Matale ( Sinhala: මාතලේ, ta, மாத்தளை, translit=Māttaḷai) is the administrative capital city of the

Matale District Matale District ( si, මාතලේ දිස්ත්‍රික්කය, ta, மாத்தளை மாவட்டம்) is a district in Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is one of 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administra ...

. It is the most urbanised and populated centre in the

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...

. Matale is also the second largest municipal and urban centre in central province after

Kandy Kandy ( si, මහනුවර ''Mahanuwara'', ; ta, கண்டி Kandy, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills ...

. It is located at the heart of the central hills of the island and lies in a broad, fertile valley at an elevation of above sea level. Surrounding the city are the

Knuckles Mountain Range The Knuckles Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka, in the Districts of Matale and Kandy. The range takes its name from a series of recumbent folds and peaks in the west of the massif which resemble the knuckles of clenched fist when viewed f ...

, the foothills were called ''

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershir ...

'' by the British. They have also called this place as Matelle.

History

Matale is the only district of Sri Lanka, where an ancient book of

written history Recorded history or written history describes the historical events that have been recorded in a written form or other documented communication which are subsequently evaluated by historians using the historical method. For broader world hist ...

is found. It is known as ''Pannagamam - பன்னாகமம் ("Five Headed Serpent" in English) of Goddess Muthumari in

Sri Muthumariamman Temple, Matale Muthumariamman Temple (Tamil: முத்து மாரியம்மன் கோவில்) or Arulmigu Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil is a Hindu temple in Matale, Sri Lanka. The prefix “Muthu”, literally means “pearl”. "Mari" mean ...

.'' The most important historical incident in Matale is writing the thripitaka which was held during the ruling period of king Walagamba in 89-77 BC in

Aluvihare Aluvihare ( si, අලුවිහාරය ta, அலுவிஹார்) is a suburb of Matale, Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is located north of Matale and north-east of Colombo. The suburb is situated on the Kandy-Jaffna highway ( ...

, Therefore this is permanent evidence for human settlements in Matale before centuries of years. There are folklores receipt of the name “Matale”. It is mentioned that “Mahatala” become as Matale because it is placed in a valley and also the King Gajaba invaded “Soli Rata” and brought and settled 12,000 peoples in here it is become as Matale. There are number of folktales about the name of Matale. Mahathala has been used for large valley area. It gradually converted as Matale. The

Aluvihare Rock Temple The Aluvihare Rock Temple (also called Matale Alu Viharaya) is a sacred Buddhist temple located in Aluvihare, Matale District of Sri Lanka. Surrounded by hills, the Aluvihara cave temple is situated 30 km north of Kandy on the Matale-Dambulla road ...

that is situated on north side of the city's suburb,

. The historic location where the

Pali Canon The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the most complete extant early Buddhist canon. It derives mainly from the Tamrashatiya school. During ...

was written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves in 29 BCE. Matale was the site of a major battle in 1848 when the Matale Rebellion started and the British garrison in the

Fort MacDowall Fort MacDowall was located in Matale. It was a fortified outpost during the Kandyan Wars, named after Major General Hay MacDowall, the 6th Commander of British Troops in Ceylon. The fort was one of the few inland forts constructed by the British ...

in Matale was placed under siege by the rebels led by Weera Puran Appu and

Gongalegoda Banda Wansapurna Dewage David alias Gongalegoda Banda (a.k.a. Peliyagoda David) (13 March 1809 – 1 December 1849 ) was the leader of the Matale rebellion in 1848, pretender to the throne of Kandy and a national hero of Sri Lanka. Early life Bo ...

. The city is also the birthplace of Monarawila Keppetipola, a rebel who led the Wellasa rebellion against the

British troops The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkhas ...

. His ancestral home, Kappetipola walawuwa, still exists at Hulangamuwa, Matale.

Attractions

* Anagarika Dharmapala monument *

Christ Church, Matale Christ Church, Matale ( si, ක්‍රිස්තු දේවස්ථානය, මාතලේ) is a Anglican church and the oldest church in Matale, Sri Lanka. The church is located on the site of the former Fort MacDowall, which was ab ...

