Polonnaruwa District Profile
a.         Location and Area

 

 

 

a.         Location and Area

Polonnaruwa District is situated in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Consisting of an area of 3,403 km². It is situated in the dry zone plane towards the North East of the island.

 

 

b.         Boundaries

North    -Anuradapura & trinco
South   -Ampara & Matale
West    -Batticaloa
East     -Anuradapura & Matele

c.         Administrative Division

Polonnaruwa District is divided in to ___ Divisional Secretariat Divisions and their activities are coordinated and supervised by the Colombo District Secretariat.

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

Division

Sq. km.

GN Divisions

Villages

 Thamankaduwa  

445

55

125

 Dimbulagala  

578.9

56

97

 Hingurakgoda  

696

53

141

 Medirigiriya  

537

45

111

 Welikanda  

548

30

46

 Elahera  

349

28

88

 Lankapura  

184

28

49

Total

3337.9

295

657

Source: Dept. of Census and Statistics

 

e.         Local Government Units

Polonnaruwa District consist of ___ local authorities consisting of ___ municipal council, ___ urban councils and 5 Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Names of Local Government units

Municipal Council

 

 

Urban Councils

 

 

Pradeshiya Sabha

f.          Physical Features

Polonnaruwa is the model environmental district of Sri Lanka and has national parks, including Minneriya, Girithale, Wasgamuwa, Kaudulla and Somawathiya. Common characteristics of dry zone forest in Sri Lanka can be seen in these national parks, and Minnariya and Girithale are very popular among tourists for echo tourism.

g.        

h.        

i.          Climate and Rainfall

 

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 polonnaruwa District in o C         

Month

Years

1961 - 1990

Average

2007

Highest          Lowest

2006

Highest                 Lowest

January

 

 

 

 

 

February

 

 

 

 

 

March

 

 

 

 

 

April

 

 

 

 

 

May

 

 

 

 

 

June

 

 

 

 

 

July

 

 

 

 

 

August

 

 

 

 

 

September

 

 

 

 

 

October

 

 

 

 

 

November

 

 

 

 

 

December

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

  j.        Mineral Resources

 k.         Population

Population and population density is considerably low in comparison with other districts in the island. In terms of census took place in 2001, population is approximately four hundred thousand and annual growth rate is 1.6%. Population density is 177 km2. Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are living in Polonnaruwa as ethnic wise and their religion are Buddhism, Hindu, Islam, Roman Catholic and other Christian sectors. 

Table 2.3 - Division vise Population according to age

 

Division

Under 20years

Over 20 years

Total Population

 Thamankaduwa  

27463

47275

74739

 Dimbulagala  

32349

45365

77713

 Hingurakgoda  

21110

39268

60377

 Medirigiriya  

24625

39202

63827

 Welikanda  

13434

17967

31400

 Elahera  

14899

24207

39106

 Lankapura  

13747

21092

34838

Total

147624

234375

382000

Source: Dept. of Census and Statistics

  Table 2.4 - Division vise Demographic Details 

Name of the Division

2001 Estimated

No. of families

Population

 Thamankaduwa  

19244

85631

 Dimbulagala  

20265

89039

 Hingurakgoda  

17138

69176

 Medirigiriya  

16386

73129

 Welikanda  

9794

35976

 Elahera  

11536

44805

 Lankapura  

8540

39915

Total

102903

437671

 

Table 2.5 – Population Details by ethnicity  

Sinhala

Tamil

Indian Tamil

Muslim

Malay

Burgher

Other

Total

393532

8606

-

34460

28

34

11

437671

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

 

Literacy

Total %

Sex

M

F

Literate

90.0

91.2

88.7

Illiterate

  10.0

8.8

11.3

Total

100

100

100

Source:

l.          Social Structure

Most of the community in Polonnaruwa district fined their means of sustenance through agriculture and the majority is engaged in paddy cultivation. Through the reconstruction of ancient magical irrigation system, present cultivations are watered and the district of Polonnaruwa contributes at a considerable level to total paddy production of Sri Lanka. In addition to paddy cultivation, other crops are also being cultivated and fishing industry also in operation in major reservoirs and at the same time people engage in animal husbandry as well.

 m.        Health

Health facilities in the district are not in a satisfactory level. In addition to the Polonnaruwa base hospital, 23 rural hospitals are in operation in the district.

n.         Education

Education level of the district in lower than Colombo and the total number of schools in the district are 231 and number of student, are approximately 90,000 and 3500 teachers are serving in these schools.

 

 Table 2.7 - Number of schools

Division

National schools

Grade 1 A&B

Grade

1  C

Grade

2

Grade

3

Total

 Thamankaduwa  

1

2

10

11

6

30

 Dimbulagala  

0

2

13

14

27

56

 Hingurakgoda  

2

2

2

20

6

32

 Medirigiriya  

1

0

7

12

12

32

 Welikanda  

0

0

4

8

25

37

 Elahera  

0

1

3

14

10

28

 Lankapura  

0

1

7

7

2

17

Total

4

8

46

86

88

232

 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.

 

 

1586

 

 

3687 

 

 

 2074

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 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

Transport facilities in Polonnaruwa are at a satisfactory level. However the road network in the district does not the meet the required standards.

Table 2.14 - Infrastructure – Details of the Road Network

 

Grade

Tarred

Gravel

Total

A

100.45

 -

100.45

B

56.8

 -

56.8

C

228

 -

228

D

337.4

 -

337.4

Municipal, UC and  Pradeshiya Sabha Roads

72

3331

3403

Total

794.65

3331

4125.65

             Table 2.15 - Infrastructure – Details of Consumers of Electricity

2007

Polonnaruwa  Area 

Domestic

                        

Religious

 

Business

 

Industries

 

Total

 

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

                                                                                         

2007

Sub Depot

Sub Depot

Domestic

 

 

Religious

 

 

Business

 

 

Industries

 

 

Total

 

 

 r.         Industry

As the medieval capital of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa district is significant for its tourism. As a result, the hotel industry has also reached high proportion to host the tourists that visit the city for its world famous ruins.

Currently Polonnaruwa district is becoming industrialized and is stepping forward towards development  with an environmental friendly background.

Table 2.1 - Other functional areas at a Glance

 

 

Number of Police Stations               

07

 

Number of General Hospitals (TH)

01

Number of Base Hospitals

02

Number of District Hospitals

 

Number of Division Hospitals

 

Number of Private Hospitals

 

Number of Peripheral units

04

Number of Rural Hospitals

04

Number of Central Dispensaries

09

 

No. of houses in the district

98491

 

No of Post Offices

09

Special Grade

 

A Grade

 

B Grade

 

Sub Post Offices

89

Agency Post Offices

01

 

No of housing units

 

 

No of rivers

02

 

Banks

57

 

s.          Hazards

t.          Development