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Matale මාතලේ மாத்தளை | |
|---|---|
 Matale Skyline | |
  Matale මාතලේ மாத்தளை | |
| Coordinates:7°28′7″N80°37′22″E / 7.46861°N 80.62278°E /7.46861; 80.62278 | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Central Province |
| District | Matale District |
| Division | Matale Division |
| Kingdom of Anuradhapura | Mathula Colony in 4th century BC |
| Municipal Council from 1963 | Matale Municipal Council |
| Founded by | King Pandukabhaya |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| • Body | Matale Municipal Council |
| • Mayor | Ashoka Kottahachchi (NPP)[1] |
| • Municipal Commissioner | E. L. R. B. Atampawala |
| • Matale Secretariat | Prasanna Madanayake[2] |
| • Matale Police Deputy Inspector General | D. R. L. Ranaweera[3] |
| Area | |
| 70.0 km2 (27.0 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 25.65 km2 (9.90 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 71 km2 (27 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 364 m (1,194 ft) |
| Population (2016) | |
| • Urban | 38,229 |
| • Urban density | 4,051/km2 (10,490/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 78,864 |
| • Metro density | 1,069/km2 (2,770/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Mathalites |
| Language | |
| • Official | Sinhala andTamil |
| • Additional | English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Time in Sri Lanka) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+5:30 (not observed) |
| Postal code | 21xxx |
| Area code | 066 |
Matale (Sinhala: මාතලේ,IPA:[maːt̪əleː],Tamil:மாத்தளை,romanized: Māttaḷai,IPA:[maːt̪ɐɭɛi̯]) is a major city inCentral Province,Sri Lanka. It is the administrative capital and largest urbanised city ofMatale District. Matale is also the second largest urbanised and populated city in Central Province. It is located at the heart of theCentral Highlands of the island and lies in a broad, green fertile valley at an elevation of 364 m (1,194 ft) abovesea level. Surrounding the city are theKnuckles Mountain Range, the foothills were calledWiltshire by the British. They have also called this place as Matelle.[4][5][6]
Matale is the only district of Sri Lanka where an ancient book ofwritten history is found. It is known asPannagamam – பன்னாகமம் ("Five Headed Serpent" in English) of GoddessMuthumari inSri Muthumariamman Temple.
The most important historical incident in Matale is the writing of the Thripitaka during the reign of King Walagamba in 89–77 BC inAluvihare. It is mentioned that "Mahatala" become the modern word Matale because it is placed in a valley and also the King Gajaba invaded "Soli Rata" and brought and settled 12,000 people here.[7]
TheAluvihare Rock Temple that is situated on north side of the city's suburb,Aluvihare. The historic location where thePali Canon was written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves in 29 BCE.[citation needed]
Matale was the site of a major battle in 1848 when theMatale Rebellion started and the British garrison in theFort MacDowall in Matale was placed under siege by the rebels led byWeera Puran Appu andGongalegoda Banda.[citation needed]
The city is also the birthplace of Monarawila Keppetipola, a rebel who led the Wellasa rebellion against theBritish troops. His ancestral home, Kappetipola walawuwa, still exists at Hulangamuwa, Matale.[citation needed]
The city is surrounded by large plantations and is famous for its spice gardens. In addition to agriculture, the main economic activities includetourism,business andtrade. Population growth, urban expansion and economic development in Matale have created regulatory and management challenges.[8][9]
Matale is home to some of the island's oldest and leading colleges and schools.
According by the statistics of 2019, 8.2% of the population ofMatale District live in theMatale city limits and 15% of the population of the district live inMatale metropolis.[10] Matale is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural city, city's urban and metro area's residents are mix of numerous ethnic groups. TheSinhalese make the majority of the city.Muslims are the second largest ethnic group in the city. Others includeSri Lankan Tamils, small numbers ofIndian Tamils,Burghers andMalays.
| Population | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | 46.1% | |||
| Muslims | 33.0% | |||
| Sri Lankan Tamils | 14.1% | |||
| Indian Tamils | 7.0% | |||
| Others | 0.9% | |||
Source:statistics.gov.lk
| Population | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | 62.3% | |||
| Muslims | 18.6% | |||
| Sri Lankan Tamils | 16.0% | |||
| Indian Tamils | 2.4% | |||
| Others | 0.6% | |||
Source:statistics.gov.lk
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