* Matale clock tower *

Matale railway station Matale Railway Station is the terminus railway station on the Matale railway line of Sri Lanka. It is the 65th railway station on the line from Colombo Fort railway station and is located in the Matale District in the Central Province. It is f ...

, the former terminus of the Colombo railway (completed in 1880) *

Matale Sri Muthumariyamman Temple Muthumariamman Temple (Tamil: முத்து மாரியம்மன் கோவில்) or Arulmigu Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil is a Hindu temple in Matale, Sri Lanka. The prefix “Muthu”, literally means “pearl”. "Mari" means ...

* Nandamithra Ekanayake International Hockey Ground * Weera Monarawila Keppetipola Monument * Weera Puranappu Monument

Economy

The city is surrounded by large plantations and is famous for its spice gardens. In addition to agriculture, the main economic activities include

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism ...

, business and

trade Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct exch ...

. Population growth, urban expansion and economic development in Matale have created regulatory and management challenge
Matale Municipal Council Area (MMCA)

Education

Matale is home to some of the island's oldest and leading colleges and schools. * Government Science College * Amina Girl's National School, Matale *

Christ Church College, Matale Christ Church College, Matale (CCC) ( Sinhala : ක්‍රිස්තුදේව විද්‍යාලය) is a mixed state school in Matale, Sri Lanka. History The college was established in 1864, as the Christ Church Boy’s English ...

* Greenwood College International, Matale * Matale Hindu College, Matale * Matale International School * Pakkiyam National School, Matale * Royal English School Matale * St. Thomas' College, Matale * St. Thomas' Girls' School, Matale * Sinhala Buddhist College, Matale * Sri Sangamitta Balika National School, Matale * Sujatha Balika School, Matale * Technical College, Matale * Vijaya College, Matale * Vijayapala Collage, Matale *

Zahira College, Matale Zahira College (National School) Matale, (Arabic: Zahira means "Excellence"; ta, சாஹிரா தேசிய கல்லூரி, translit=; si, සහිරා ජාතික පාසල, translit=), is one of the oldest schools in ...

Demographics

The population of the city's urban area's is mix of numerous ethnic groups. The

Sinhalese Sinhala may refer to: * Something of or related to the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka * Sinhalese people * Sinhala language Sinhala ( ; , ''siṁhala'', ), sometimes called Sinhalese (), is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language prima ...

make the majority in the city.

Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abra ...

are the second largest group in the city. Others include Sri Lankan Tamils, small numbers of Indian Tamils, Burgher and Malay.

Ethnicity in Matale Urban Area (2007)

''Source:
''statistics.gov.lk''

Ethnicity in Matale Metro Area (2012)

''Source:
''statistics.gov.lk''

Suburbs

* Agalawatta (MC) *

(MC) * Hulangamuwa (MC) * Kaludewala (MC) *

Mandandawela Mandandawela is a suburb of Matale, located within the Central Province, Sri Lanka. See also *List of towns in Central Province, Sri Lanka Central Province is a province of Sri Lanka, containing the Kandy District, Matale District, and Nuwar ...

(MC) *

Palapathwela Palapathwela ( Sinhala:පලාපත්වෙල, Tamil:பலாபத்வெல ) is a suburb of Matale, Sri Lanka. It is located in Matale District, Central Province.The Kandy-Jafna main road (A-9 road) runs through Palapathwela. The popul ...

(PS) *

Ukuwela Ukuwela ( Sinhala:උකුවෙල, Tamil:உக்குவளை) is a suburb of Matale, Sri Lanka. It is located in Matale District, Central Province. It is located on the Wattegama-Matale Road (B462), about from the centre of the ci ...

(PS) *

Yatawatta Yatawatta is a suburb of Matale, Sri Lanka. It is located in Matale District, Central Province, Sri Lanka. =Villages located in Yatawatta= *Maligatenna See also *List of towns in Central Province, Sri Lanka Central Province is a province of Sri ...

(PS)

Notable personalities

Alick Aluwihare Wanisekara Bandaranayake Wasala Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Aluwihare Uda Walauwe Alick Aluwihare (commonly known as Alick Aluwihare; 20 December 1926 – 17 May 2009) was a Sri Lankan politician belonging to the United National Party. He was a Sri Lan ...

