Matara, Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
Matara (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. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami
in December 2004.
, 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. 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.
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.
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*Sri Mihidu Daham Pasala Kirimatimulla
*sri rewatha daham pasala medagoda
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, 160 km from Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
in December 2004.
History
Matara historically belongs to the area called RuhunaRuhuna
Ruhuna is a region of southern Sri Lanka. It was the centre of a flourishing civilization and the cultural and economic centres of ancient Sri Lanka, Magama, Tissamaharama and Mahanagakula , were established here....
, 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. 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
Dondra Head
Dondra Head is a cape on the extreme southern tip of Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean, near the small town of Dondra near Galle, Southern Province, Sri Lanka...
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.
Historically people of Matara has enriched the Sinhala literature. Most famous intellects lived in the area are Kumaratunga Munidasa
Cumaratunga Munidasa
Kumaratunga Munidasa was a pioneer Sri Lankan linguist, grammarian, commentator, writer, poet, and journalist. He founded the Hela Havula movement which sought to remove Sanskrit influences in the Sinhala language promote its correct usage. He was one of the most eminent scholars Sri Lanka has...
and Gajaman Nona
Gajaman Nona
Dona Isabella Koraneliya was a Sri Lankan author who was noted for having the ability to write and recite impromptu Sinhala poetry. She was born in Kollupitiya, Ceylon as the second daughter of Don Francisco Senaratna Kumara Perumal and Fransina Jasenthu Graivo...
. The ethnic majority of Matara is Sinhala, during 16th and 17th centuries Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
arrived into the area as traders from Arabia, and today their descendants coexist with Sinhalese peacefully as an ethnic minority.
Polling divisions
- Akuressa
- Deniyaya
- Devinuwara
- Hakmana
- Kamburupitiya
- Matara
- WeligamaWeligamaWeligama is a Urban Council in Matara district on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The term Weligama literally means "sandy village" which refers to the area's sandy sweep bay. Tourism & Fishing are two main business. Situated at a distance of 144 km from Colombo, Weligama is a popular tourist...
- Malimbada
Schools
- St.Thomas' CollegeSt.Thomas' College, Matara, Sri LankaSt.Thomas' College is a government school for boys in Matara, Sri Lanka which is located in the heart of Matara city. The College was initially founded as an English School in Wellamadama, Dondra, Sri Lanka in 1844...
, established in 1844. - Rahula CollegeRahula collegeRahula College is a boys' school in Sri Lanka, located in Matara district - . Though it was originally a Buddhist school,now it is run by the Government of Sri Lanka as a National School. It was one of the first schools which was converted to a National School...
, established in 1923. - St. Servatius CollegeSt. Servatius' CollegeSt. Servatius' College is a boys' school in Sri Lanka. It is located in the Matara District - Sri Lanka's southern-most District.-History:The beginning of the St. Servatius' college goes back on well in the course of 100 years. The establishment of 2 nd of November, 1897. The college becomes called...
, established in 1897. - St. Thomas Girls' High School
- Sujatha VidyalayaSujatha Vidyalaya, MataraSujatha Vidyalaya is a leading girls' school in Sri Lanka. Located in The Matara District - Sri Lanka's southern-most District, if you look at a Map of Sri Lanka - of The Southern Province....
, 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.
- Matara Central College
- Thalalla South Maha Vidyalaya
- Palatuwa Gunarathana Central CollegePalatuwa Gunarathana Central CollegePalatuwa Gunarathna Central College is a government school for boys and girls in Palatuwa, Matara, Sri Lanka which is located in the Akuressa Road Palatuwa Village. The college is situated in a hilly area, close to Matara Akuressa main road with natural surroundings. The college was initially...
, established in 1926. - Thihagoda Central College
- Telijjawila Central College, Matara
- Rajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya -Telijjawila Rajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya -TelijjawilaRajakeeya Maha Vidyalaya-Telijjawila was founded in 1910. It is situated in Matara district of Sri Lanka....
- Narandeniya National College
- Sariputha vidyalaya, Pamburana
- Thalpawila Central College
- Mahanama Vidyalaya, Walgama
- Rohana Special School
- mara kamburugamuwa maha vidyalaya,matara
Daham Pasal
- Sri Medananda Daham PasalaSri Medananda Daham PasalaSri Medananda Daham Pasala is a school located in the Akuressa Matara Road Near the Palatuwa Village. It was initially founded as a Daham school in 1974. The founder of the school was the Rer. Baragama Dammaloka Thero incumbent of Unella Sri Nagarama Purana Viharaya...
established in 1974.
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*Sri Mihidu Daham Pasala Kirimatimulla
*sri rewatha daham pasala medagoda