Matugama
Mathugama (Sinhala: මතුගම, Tamil: மாத்துகம) is a semi urban town surrounded by mountains. It is an electorate of the Kalutara district, in Western Province, Sri Lanka. The town is located 64 km to the south of Colombo. Matugama is also spelled as Mathugama.
Mathugama මතුගම மாத்துகம | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
  Mathugama | |
| Coordinates: 6°31′20″N 80°6′52″E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Western Province |
| District | Kalutara District |
| Elevation | 147 m (482 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone) |
| Postal Code | |
History
Mathugama is part of the Pasdun Korale (Sinhala: පස්දුන් කෝරලේ) (meaning: county of the five yojanas), created when King Parakramabahu the Great drained the Kalu Ganga basin.
In the days of the State Council it comprised the present-day Agalawatte, Bulathsinhala and Matugama constituencies.
In 1946, it was divided into two, the eastern portion becoming Agalawatte (itself subdivided in 1960 by the creation of Bulathsinhala).
Since 1989 it has been an electoral division of the Kalutara District, not a constituency sending a member to parliament in its own right.
Members of State Council
The constituency was represented in the State Council by:
- D. D. Athulathmudali - 1931-1936
- C. W. W. Kannangara - 1936-1947
Members of Parliament
- Wilmot A. Perera - 1947-1956
- Daya T. Pasqual - 1956-1977
- Reginald Wijegunaratne -1977-1983
- Anil Munasinghe - 1983-1994
- Mahinda Samarasinghe - 1989 onwards
- Kumara Welgama - 1994 onwards
- Palitha Thewarapperuma - 2010 onwards
Geography
Bounded by: North - Kalu Ganga river East - Bulathsinhala and Agalawatte electorates South - Bentota Ganga river West - Kalutara and Beruwala electorates.
Schools in Matugama
- Ananda Sastralaya National School asm.lk
- C. W. W. Kannangara Central College (National School)
- St. Mary's College
- D. D. Athulathmudali Vidayalaya
- E. W. Adikaram Maha Vidyalaya
- Rathnaloka College (Semi-Government)
- Leeds International school
Transport
Matugama is easily accessible via the Southern Expressway (Sri Lanka). The town is located about 10 km (6.2 mi) eastward to the Dodangoda Interchange.
There are two access roads from Colombo-Galle main road at Katukurunda (in Kalutara) and Aluthgama. Matugama is also accessible via Horana or Agalawatte.
Buses are the only form of public transportation in Matugama. Bus routes terminating at Matugama:
- 285 - Horana (via Bulathsinhala)
- 399 - Pitigala / Elpitiya
- 403 - Neluwa
- 408 - Aluthgama(via Yatadola)
- 428/2 - Gulawita (via Walallawita, Meegahathenna)
- 428 - Walallawita (via Meegahathenna)
- 430 - Colombo via Nagoda Kalutara
- 430/1 - Kalutara
- 431 - Kudaligama
- 433 - Agalawatte / Baduraliya / Wathugedara
- 435 - Pelawatta (via Meegahathenna, Polgampala, Agalawatte )
- 441 - Aluthgama (via Dharga Town)
- 458 - Horana (via Neboda)
- 458/1 - Kandy / Jafna
- 15 - Anuradapura
- 482 - Kalawana
- 437- Kelinkanda (via Molkawa, Agalawatte )
- 428/1 - Avithawa (via Walallawita)
- 965/1 - Walallawita (via Gulawita, utumgama)
- 98/5 - Akkaraipattu, Monaragala
- 99/5 - Badulla
- 18/42 - Nuwara Ealiya.
- 22 - Ampara
- 4 - Puttalam