Matara District Profile

 

a.         Location and Area

Matara District is surrounded by a scenic coastal belt and full of natural beauty. It possesses a proud history and is a fertile region situated between Galle and Hambantota Districts in Southern Sri Lanka. It lies within 5.8 – 6.4 degree northern latitudes and 80.4 – 81.7 degree eastern longitudes. This district is 1282.5 Km or 128,250 hectare in extent and extends with gradual altitude level up to 1158 m from sea level at hilly region it consist of a part of Sinharaja World Heritage forest and attractive waterfalls. The District covers 1.96% of total extent of land of the Island and 23.14% 0f Southern Province.

 b.         Boundaries

North  - Kalawana Divisional Secretariat (Ratnapura District)
South   - Coastal belt
West   -
Habaraduwa,Imaduwa,Yakkalamulla,Thawalama and Neluwa Divisional Secretariats
East     -
Tangalle (Hambantota District)

c.         Administrative Division

Matara District consists of 16 Divisional Secretariat Divisions.

Table 2.9 - Extent, Number of GN Divisions and Villages in each Division

Division

Sq. km.

GN Divisions

Villages

 Akuressa  

148.8

46

103

 Athuraliya  

63

28

61

 Devinuwara  

39.9

41

80

 Dickwella  

51.9

48

107

 Hakmana  

47.7

34

89

 Kamburupitiya  

60.9

39

113

 Kirinda - Puhulwella  

37.5

25

56

 Kotapola  

175.5

37

110

 Matara Four Gravets  

53.9

66

108

 Malimbada  

44.7

29

72

 Mulatiyana  

115.3

48

100

 Pasgoda  

148.3

43

180

 Pitabeddara  

141.6

40

56

 Thihagoda  

45.2

40

152

 Weligama  

44

48

101

 Welipitiya  

64.3

38

170

Total

1282.5

650

1658

Source: Dept. of Census and Statistics  

e.         Local Government Units

Matara District consist of 17 local authorities consisting of 1 Municipal Council, 1 Urban Council and 15 Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Names of Local Government units

Municipal Councils

Matara

Urban Councils

Weligama

Provincial Councils

Matara
Thihagoda
Hakmana
Kirinda Puhulwella
Pasgoda
Mulatiyana
Kamburupitiya
Akuressa
Malimbada
Weligama
Devinuwara
Dikwella
Kotapola
Pitabeddara
Athuraliya

 

f.          Physical Features

The district claims to a coastal belt 55 Km long which lies from Nilwella at Dickwella to Midigama in Weligama. About 85% of this coastal belt is covered by South  - West rains. The width of the continental shelf close to Matara district is about 7Km. In addition the district extends about 64 Km from the South towards the internal direction up to Sinharaja Forest.

g.        

h.  

 

      

i.          Climate and Rainfall

Matara District climatically belongs to wet zone of the low country. This pattern of climate lasts similarly to general condition of the island. The monthly temperature of the district records a higher rate in the months of February, March and April. But when considered with the months November and December no variation of the temperature can be seen. The average of the temperature for three decades is 26.7 º C.

1

Annual Rainfall in Selected Areas and seasonal pattern

North East Monsoon (Nov-Feb)

Inter Monsoon -01(Feb-Apr)

South West Monsoon (May- Sep)

Inter Monsoon – 02 (Oct-Nov)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Table 2.10 - Temperature in Badulla District in o C         

Month

Years

1961 - 1990

Average

2007

Highest          Lowest

2006

Highest                 Lowest

January

25.9

29.1

23.2

29.1

23.2

February

26.5

30

24.2

30

24.2

March

27.3

31.1

24.9

31.1

24.9

April

27.7

30.6

26.1

30.6

26.1

May

27.6

30.1

25.6

30.1

25.6

June

27.1

29.6

25.8

29.6

25.8

July

26.7

28.6

25.4

28.6

25.4

August

26.5

29

24.8

29

24.8

September

26.6

29.3

25.3

29.3

25.3

October

26.4

29.7

25.1

29.7

25.1

November

26.3

30

24.1

30

24.1

December

26.1

29.2

23.9

29.2

23.9

Average

26.7

29.7

24.9

29.7

24.9

Source: Dept. of Census and Statistics

 

