North Central Province, Sri Lanka
North Central Province
උතුරු මැද පළාත வட மத்திய மாகாணம் Uturumeda Province | |
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Country | Sri Lanka |
Created | 1873 |
Admitted | 14 November 1987 |
Capital | Anuradhapura |
Largest City | Anuradhapura |
Government | |
• Governor | P. B. Dissanayake |
• Chief Minister | Peshala Jayarathne |
Area | |
• Total | 10,472 km2 (4,043 sq mi) |
• Rank | 1st (16.31% of total area) |
Population (2011 census) | |
• Total | 1,259,567 |
• Rank | 8th (5.91% of total pop.) |
• Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) |
Gross Regional Product (2010)[1] | |
• Total | Rs 232 billion |
• Rank | 7th (4.8% of total) |
Time zone | UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka) |
ISO 3166 code | LK-7 |
Official Languages | Sinhala, Tamil |
Website | www |
North Central Province (Sinhala: උතුරු මැද පළාත Uturumeda Palata, Template:Lang-ta Wada Maththiya Maakaanam) is a province of Sri Lanka. Its capital is Anuradhapura. The province is not densely populated, and it has a weak economy as the land tends to be dry tropical woodlands.
History
The centralized system of Sri Lanka, which is a Unitary State, failed to satisfy the aspirations of the people and there was growing insistence on decentralization of administrative processes in order to achieve rapid economic and social development of the country. In the Sri Lankan context, devolution means transferring political and administrative decision-making authority from central government to elected bodies at lower levels.
Major Cities
- Anuradhapura (Municipal Council)
Other Towns
- Polonnaruwa-Kaduruwela
- Medawachchiya
- Kahatagasdigiliya
- Hingurakgoda
- Nochchiyagama
- Kekirawa
- Minneriya
- Horowpatana
- Tambuttegama
- Manampitiya
- Eppawala
- Habarana
- Maradankadawala
- Rambewa
- Mihintale
- Talawa
- Padawiya
- Kebitigollawa
- Giritale
- Mahailuppallama
- Welikanda
The instruments of devolution:
(i) The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution (1987) and
(ii)The Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987
The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution provides for -
The establishment of Provincial Councils
The appointment and powers of the Governor of Provinces
Membership and tenure of Provincial Councils
The appointment and powers of the Board of Ministers
The legislative powers of the Provincial Councils
Alternative arrangements where there is a failure in the administrative machinery
The establishment of the High Court of the Province
The establishment of the Finance Commission
Provincial Council
Provincial council is the main administrative and control body of the North Central Province which is the largest province in the country covered 16% of total country's land area. It consists two districts called Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapure; Anuradhapure is the largest district in the country. NCP also called Wew Bendi Rajje because there are more than 3000 medium and large scale tanks situated in the province. More than 65% of NCP's people depend on basic Agriculture and agro base industries.
North Central Province has numourous potentials for Investors to start their Businesses, specially Agriculture, agro based industries and Livestock sectors.
Hon. Governor of the Province - Hon.P.B.Dissanayake
Hon. Chief Minister of the province - peshala jayarathne bandra
Chief Secretary of the province - K.A.Thilakaratne
Administrative Units
Districts
Uturumeda is divided into 2 districts:
- Anuradhapura District 7,128 km2 (2,752 sq mi)
- Polonnaruwa District 3,403 km2 (1,314 sq mi)
Education
Anuradhapura
- Rajarata University - Anuradhapura
- Open University, Anuradhapura – Anuradhapura
- Teachers Training School - Anuradhapura
- Technical college – Anuradhapura
- Buddhsravaka Bhiksu University - Anuradhapura
- [NITA] K.B.Rathnayake MW - Anuradhapura
Polonnaruwa
- Pulatishi - Polonnaruwa