Kegalle

Kegalle (Sinhala: කෑගල්ල; Tamil: கேகாலை) is a large town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It is located on the Colombo–Kandy road, approximately 78 km (48 mi) from Colombo and 40 km (25 mi) from Kandy. It is the main town in the Kegalle District, which is one of two districts which comprise Sabaragamuwa Province. The town is governed by an Urban Council.

Kegalle

කෑගල්ල
கேகாலை
Town
Kegalle Clock Tower
Kegalle
Location in Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 7°15′11″N 80°20′43″E
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceSabaragamuwa Province
DistrictKegalle District
Population
 (2012[1])
 • Total17,962
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (SLST)
Postal code
71000
Area code(s)035

The surrounding area produces graphite, precious stones and agricultural products such as rice. Kegalle has an agricultural based economy and mainly produces rubber. Kegalle is the nearest town to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, a major tourist attraction in the area, which is 10.5 km (6.5 mi) to the north-east.

History

The history of the area dates back to the stone age of Sri Lanka. According to evidence there had been a prosperous civilisation in Kegalle prior to 28,000 years. The caves of Beli lena, Dorawaka lena, Alu lena, Asmadala, Padavigampola, Batalegala, Lenagala, Ambala Kanda, Halamada, Heenatipana, Uthuwankanda, Beligala, Salawa, Yahalena, Salgala and Kela Dambulla provide evidence of that.

According to the archaeology of the Kegalle District, it has been a region in Maya Rata, which was one of three divisions of Sri Lanka. In the latter half of the Sinhalese kingdom and also by the ruling period of the British, Kegalle was further divided into three parts; “Satara Koralaya”,” Thun Koralaya” and “Patha Bulathgama”.

Physical information

Kegalle, situated in between the central highlands and western southern planes and has an enchanting environment. The height of the western region is less than 500 feet above sea level while the eastern region exceeds 1,000 feet. Rubber cultivation has stretched over most of the area of the district and minor export crops such as coffee, cocoa, pepper, clove and nutmeg takes an important place in the district's economy. Sri Lanka’s best graphite mine is situated at Bogala in Kegalle District. The extent of the District is 1692.8 km2 (169,280 in hectares). Sri Lanka 65610 km2

Economy

The land has become another fertile facilitator to the cultivation promoted needs of the citizens of Kegalle.The district mainly being an agrarian society, rubber, tea and coconut are cultivated as the main crops of it. Apart from that clove, pepper, coffee and cocoa too are being cultivated as secondary commodities. As of the Rubber cultivation, 33% of the agrarian lands have been utilized for it.29000 acres of land area have been occupied for the paddy cultivation.The rain water is the main resource provider for the cultivations in Kegalle.

Minerals are another lucrative donor of the district of Kegalle. The Bogala graphite is one of the most notable mine in Kegalle district and marks a half amount of the total mineral export of Sri Lanka. The gem distribution near the Kelani River further boosts for the economic prosperity of the district.

Education

Secondary

The town has a number of schools namely

  • Royal College - Kegalle (formerly known as Walagamaba Kanishta Vidyalaya)
  • St. Mary's College
  • St. Joseph Balika Vidyalaya - Kegalle (formerly known as St. Joseph's Convent)
  • Kegalu Vidyalaya
  • Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya
  • Swarna Jayanthi Vidyalaya
  • St. Mary's Maha Vidyalaya
  • Aranayake Central College (M.M.V.), Ussapitiya
  • Baduriya Central College, Mawanella
  • Bandaranayake Maha Viddayalaya, Hettimulla
  • Dippitiya Muslim Maha Vidyalaya,
  • Dehiowita M.V.
  • Dharul Uloom Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, Rambukkana
  • Dudley Senanayaka Central College (M.M.V.), Tholangamuwa
  • Hathgampala Maha Vidyalaya, Aranayaka
  • Mayura paada M.M.V., Mawanella
  • Molagoda Jayapala Maha Vidyalaya
  • Pinnawala Central College (M.M.V.), Rambukkana
  • Rajasinghe Central College (M.M.V.), Ruwanwella
  • Sirisaman M.M.V., Deraniyagala
  • Sulaimaniya Navodya School, Kannattota
  • Thalgaspitiya Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, Aranayake
  • Walagama Maha Vidyalaya, Dewalegama
  • Yatiyantota M.M.V.
  • Zahira College Mawanella (Muslim M.M.V.)
  • Parakumba Maha Vidyalaya , Dedigama

Higher Education Institutes

Attractions

At present, Kegalle being one of the most hospitable and cozy district it has become one of the profitable tourist attractions of the country.The rhythmical plummet of waterfalls of Asupini Ella,the shabby of Kurulu Kelaya with the lengthiest fungi tree of Sri Lanka, Pinnawala elephant orphanage and the Pinnawala Open Air zoo (First Open Air Zoo in Sri Lanka) and pool resources into be another dynamic co -hand of the economy, culture and society of Sri Lanka .

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Main article: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants located at Pinnawala village, 13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of Kegalle town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Pinnawala is notable for having the largest herd of captive elephants in the world.

Asupini Ella

Asupini Ella (waterfall) also called 'Asupini Falls' is a 30 metres (98 ft) waterfall that can be seen from the historic town of Aranayake. According to ancient tales, it was named after the story about a King who had many queens. On his return from war, he assured them that he would give them a sign from the hills about the fate of the war. He said, “If his soldiers waved a white flag over the hills, it would mean he was defeated and killed in action. But, if he waved his own flag bearing his crest, that he was victorious". The King decided to play a joke on his wives, who were waiting with their horses near the waterfall to see the visual message, by waving a white flag. His wives were so upset that they all committed suicide by jumping over the falls which inspired the name Ahupini, which is derived from 'Aswaya' (Horse) and 'Pini' or 'Panina' (Jump) which combined means "the horses jumped over the falls".

Buddhist Temples

Wewaladeniya Viharaya, also known as Kegalla Siri Mahindodaya Piriwen Viharaya is one of oldest temples in Kegalle. It is located at the centre of the town.

Other

Alagalla Mountain Range in Sabaragamuwa province is "Freedom Summit" in Sri Lanka, where an annual folk climbing event takes place on 4 February commemorating country's independent from British empire.

Notable people from Kegalle
Sir.Edwin Wijeyeratne First elected Kegalle member, State Council of Ceylon & Sri Lankan independence activist
  • Sir Edwin Wijeyeratne - First elected member of Kegalle to State Council of Ceylon, Sri Lankan independence activist & Cabinet Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development in the government of D. S. Senanayake.
  • The Honourable Dr. P. B. G. Kalugalla - Member of Sri Lanka Parliament from Kegalle District for 26 years until 2000. He was the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to Philippines[2]

Demographics
Ethnicity in Kegalle(2001)
Population Percent
Sinhalese
 
 91.11%
Sri Lankan Tamils
 
 3.6%
Sri Lankan Moors
 
 3.03%
Indian Tamils
 
 0.88%
Others
 
 1.36%
EthnicityPopulation% Of Total
Sinhala15,88291.11
Sri Lankan Tamil6293.6
Sri Lankan Moor5283.03
Indian Tamils1530.88
Other (including Burgher, Malay)2381.36
Total17,430100
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See also

References
  1. "Sri Lanka - largest cities (per geographical entity)". World Gazetteer. Archived from the original on 2011-04-26. Retrieved 2012-12-29. External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. Kalugalla passes away. The Island, Retrieved on 22 November 2007.
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