Nawalapitiya

Nawalapitiya (Sinhala: නාවලපිටිය, Tamil: நாவலபிட்டி) is a town in Central Province, Sri Lanka.

Nawalapitiya

නාවලපිටිය
நாவலபிட்டி
Nawalapitiya
Nawalapitiya
Coordinates: 7°03′N 80°32′E
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceCentral Province
Government
  TypeUrban Council
  ChairmanNishantha Kumara Ranasinghe
  Vice ChairmanGamunu Sumathipala
Area
  Land262 km2 (101 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)
  Total23,567
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone)
  Summer (DST)UTC+6 (Summer time)

The town is located in the Kandy District, and is governed by an Urban Council. It is 38 km (24 mi) away from Kandy and 112 km (70 mi) from Colombo, at a height of 589 m (1,932 ft) above sea level. It is located on the banks of the Mahaweli Ganga.

The area was developed during the colonisation of the island by the British, as one of the colony's centres of coffee production.[1][2] The Nawalapitiya Division was established in 1876 and in 1878 a town council was established. The town area was developed by Pulle Lebbe Hajiar of Polvathura and some Sinhala entrepreneurs led by Don Johannes Lorensuhewa, who owned most of commercial establishments in the town.

Transport

Nawalapitiya railway station

Nawalapitiya is located at the junction of Nawalapitya-Ginigathena (B319); Nawalypitia-Kotmale (B317) and Kandy Roads (AB13).

In 1874 the railway line was extended from Kandy to Nawalapitiya, with the Nawalapitiya railway station opening on 21 December.[3][4] The station serves as a terminus for a number of commuter trains, with all local trains stopping at the station. The station comprises three platforms and two siding loops. In 1885 the railway was extended to Nanu Oya.[5]

Education

The following is a list of Public schools in Nawalapitiya listed according to the Alphabetical order.

  • Anuruddha Kumara National School
  • Kathiresan College
  • Nawalapitiya Central College
  • St. Andrew's Balika Maha Vidyalaya
  • St. Mary's College

References

  1. Mills, Lennox A. (2012). Ceylon Under British Rule, 1795-1932. Routledge. p. 245. ISBN 9781136262647.
  2. Breckenridge, Shiva N. (2001). The Hills of Paradise: British Enterprise and the Story of Plantation Growth in Sri Lanka. Stamford Lake. p. 105.
  3. Lawrie, Sir Archibald Campbell (1898). "A Gazetteer of the Central Province of Ceylon (excluding Walapane)". 2. G.J.A. Skeen, Government Printer, Ceylon: 69. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Ratnasinghe, Aryadasa (13 June 1999). "Train to Badulla". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  5. Ellis, Royston (1 May 2016). "A Fascinating Journey". Sunday Times. Sri Lanka. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
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