From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Province of Sri Lanka
Province of Sri Lanka
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Southern Province |
| native_name | දකුණු පළාත |
| தென் மாகாணம் | |
| settlement_type | Province |
| image_flag | Flag of the Southern Province (Sri Lanka).PNG |
| image_map | Sri Lanka Southern Province locator map.svg |
| map_caption | Location within Sri Lanka |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Sri Lanka |
| established_title | Created |
| established_date | 1833 |
| established_title1 | Admitted |
| established_date1 | 14 November 1987 |
| seat_type | Capital |
| seat | Galle |
| seat1_type | Largest City |
| seat1 | Galle |
| leader_title | Governor |
| leader_name | Vacant |
| leader_title1 | Chief Minister |
| leader_name1 | Vacant |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| area_total_km2 | 5544 |
| area_rank | 7th (8.46% of total area) |
| parts_type | District |
| parts_style | List |
| p1 | Galle |
| p2 | Hambantota |
| p3 | Matara |
| population_total | 2,464,732 |
| population_rank | 3rd (12.18% of total pop.) |
| population_as_of | 2011 census |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Gross Regional Product |
| demographics1_footnotes | (2010) |
| demographics1_title1 | Total |
| demographics1_info1 | Rs 492 billion |
| demographics1_title2 | Rank |
| demographics1_info2 | 3rd (10.2% of total) |
| timezone1 | Sri Lanka |
| utc_offset1 | +05:30 |
| blank_name_sec1 | Official Languages |
| blank_info_sec1 | Sinhala, Tamil |
| iso_code | LK-3 |
| registration_plate | SP |
| website |
தென் மாகாணம்
The Southern Province ( Dakuṇu Paḷāta, Theṉ Mākāṇam) of Sri Lanka is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the country. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. It is the 7th largest province by area and is home to 2.5 million people, the 3rd most populated province. The province is bordered by Sabaragamuwa Province and Uva Province to the North, Eastern Province to the Northeast, Western Province to the Northwest and the Indian Ocean to the South, West and East. The Province's capital is Galle.
The Southern Province is a geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of this region. Government School education is primarily handled by the Southern Provincial Education Department.
Administrative divisions
Main article: Districts of Sri Lanka, Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka, List of cities in Sri Lanka
Southern Province is divided into 3 districts and 47 divisional secretariats.
| District | Capital | Area | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galle District | Galle | 1,652 km2 | 1,075,000 |
| Hambantota District | Hambantota | 2,609 km2 | 596,617 |
| Matara District | Matara | 1,283 km2 | 831,000 |
Divisional Secretariats
Main article: List of Divisional Secretariats of Southern Province, Sri Lanka
The districts of the Sri Lanka are divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became 'Assistant Government Agents' and the divisions were known as 'A.G.A. Divisions'. Currently, the divisions are administered by a 'Divisional Secretary', and are known as a 'D.S. Divisions'.
There are 47 divisional secretariats in the Southern Province, with 19 in Galle District, 12 in Hambantota District and 16 in Matara District.
Major population centres
| Cities of Southern Province by Population | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (2012) | Rank | Name | District | Population | |
| 1 | Galle | Galle | 86,333 | ||
| 2 | Matara | Matara | 74,193 | ||
| 3 | Hikkaduwa | Galle | 27,075 | ||
| 4 | Hambantota | Hambantota | 23,236 | ||
| 5 | Weligama | Matara | 22,377 | ||
| 6 | Ambalangoda | Galle | 19,990 | ||
| 7 | Tangalle | Hambantota | 8,473 |
Ethnicity and religion
| other-label = Others | other-color = grey
The Southern Province has a population of 2,606,679. The province is dominated by Sinhalese, with a small Moor and Tamil minority.
| other-label = Others | other-color = grey
Landmarks
Important landmarks of the Southern Province include the wildlife sanctuaries of the Yala and Udawalawe National Parks. Ussangoda in Ambalantota is a panoramic view of the beach and the sea, and the holy city of Kataragama, and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. (Although Galle is an ancient city, almost nothing survives from before the Portuguese invasion.) During the Portuguese period there were two famous Sinhalese poets called Andare who was from Dickwella and Gajaman Nona who was from Denipitiya in Matara District, composing poems on common man.
The Southern Province was seriously affected by the tsunami in 2004. The province is going through a rebuilding process.
References
References
- (2012). "Population by Province, 2012". Department of Census & Statistics.
- [http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201007/20100719north_east_record_highest_gdp_growth_rate.htm :.News Line : North, East record highest GDP growth rate] {{webarchive. link. (20 June 2012)
- "Provinces of Sri Lanka". Statoids.
- "Provincial Councils". [[Government of Sri Lanka]].
- (2012). "Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary's Division". Department of Census & Statistics.
- (2024). "Population by ethnicity according to Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 2024".
- (2024). "Population by religion according to Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 2024".
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Southern Province, Sri Lanka — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report