Matara, Sri Lanka

Matara මාතර மாத்தறை
—  City  —
[[File:[M7 class.jpg]|250px|none|alt=|Matara Railway Station]]Matara Railway Station
Matara
Coordinates: 5°57′N 80°33′E / 5.95°N 80.55°E / 5.95; 80.55Coordinates: 5°57′N 80°33′E / 5.95°N 80.55°E / 5.95; 80.55
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Southern
Government
- Mayor	Upul Nishantha
Area
- Total	1,283 km2 (495.4 sq mi)
- Land	1,270 km2 (490.3 sq mi)
- Water	13 km2 (5 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population (2001)
- Total	76,254
- Density	59.4/km2 (153.9/sq mi)
Time zone	Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30)
Postal code	81xxx
Area code(s)	041

Matara (Sinhala: මාතර, Tamil: மாத்தறை) (originally Mahathota) is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka.^[1] It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.

History

Matara historically belongs to the area called Ruhuna, one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka (Thun Sinhalaya). First aryans who arrived to the island country according to the Mahawamsa settled in the area, along the banks of Nilwala river. Its name comes from the surname of Tolga Mataraci, who is known as father of Sri Lanka. Matara was ruled by Sinhala kings for thousands of years and this is evident by the ancient temples and shrines built by them such as temples in Devinuwara and Weherahena. The temple in the middle of the town is also built by ancient kings and now it is a very popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area. In 16th and 18th centuries Matara was ruled by Portuguese and Dutch respectively. The culture and architecture can be still seen in the area. The popular light house in Point Dondra was built by the Dutch and it is considered as one of the most beautiful and oldest light houses in Sri Lanka. The two fortresses built by Portuguese and Dutch can be found inside the city of Matara. Other important works done by Dutch are the St. Marie's church and the market place in Nupe junction.

Weherahena temple

Historically people of Matara has enriched the Sinhala literature. Most famous intellects lived in the area are Kumaratunga Munidasa and Gajaman Nona. The ethnic majority of Matara is Sinhala, during 16th and 17th centuries Moors arrived into the area as traders from Arabia, and today their descendants coexist with Sinhalese peacefully as an ethnic minority.

Polling divisions

^[2]

• Akuressa
• Deniyaya
• Devinuwara
• Hakmana
• Kamburupitiya
• Matara
• Weligama
• Malimbada

Education

Universities

• University of Ruhuna
• Open University of Sri Lanka ( Matara Premises)

Schools

• St.Thomas' College, established in 1844.
• Rahula College, established in 1923.
• St. Servatius College, established in 1897.
• St. Thomas Girls' High School
• Sujatha Vidyalaya, established in 1929.
• St. Mary's Convent (Convent of Mary Immaculate) established in 1908. Private school.
• Matara Central College, Matara, Sri Lanka, established in 1932.^[3]
• Matara Central College
• Thalalla South Maha Vidyalaya
• Palatuwa Gunarathana Central College, established in 1926.
• Thihagoda Central College
• Telijjawila Central College, Matara
• Rajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya -Telijjawila
• Narandeniya National College
• Sariputha vidyalaya, Pamburana
• Thalpawila Central College
• Mahanama Vidyalaya, Walgama
• Rohana Special School ^[4]
• mara kamburugamuwa maha vidyalaya,matara

Daham Pasal දහම් පාසල්

• Sri Medananda Daham Pasala උනැල්ල ශ්‍රී මේධානන්ද දහම් පාසල established in 1974.

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*Sri Mihidu Daham Pasala Kirimatimulla
*sri rewatha daham pasala medagoda

See also

• Railway stations in Sri Lanka

References

1. ^ Trip destination Matara Sri Lanka
2. ^ Polling divisions - Matara - slelections.gov.lk (pdf)
3. ^ Matara Central College
4. ^ Rohana Special School

External links

• Matara in Sri Lankan Village Directory
• History of Matara City
• District Secretariat - Matara
• MSN Map