit]

Narammala was named because of a Golden "Na" flower, which King Vijayabahu III offered to the tooth relic of buddha on its way to the Kingdom of Dambadeniya. In Sinhalese, a golden Na flower is called "Ran Na Mala". So, King Vijayabahu III named the place where he offered the golden Na flower that way. Some time later his majesty decided to separate "Ran Na Mala" from the Kingdom of Dambadeniya, which he did. The King Vijayabahu III decided to develop Ran Na Mala separately from Dambadeniya, sometime later Tha Ran Na Mala became Ran Na Mala, and became Narammala, for ease of use.[citation needed]

There are three archaeological cities around Naramamala, which are, Dambadeniya (දඹදෙණිය) Yapahana (යාපහුව) and Kurunegala (කුරුණෑගල).

History[edit]

In accordance to legends, history of Narammala starts when the Kingdom of Dambadeniya was established by King Vijayabahu III (1220AD-1236AD). After leaving the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa as a safety measurement for the kingdom and the Temple of the Tooth, King Vijayabahu III shifted to Dambadeniya. Since those days the name Narammala exists. According to history, as soon as kingdom of Dambadeniya was established the sacred tooth relic of Gautama Buddha was brought. On the way it was brought, the king offered a golden Naa [Ceylon Ironwood or rose chestnut (Mesua ferrea)] flower at the place which today is known as Narammala. In Sinhala, golden Naa flower is called Ran+Na+Mala(රන්+නා+මල), which then turned into 'Na+Ran+Mala (Sinhala: නා+රන්+මල) for the ease of pronunciation. Hence the name; Narammala.[citation needed]

Climate[edit]

Narammala features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification. The town's climate is tropical and hot all throughout the year. The surrounding rocks play a major role in determining Narammala's weather since these rocks increase and retain the heat of the day. During the month of April the temperature can rise up to about 28.59 °C (83.46 °F). The only major change in the Narammala weather occurs during the monsoons from May to August and October to January when heavy rains can be expected. While the town does experience noticeably drier weather during January and February, it does not qualify as a true dry season as average precipitation in both months are above 155.54 mm (6.124 in) In general, temperatures from late November to mid February period are lower than the rest of the year.

The average annual rainfall in Narammala is about 2,000 millimetres (79 in).

Climate data for Narammala, Sri Lanka (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.6
(96.1)
37.6
(99.7)
39.2
(102.6)
39.0
(102.2)
37.7
(99.9)
35.5
(95.9)
35.3
(95.5)
35.7
(96.3)
37.2
(99.0)
36.7
(98.1)
34.0
(93.2)
39.0
(102.2)
39.2
(102.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30.8
(87.4)
33.1
(91.6)
34.5
(94.1)
33.5
(92.3)
32.2
(90.0)
31.0
(87.8)
30.8
(87.4)
31.1
(88.0)
31.5
(88.7)
31.3
(88.3)
30.9
(87.6)
30.1
(86.2)
31.7
(89.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.7
(78.3)
27.0
(80.6)
28.4
(83.1)
28.6
(83.5)
28.3
(82.9)
27.6
(81.7)
27.3
(81.1)
27.4
(81.3)
27.5
(81.5)
27.0
(80.6)
26.5
(79.7)
25.9
(78.6)
27.3
(81.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20.7
(69.3)
20.9
(69.6)
22.4
(72.3)
23.6
(74.5)
24.4
(75.9)
24.2
(75.6)
23.9
(75.0)
23.8
(74.8)
23.5
(74.3)
22.8
(73.0)
22.1
(71.8)
21.7
(71.1)
22.8
(73.0)
Record low °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3)
14.7
(58.5)
16.2
(61.2)
20.4
(68.7)
20.3
(68.5)
20.8
(69.4)
20.2
(68.4)
19.4
(66.9)
19.2
(66.6)
18.3
(64.9)
15.7
(60.3)
14.8
(58.6)
14.6
(58.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 62
(2.4)
92
(3.6)
138
(5.4)
262
(10.3)
194
(7.6)
156
(6.1)
114
(4.5)
93
(3.7)
159
(6.3)
359
(14.1)
327
(12.9)
139
(5.5)
2,095
(82.5)
Average relative humidity (%) (at Daytime) 65 59 60 69 73 74 73 71 71 74 74 72 69.6
Source: NOAA[1]

Demographics[edit]

Population[edit]

Narammala has a population of 56,279 according to 2012 census, with an male population of 26,973 and female population of 29,306.[citation needed] Here is the population of people of different nations

  • Sinhalese - 52,423
  • Sri Lankan Tamil - 399
  • Indian Tamil - 49
  • Sri Lankan Moor - 3,349
  • Burgher - 22
  • Malay - 30
  • Sri Lanka Chetty - 2
  • Bharatha - 1
  • Other - 4

Religion[edit]

Most people of Narammala are buddhists. Here is an chart of People who follow different religions.

Religion in Narammala (2012)[2]

  Buddhism (80.9%)
  Islam (12.0%)
  Hinduism (4.1%)
  Christianity (3.2%)
  Other (0%)

Transportation[edit]

Under the directives of MoHEH, RDA has initiated a study to find out a suitable road corridor to construct the expressway from Kadawatha to Dambulla via Narammala under Central Expressway Project. The second stage of the construction of the Central Expressway Project (CEP Project-2) from Meerigama to Narammala was launched on 2017 February 1. Subsequently, the expressway will cross Gampaha, Meerigama, Narammala while ending at Dambulla. The project has been implemented in four stages; from Kadawatha to Mirigama (37 km), Mirigama to Kurunegala (39.28 km), Pothuhera to Galagedara (32.5 km) and Kurunegala to Dambulla (60.3 km). Expressway to Kurunegala was opened on 15 January 2022. Interchanges from Mirigama are Narammala, Dambokka, Kurunegala and Yaggapitiya. Public transport was launched on 20 January 2022 through expressway.

The Narammala central bus stand, opened in 2014, has a parking capacity of about 50 buses.

Government[edit]

Narammala is governed by a Pradeshiya Sabha, the legislative bodies that preside over the third tier municipalities in Sri Lanka. Narammala Pradeshiya Sabha is located on Old Bus Station Road (New York Road), which is about 500 m (1,600 ft) from Yuki Junction, which is the main thoroughfare in Narammala.

The Narammala Pradeshiya Sabha building was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It has three floors and a basement floor. The Narammala Public Library is also located in the Narammala Pradeshiya Sabha building. Some of the sections of Narammala Pradeshiya Sabha can be taken as technical section, environment section, Ayurvedic medicine section.

Education[edit]

There are several educational institutes in Narammala, which are listed below.

• Mayurapada Central College

• R/G Senanayaka National School

• Mayurapada Khanishta Vidyalaya, Narammala

• Gangegoda National School – Ganegoda, Narammala

• Meewewa National School – Meewewa, Narammala

• Aira Amarasekara National School - Panthanigoda, Narammala

• Karagahagedara Primary College – Karagahagedara, Narammala

• Lyceum International

• Narammala Primary School

• Ranawatta Primary School

• Kottapitiya Primary School

• Ruwangiri National School

• Sandeepa Pre-school (Negombo Road, Narammala)

• Nakkawatta National School

• D. B. Welagedara Central College (Malkaduwawa)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Narammala Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  2. ^ Department of Census and Statistics,The Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka-2011 Archived 2019-01-07 at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit]