Galle District
Encyclopedia
Galle is a district
in Southern Province
, Sri Lanka
.
and East by Matara
and Ratnapura
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 rainforest
s, which is the water catchment area for most of the rivers and lakes flows across Galle District. Sinharaja Forest Reserve
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 (70.2 mi). It passes Neluwa, Thawalama, Nagoda Baddegama and Thelikada
areas. The river nourishes the land in extent of 922 km² (356 sq mi). 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.
In the ancient Sri Lanka Galle was called as " Gimhathitha" The Sinhalese pronunciation "Gaala" derived from the word "gala" (stone). Gala implies meeting place of bullock carts. Latter it was pronounced as "Gaala" as there were large rock and hills in the district.
, Martin Wickramasinghe
, P.S.D.Kularathna, Piyasena Kahandagamage, D.T.Wimalasurendra, Senarath Paranavithana
, A. T. Ariyaratne
and Ariyapala Gurunnanse are some of the sons of Galle district, who did a great service to the motherland.
The annual Galle Literary festival brings 3,000 people to Galle each January, attracting writers from throughout South Asia.
Districts of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government...
in Southern Province
Southern Province, Sri Lanka
The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota. The region is economically backward compared to the Western province, where the capital Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte is situated...
, Sri Lanka
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...
.
Geological background
Its area is 1652 km² (637.8 sq mi), in which 35 km² (13.5 sq mi) is water and 1617 km² (624.3 sq mi) is land. Galle District bounded on the North by Benthara river, South and West by the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and East by Matara
Matara District
Matara is a district in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Its area is 1,246 km². It is represented in the Sri Lankan Parliament following the Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2010 by former Sri Lankan national Cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya who stood for the United People's Freedom Alliance....
and Ratnapura
Ratnapura District
Ratnapura is a district of Sri Lanka in the province of Sabaragamuwa.The gem-mining centre of Sri Lanka is also a major crossroad between southern plains and the hill country to the east. A bustling market city servicing most of the surrounding towns. Many of the prominent gem dealers in Sri Lanka...
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 rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s, which is the water catchment area for most of the rivers and lakes flows across Galle District. Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO....
is one of them. Galle district lies in a temperate climatic zone.
Annual rain fall is between 2000-2500mm. The river Gin River
Gin River
The Gin River , is a long river situated in Galle District of Sri Lanka. Its water source arrives from the Gongala Mountains in Deniyaya. The Gin River flows past the villages of Baddegama, Nagoda, Thelikada and Hegoda. The Wakwella Bridge, which is the longest bridge in Sri Lanka, is built over...
"Gin Ganga" starts from Gongala Hill of Hiniduma patthuwa and in its long journey of 113 km (70.2 mi). It passes Neluwa, Thawalama, Nagoda Baddegama and Thelikada
Thelikada
Thelikada is a rural village situated in Galle District, in the southern part of Sri Lanka.The Gin River flows near the village. Also the Gin Dam is lying inside the village...
areas. The river nourishes the land in extent of 922 km² (356 sq mi). 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 Vijayabahu I started his battled against "Soli" in Thambalagamuwa of Hinidum Pattu. According to legends, during reign of king Dambhadeniya Parakramabahu carried out his battle agents Queen Sugala in the Galle District. Galle was very important area during reign of King Maha Parakramabahu 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 the word "gala" (stone). 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 , produced great scholars to the country. Akmeemana Dharmarama Thero, Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thero, Migettuwatte Gunananda TheraMigettuwatte Gunananda Thera
Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera or Mohottiwatte Gunananda Thera was a Sri Lankan Buddhist orator. He is known for leading the Buddhist side in debates that occurred between the Buddhists and the Christians in Baddegama, Udanwita, Waragoda, Liyanagemulla, Gampola, and in the most famous of the debates...
, Martin Wickramasinghe
Martin Wickramasinghe
Martin Wickramasinghe , MBE was a Sri Lankan novelist. His books have been translated into several langues....
, P.S.D.Kularathna, Piyasena Kahandagamage, D.T.Wimalasurendra, Senarath Paranavithana
Senarath Paranavithana
Senerath Paranavitana was a pioneering archeologist and epigraphist of Sri Lanka. His works dominated the middle-part of the 20th century. He became the archeological commissioner in 1939, following H. C. P. Bell, and D. M. de Z. Wickremasinghe in that position.He was born on 26 December 1896 at...
, A. T. Ariyaratne
A. T. Ariyaratne
Sri Lankabhimanya Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne is the founder and president of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement in Sri Lanka.-Biography:...
and Ariyapala Gurunnanse are some of the sons of Galle district, who did a great service to the motherland.
The annual Galle Literary festival brings 3,000 people to Galle each January, attracting writers from throughout South Asia.
World Heritage Sites
- Galle fortGalle FortGalle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the south east coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards...
- Sinharaja Forest ReserveSinharaja Forest ReserveSinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO....
Forest Reserves
- Kanneliya Forest Reserve
- Hiyare Forest Reserve