North Central Province උතුරු මැද පළාත வட மத்திய மாகாணம் | |
|---|---|
 Location within Sri Lanka | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Created | 1873 |
| Admitted | 14 November 1987 |
| Capital | Anuradhapura |
| Largest City | Anuradhapura |
| Districts | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Provincial council |
| • Body | North Central Provincial Council |
| • Governor | Wasantha Kumara Wimalasiri |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,472 km2 (4,043 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 1st (16.31% of total area) |
| Population (2011 census) | |
• Total | 1,266,663 |
| • Rank | 7th (5.91% of total pop.) |
| • Density | 120.96/km2 (313.28/sq mi) |
| Gross Regional Product (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | Rs. 232 billion |
| • Rank | 7th (4.8% of total) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka) |
| ISO 3166 code | LK-7 |
| Vehicle registration | NC |
| Official Languages | Sinhalese Tamil |
| Website | www |
North Central Province (Sinhala:උතුරු මැද පළාතUturumæda Paḷāta,Tamil:வட மத்திய மாகாணம்Vada Mattiya Mākāṇam) is one of the nineprovinces ofSri Lanka. The province has an area of 10,472 km2, making it the largest province by area, and a population of 1,266,663, making it the 3rd least populated province.[1]Anuradhapura is the capital city of the province.
The North Central province is home to the ancient cities ofAnuradhapura andPolonnaruwa, both of which were historical capitals ofSri Lanka during ancient times. The two cities were the capitals of theAnuradhapura kingdom (437 BCE–1017 CE) and thePolonnaruwa kingdom (1070–1232) respectively.
The provinces of Sri Lanka were established by theBritish in 1833. In independent Sri Lanka, provinces did not have any legal status or power until 1987, when the13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka establishedprovincial councils.[2][3]
The centralised system of Sri Lanka, which is aunitary state, failed to satisfy the aspirations of the people. There was growing insistence on decentralisation of administrative processes to achieve rapid economic and social development of the country.
TheNorth Central Provincial Council is the main administrative and control body in the North Central Province.
The province has an area of 10,472 km2 and a population of 1,266,663. It is the largest province by area, covering 16% of the total land area of Sri Lanka. The province consists two districts, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura; the Anuradhapura district is the largest district in Sri Lanka by area.
The province has asemi-arid climate and mostforests situated in the province areSri Lankan dry-zone dry evergreen forests.
The province is also referred to asWew Bendi Rajje due to the sheer amount of medium and large scale tanks situated in the province, with more than 3000. More than 65% of the province’s population depend on basic agriculture and agricultural based industries.
The North Central province has innumerable potential for investors to start their businesses, specially agriculture, agricultural based industries and livestock sectors.
| Ethnic group | Population | % |
|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | 1,151,005 | 90.87% |
| Sri Lankan Moors | 100,869 | 7.96% |
| Tamils1 | 12,667 | 1.0% |
| Others | 2,122 | 0.17% |
| Total | 1,266,663 | 100.00% |
1Sri Lankan Tamils andIndian Tamils.
| Religion | Census 2012[7] | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | % | |
| Buddhism | 1,139,595 | 89.97% |
| Islam | 101,958 | 8.05% |
| Christianity | 14,875 | 1.17% |
| Hinduism | 10,117 | 0.80% |
| Others/None | 118 | 0.009% |
| Total | 1,266,663 | 100% |
| Employed Population | Total | Percentage Male | Percentage Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government employee | 100,045 | 76.1 | 23.9 |
| Semi government employee | 9,737 | 69.4 | 30.6 |
| Private sector employee | 84,916 | 72.7 | 27.3 |
| Employer | 7,176 | 83.9 | 16.1 |
| Own account worker | 231,848 | 80.4 | 19.6 |
| Unpaid family worker | 50,975 | 28.9 | 71.1 |
| Total | 484,697 | 72.6 | 27.4 |
The North Central Province is divided into twodistricts and 29divisional secretariats.
| District | Capital | Area (km²) | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anuradhapura District | Anuradhapura | 7,128 | 856,232 |
| Polonnaruwa District | Polonnaruwa | 3,293 | 403,335 |
| Division | District | Population (2001 census)[9] |
|---|---|---|
| Nuwaragam Palatha East | Anuradhapura | 69,590 |
| Nuwaragam Palatha Central | Anuradhapura | 60,828 |
| Kekirawa | Anuradhapura | 58,879 |
| Thalawa | Anuradhapura | 57,663 |
| Nochchiyagama | Anuradhapura | 49,730 |
| Medawachchiya | Anuradhapura | 46,743 |
| Galenbindunuwewa | Anuradhapura | 46,527 |
| Thambuttegama | Anuradhapura | 42,143 |
| Kahatagasdigiliya | Anuradhapura | 40,137 |
| Ipalogama | Anuradhapura | 38,688 |
| Horowpothana | Anuradhapura | 36,714 |
| Rambewa | Anuradhapura | 36,426 |
| Mihinthale | Anuradhapura | 35,160 |
| Galnewa | Anuradhapura | 34,718 |
| Palagala | Anuradhapura | 33,740 |
| Rajanganaya | Anuradhapura | 33,434 |
| Thirappane | Anuradhapura | 26,962 |
| Nachchadoowa | Anuradhapura | 25,569 |
| Padaviya | Anuradhapura | 22,924 |
| Kebithigollewa | Anuradhapura | 22,227 |
| Mahavilachchiya | Anuradhapura | 22,183 |
| Palugaswewa | Anuradhapura | 15,557 |
| Dimbulagala | Polonnaruwa | 79,661 |
| Thamankaduwa | Polonnaruwa | 68,526 |
| Medirigiriya | Polonnaruwa | 65,575 |
| Hingurakgoda | Polonnaruwa | 64,289 |
| Elahera | Polonnaruwa | 43,915 |
| Lankapura | Polonnaruwa | 36,452 |
| Welikanda | Polonnaruwa | 33,770 |
Places adjacent to North Central Province, Sri Lanka | |
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