  j.         Mineral Resources

k.            Population 

Table 2.3 - Division vise Population according to age 

Division

Under 18 years

Over 18 years

Total Population

 Akuressa  

17,626

34,969

52,595

 Athuraliya  

10,732

21,137

31,869

 Devinuwara  

15,744

30,930

46,674

 Dickwella  

18,389

35,798

54,187

 Hakmana  

11,356

20,536

31,892

 Kamburupitiya  

13,048

26,390

39,438

 Kirinda - Puhulwella  

6,907

13,667

20,574

 Kotapola  

25,099

42,497

67,596

 Matara Four Gravets  

10,817

22,472

33,289

 Malimbada  

35,660

78,638

114,298

 Mulatiyana  

16,559

32,086

48,645

 Pasgoda  

21,406

37,879

59,285

 Pitabeddara  

18,262

33,819

52,081

 Thihagoda  

10,266

22,374

32,640

Weligama  

23,668

46,512

70,180

Welipitiya  

16,577

32,179

48,756

Total

272,115

531,884

803,999

Source: Dept. of Census and Statistics  

Table 2.4 - Division vise Demographic Details 

Name of the Division

2001 Estimated

No. of families

Population

 Akuressa  

13 854

51 585

 Athuraliya  

8 618

31 257

 Devinuwara  

10 976

45 778

 Dickwella  

14 936

53 147

 Hakmana  

8 951

31 280

 Kamburupitiya  

11 384

38 681

 Kirinda - Puhulwella  

5 767

20 179

 Kotapola  

16 055

66 298

 Matara Four Gravets  

27 334

112 104

 Malimbada  

8 990

32 650

 Mulatiyana  

13 807

47 711

 Pasgoda  

15 219

58 147

 Pitabeddara  

13 055

51 082

 Thihagoda  

9 453

32 013

Weligama  

18 888

68 833

Welipitiya  

12 943

47 820

Total

210 230

788 564

 Table 2.5 – Population Details by ethnicity  

Sinhala

Tamil

Indian Tamil

Muslim

Malay

Burgher

Other

Total

734 279

4 910

17 398

22 924

-

150

100

779 821

Source: Dept. of Census and Statistics

 Table 2.6 - Percentage Distribution of Population (10 years and over) by Literacy and Sex (2006 Census)

Literacy

Total %

Sex

M

F

Literate

596544  (90.3)%

290828

305715

Illiterate

64006  (9.7)%

25691

38314

Total

660549

316519

344030

Source: Dept. of Census and Statistics

l.          Social Structure

 m.        Health

 n.         Education

 

 Table 2.7 - Number of schools

Division

National schools

Grade 1 A&B

Grade

1  C

Grade

2

Grade

3

Total

 Akuressa  

1

0

5

15

8

29

 Athuraliya  

0

0

6

5

5

16

 Devinuwara  

0

1

4

9

2

16

 Dickwella  

1

1

8

11

5

26

 Hakmana  

0

1

7

11

5

24

 Kamburupitiya  

1

0

3

14

4

22

 Kirinda - Puhulwella  

1

0

0

7

3

11

 Kotapola  

1

1

3

15

4

24

 Matara Four Gravets  

1

0

6

6

1

14

 Malimbada  

7

2

8

11

8

36

 Mulatiyana  

1

0

4

19

4

28

 Pasgoda  

1

0

5

16

6

28

 Pitabeddara  

0

0

7

12

4

23

 Thihagoda  

1

1

3

12

1

18

Weligama  

3

1

3

17

2

26

Welipitiya  

0

0

8

9

7

24

Total

19

8

80

189

69

365

 Source: Department of Census and Statistics

 Table 2.8 - Students studying in GCE (AL) Classes

 

 

Science

Arts

Commerce

Boys

Girls

Total

Boys

Girls

Total

Boys

Girls

Total

No.

 

 

3506

 

 

5854

 

 

4293

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 o.         Economy

 

Table 2.11 - Extent of Paddy Cultivation in 2005/ 2006 

Total No. of Lots

Less than ½ acre

½ - 1 acre

1 – 5 acres

More than 5 acres

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage

 

 

 

 

Table 2.11 - Cultivated Extent of Paddy – Irrigation Pattern

 

Year

 

No. of Lots

Cultivated Extent in Acres

Total

Major Irrigation

Minor Irrigation

Rain fed

2005 /2006 maha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 p.        

 q.        Infrastructure

i.          Transportation

Table 2.14 - Infrastructure – Details of the Road Network

 

Grade

Tarred (km)

Gravel

Total

A

140.55

 

140.55

B

239.98

 

239.98

C

251.07

 

251.07

D

203.94

27.28 

231.22

Municipal, UC and  Pradeshiya Sabha Roads

705.7

3569.1

4274.8

Total

1541.2

3596.37

5137.57

Source: Dept. of Census and Statistics

            

 Table 2.15 - Infrastructure – Details of Consumers of Electricity

2007

Matara

Weligama

Domestic

74 985

50 112

Religious

485

322

Business

6 675

5 029

Industries

605

188

Total

82 750

55 651

 Table 2.16 - Infrastructure – Details of Consumers of pipe borne water

                                                                                           

2007

Matara Sub Depot

Domestic

39 854

Religious

 435

Business

1 265

Industries

1 051

Total

42 605

 r.         Industry

Table 2.1 - Other functional areas at a Glance

 

 

Number of Police Stations               

14

 

Number of General Hospitals (TH)

01

Number of Base Hospitals

01

Number of District Hospitals

02

Number of Division Hospitals

 

Number of Private Hospitals

05

Number of Peripheral units

04

Number of Rural Hospitals

02

Number of Central Dispensaries

12

 

No. of houses in the district

197552

 

No of Post Offices

30

Special Grade

 

A Grade

 

B Grade

 

Sub Post Offices

194

Agency Post Offices

7

 

No of housing units

174712

 

No of beaches

184

 

other water bodies

234

 

marches

80

 

s.          Hazards

t.          Development