Uva Province ඌව පළාත ஊவா மாகாணம் | |
|---|---|
 View from Ella Gap | |
 Location within Sri Lanka | |
| Coordinates:6°35′24″N81°01′48″E / 6.59000°N 81.03000°E /6.59000; 81.03000 | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Created | 1886 |
| Admitted | 14 November 1987 |
| Capital | Badulla |
| Largest City | Badulla |
| Districts | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Provincial council |
| • Body | Uva Provincial Council |
| • Governor | Kapila Jayasekera |
| Area | |
• Total | 8,500 km2 (3,300 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 4th (12.92% of total area) |
| Population (2011 census) | |
• Total | 1,266,463 |
| • Rank | 8th (6.3% of total pop.) |
| • Density | 150/km2 (390/sq mi) |
| Gross Regional Product (2021)[1] | |
| • Total | Rs. 922 billion |
| • Rank | 7th (5.2% of total) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka) |
| ISO 3166 code | LK-8 |
| Vehicle registration | UP |
| Official Languages | Sinhalese Tamil |
| Flower | Gurulu raaja (Rhynchostylis retusa) |
| Website | www |
TheUva Province (IPA:[uːʋə],Sinhala:ඌව පළාත,romanized: Ūva Paḷāta,Tamil:ஊவா மாகாணம்,romanized: Ūvā Mākāṇam) is one of the nineprovinces ofSri Lanka. The province has an area of 8,500 km2 and a population of 1,266,463, making it the 2nd least populated province. The provincial capital isBadulla.
Uva is bordered by theEastern,Southern,Sabaragamuwa, andCentral provinces. It is home to several tourist attractions,waterfalls and twonational parks:Yala National Park andGal Oya National Park.
Uva's provincial history records an1818 uprising (also known as the Third Kandyan War) against theBritish colonial government which had been controlling the formally independent Udarata (Sinhalese:Up-Country), of which Uva was a province. The uprising was led byKeppetipola Disawe, a rebel leader celebrated by theSinhalese even today, who was sent initially by the British government to stop the uprising.[citation needed] The rebels managed to captureMatale andKandy before Keppetipola fell ill and was captured and beheaded by the British. His skull was abnormal, as it was wider than usual, and was sent to Britain for analysis. It was returned to Sri Lanka afterindependence, and now rests in the Kandy Museum.[2]
The rebellion, which soon developed into aguerrilla war of the kind the Kandyans had fought against European powers for centuries, was centred on the Kandyan nobility and their unhappiness with developments under British rule since 1815. However, it was the last uprising of its kind. In the Uva Province, ascorched earth policy was pursued, which included the killing ofcattle and other livestock, the destruction of private property (including homes and stocks ofsalt) and the burning of rice paddies. In the rebellion, more than 10,000Sinhalese were killed. In addition to the scorched earth policies, the colonial government also confiscated properties owned by insurgents.[3]The Crown annexed theKingdom of Kandy toBritish Ceylon in 1817.[4][5]
The Uva province has an area of 8,500 km2 and a population of 1,259,880.
Uva is home to several major tourist attractions, like thewaterfalls of Dunhinda falls, Diyaluma Falls, and Rawana Falls, and theYala National Park (lying partly in the Southern and Eastern Provinces) andGal Oya National Park (lying partly in the Eastern Province).
The Gal Oya hills and the central mountains are the main uplands, while the Mahaweli (Sinhalese:great-sandy) and Menik (Sinhalese:gemstone) rivers and the huge Senanayake Samudraya and Maduru Oya Reservoirs are the major waterways of the province.
Uva's symbolic mountain isNamunukula, which stands tallest among the mountain range surrounding Badulla. The highest mountain in the Uva Province isTotapolakanda, which lies on the border with theNuwara Eliya District.[6] There are views of the Welimada basin,Katharagama andHambantota from Namunukula peak on a clear day.
TheHaputale-Beragala gap gives a view of the Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces on a clear day.
Uva is divided into 2 districts:
| District | Capital | Area (km2) | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badulla District | Badulla | 2,861 | 815,405 |
| Monaragala District | Monaragala | 5,639 | 451,058 |
There are 26 divisional secretariats in the Uva Province. There are 15 in theBadulla District and 11 in theMoneragala District.
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The Uva Province is renowned for its diverse landscapes, rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, making it a popular destination for domestic and international tourists alike. The province boasts numerous waterfalls, forest reserves and stunning hill country vistas. Notable waterfalls includeDunhinda Falls,Diyaluma Falls,Bambarakanda Falls,Ravana Falls andBomburu Ella. The highlands aroundHaputale,Bandarawela andElla offer panoramic views, which are often accessed via hiking trails that wind through tea plantations and along misty mountain slopes.Hortons Plains National Park, which borders Uva Province, is famous for its 'World's End' viewpoint and its unique montane ecosystems. TheGal Oya andYala National Parks, which are partly located in Uva Province, are also important wildlife conservation areas that attract visitors interested in safaris andbirdwatching. Uva has several sites of historical and religious significance. One of the oldest Buddhist temples is theMuthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya inBadulla, which dates back to the reign ofKing Devanampiyatissa (307–267 BC) and visited bySri Gauthama Buddha.[7]
TheDowa Rock Temple, close to Bandarawela, contains ancient Buddha statues and rock paintings. Evidence of colonial-era architecture can be seen in towns such as Bandarawela and Badulla. Visitors can also explore local temples, caves and sites of historical significance, such as those associated with the Uva–Wellassa Uprising of 1817–1818.[8] Tea plantations are a key feature of tourism in the Uva region. Guided tours of the plantations and factories allow visitors to observe the cultivation and processing of tea, as well as sampling it. Hiking is also a popular activity, with routes such as those to Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock,Nine Arch Bridge and the trails around Haputale offering both short and long trekking options. Wildlife safaris are offered in parks such as Yala and Gal Oya, where you can see elephants, numerous bird species and other endemic fauna.[9]
Major towns such as Badulla, Bandarawela, Ella and Haputale serve as hubs for visitors. Hill country roads connect these towns and link to the southern and eastern lowlands. The region is accessible by road, and train with public and private transport services available. Many tourist sites are located at elevations ranging from about 600 metres to over 1,400 metres above sea level, contributing to cool climates in the hill country.[10]
Places adjacent to Uva Province | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
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