, politician *

A. S. Jayawardena Amarananda Somasiri Jayawardena (3 August 1936 – 29 May 2018) was a Sri Lankan economist and civil servant. He was the former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury and an Altern ...

, Governor Central Bank of Sri Lanka * Chanaka Welegedara, International cricketer *

Damith Wijayathunga Damith Chandima Bandara Wijayathunga (born 1991 as දමිත් විජයතුංග)), popularly as Damith Wijayathunga is an actor in television and a model. He is the winner of Mister Sri Lanka in 2017. Personal life Wijayathunga wa ...

, model and actor * Dayan Witharana, singer and photographer * Ehelepola Nilame, a minister in King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha's royal court *

Hemal Ranasinghe Hemal Sachindra Ranasinghe (born 25 August 1984 as හේමාල් රණසිංහ)) is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and television. He earned the critics' award for 'Best Actor' and 'Most Popular Actor' at the Derana Film Awards in b ...

, model and actor *

Keppetipola Disawe Rajapaksa Wickramasekera Mudiyanselage Bandaranayake Monarawila Keppetipola ( Sinhala:රාජපක්ෂ වික්‍රමසේකර මුදියන්සේලාගේ බණ්ඩාරනායක මොනරවිල කැප් ...

, leader of the Great Rebellion of Uva in 1818 *

Kingsley Jayasekera Weliwattage Kingsley Jayasekera (1924–2004) was a Sri Lankan actor, play producer and an A grade radio singer for Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Career Jayasekera was an A grade radio singer for Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, his ...

, actor and singer *

Kumar Sangakkara Kumara Chokshananda Sangakkara ( si, කුමාර් චොක්ශනාද සංගක්කාර; born 27 October 1977) is a Sri Lankan cricket commentator, former professional cricketer, businessman, ICC Hall of Fame inductee and ...

, International cricketer *

Prabath Jayasuriya Neketh Gedara Roshan Prabath Jayasuriya, commonly known as Prabath Jayasuriya (born 5 November 1991), is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for the national team. In domestic matches, he plays for Colts Cricket Club and Jaffna Stallio ...

, International cricketer * Ven. Premananda, Hindu

guru Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...

Richard Aluwihare Sir Richard Aluwihare, (23 May 1895 – 22 December 1976) was a Sri Lankan civil servant. He was the first Ceylonese Inspector General of Police and Ceylon's High Commissioner to India. Early life and education Richard Aluwihare was born on ...

, first Ceylonese Inspector General of Police *

Richard Udugama Major General Deshamanya Alexander Richard Udugama, MBE (11 November 1911 – 14 May 1995) was a Sri Lankan military leader, politician and diplomat. Former Army Commander (1964–1966), he was elected as Member of Parliament for Matale from ...

, first Sinhalese Buddhist Army Commander * Sanath Wimalasiri, dramatist and dancer *

Gen. The Book of Genesis (from Greek ; Hebrew: בְּרֵאשִׁית ''Bəreʾšīt'', "In hebeginning") is the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its Hebrew name is the same as its first word, ( "In the beginning"). ...

Shavendra Silva General Shavendra Silva, WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP ( si, ශවේන්ද්‍ර සිල්වා, ta, ஷவேந்திர சில்வா) is a Sri Lanka Army officer. He is the Chief of Defence Staff and former Commander o ...

, Commander of the 58 Division during the Sri Lankan Civil War, current

Commander of the Sri Lanka Army The Commander of the Army ( si, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ යුද්ධ හමුදාපති, śrī laṁkāvē yuddha hamudāpati) is the title of the professional head of the Sri Lanka Army. The current Commander of the Army is ...

William Gopallawa William Gopallawa (, ; 17 September 1896 – 31 January 1981) was the last Governor-General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and became the first and only non-executive and ceremonial President of Sri Lanka when Ceylon declared itself a republic in ...

, last

Governor-General of Ceylon The Governor-General of Ceylon was the representative of the Ceylonese monarch in the Dominion of Ceylon from the country's independence in 1948 until it became the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972. History There were four governors-general. ...

and first president of

Republic of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

References

External links

The Official website of Sri Muthumariamman Thevasthanam

Knuckles range nature preservation centre

* ttp://www.aluvihara.virusinc.org/ The official web site of Aluvihara rock cave temple {{Authority control Kingdom of Kandy