Galle District

Galle is a district in Southern Province, Sri Lanka.

Geological Background

Its area is 1,652 km² in which 35 km² is water and 1,617 km² is land. Galle District bounded on the North by Benthara river, South and West by coast of the Indian Ocean and East by Mathara and Rathnapura Districts. Topography of Galle District is very much dissent. The climatic condition of Hiniduma Patthuwa is very similar to the central hill country of Sri Lanka. This area consists of Rain Forests, which is the water catchment area for most of the rivers and lakes flows across Galle District. Sinharaja Rain Forest is one of them. Galle district lies in a temperate climatic zone.

Annual rain fall is between 2000-2500mm The river Gin River"Gin Ganga" starts from Gongala Hill of Hiniduma patthuwa and in its long journey of 113 km (70 miles). It passes Neluwa, Thawalama, Nagoda Baddegama and Thelikada areas. The river nourishes the land in extant of 922 Km2. After its' long journey it flows to the Indian Ocean in Ginthota area of Galle District. The river Madu Ganga starts from Polathu Kanda and floes to the sea from Balapitiya also helps to maintain ecological balance in the Galle district.

Historical Background

In the ancient Sri Lanka Galle District secured an important place in the battles against enemies as the capital city of Southern Province. Ancient legends revealed that in 1072 A.C. king Wijayabhahu 1 started his battled against "Soli" inThambalagamuwa of Hinidum Pattu. According to legends, during reign of king Dambhadeniya Parakkramabahu carried out his battle agents Queen Sugala in the Galle District. Galle was very important area during reign of King Maha Prakkramabahu and it very much helped to Dutch, Portuguese and English to establish their kingdoms. In the ancient Sri Lanka Galle was called as " Gimhathitha" The Sinhalese pronunciation "Gaala" derived from Tamil word "gala". Gala implies meeting place of bullock carts. Latter it was pronounced as "Gaala" as there were large rock and hills in the district.

Cultural Background

The sons of the Galle district made immense service to the Sinhala Literature Thotagamuwa vijayaba pirivena, which was a famous educational institute in Kotte era [See rulers of Sri Lanka] , create great people to the world. Akmeemana Dharmarama Thero, Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thero, Megettu waththe Gunananda Thero, are the priests who made great authors to the Sinhala literature. Such as Matin Wickramasingha, P.S.D.Kularathna, Piyasena Kahandagamage, Rathna Sri Wijesingha and scientist such as Syril Ponnamperuma,D.T.Wimala surendra, And a Great Archeologist Senarath Paranavithana and a great artist Ariyapala Gurunnanse are the sons of Galle district who made immense service to the sinhala literature arts and crafts.

Maps

* [http://www.liccavi-earth.com/Liccavi/Search.aspx?lat=6.03420&lon=80.21674&zoom=12 Galle and vicinity in map of Sri Lanka]

[http://japuraalwis.wordpress.com/2008/07/08/thelikada/]