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PO Box 10 University of Sri Jayewardenepura Gangodawila, Nugegoda (+94) 112881777 (+94) 112801481 (+94) 113132496 [email protected]. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura formerly known as Vidyodaya Pirivena was the essence of the revival of Sri Lankan Education. It is the second oldest University in Sri Lanka and the first University established in Independent Ceylon.
ශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර විශ්වවිද්යාලය ஸ்ரீ ஜயவர்தனபுர பல்கலைக்கழகம் | |
Vidyodaya University | |
Motto | Vijja Uppattam Setta (among all that arise, knowledge is the greatest) |
---|---|
Established | 1873Vidyodaya Pirivena 1959 Vidyodaya University |
Academic affiliation | University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka), Association of Commonwealth Universities, International Association of Universities |
Chancellor | Ven. Dr. Ittapana Dhammalankara Anu Nayake Maha Thero |
Vice-Chancellor | Prof. Sampath Amaratunge |
3950 | |
Undergraduates | 14,750 |
Postgraduates | 3560 |
Location | , 6°51′11.710″N79°54′9.96″E / 6.85325278°N 79.9027667°E |
Campus | Main premises at Gangodawila |
Sporting affiliations | Sri Lanka University Games |
Website | www.sjp.ac.lk |
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura (also referred as Jayewardenepura University or USJP) (Sinhala: ශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර විශ්වවිද්යාලය, Tamil: ஸ்ரீ ஜயவர்தனபுர பல்கலைக்கழகம்) is a university in Sri Lanka. It is in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital city. It was formed in 1958 out of the Vidyodaya Pirivena, a Buddhist educational centre which was founded in 1873 by Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera.[1]
- 1History
- 3International links
- 4Research
- 5Institutes, Units and Faculties
History[edit]
Students Hero Statue Sri Jayewardenepura University Sri Lanka
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura has a long history dating back to 1873 when the Vidyodaya Pirivena was established by the erudite monk Venerable Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thero who established the pirivena as a center for Oriental learning.[2]
In 1956, following a change of government with Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike as the prime minister and following the policy of promoting national languages and culture, it was decided to establish two new universities by conferring university status on the Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Pirivenas. Accordingly, the Vidyodaya University and Vidyalankara University Act No. 45 of 1958 established the universities at the Vidyodyaya Pirivena at Maligakanda and the Vidyalankara Pirivena at Kelaniya. In 1958, it was reconstituted as the Vidyodaya University of Ceylon.
Sri Lanka University
In 1961, a new location was selected at Gangodawila, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southeast from the center of Colombo and in walking distance of a main trunk road known as the High Level Road (A4). This road connects Colombo to Ratnapura and beyond. Part of these lands belonged to the nearby Sunethradevi Pirivena, associated with King Parakramabahu VI (1412–1467). The shift of the university to the new site was effected on 22 November 1961, under the direction of Ven. Sri Soratha Thero. The vice-chancellor invited the Department of the Government Archives to establish its archives within the campus, close to the University Library, to encourage research.
In 1966 the University scene changed for the better under the Higher Education Act no 20.[3] Universities were open for female admission. This was not all that changed; the Vice Chancellor position of the universities’ were no longer restricted to be assumed by the Maha Sanga.
When Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula Thero was the vice-chancellor, the university grew significantly in stature. When Ven. Dr. Rahula Thero left the university in 1969, linguist Prof. D. E. Hettiarachchi took over. A noted employee of at this time was Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was chairman of the United Corporations and Mercantile Union local on the campus. He was later elected as the President of Sri Lanka.
The revitalization of the university continued until the insurgency in 1971. The political atmosphere at the time heavily affected the education of University students. Following the insurgency, the university premises was taken over by the army and converted into a detention camp for suspected insurgents during the brief period of 1971-1972.[2]
During this period the university managed to conduct lectures at different locations, thereby the students were not completely deprived of the education they deserve.
In 1972 all universities were transformed to a campus status under the University of Ceylon Act 1 of 1972. According to the Act all universities were made campuses of the single university: ‘University of Sri Lanka’.[4] In 1978 the University status was restored with the next cycle of change in management of higher education.
Its full-time student population is over 8,500,[5] enrolled in the faculties of Applied Sciences, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management Studies and Commerce, Medical Sciences, and Technology.
List of Chancellors and Vice Chancellors[1][6][edit]
Chancellor | Period | Vice-Chancellor | Period |
Sir Oliver Goonetilleka, Governor (Ex-Officio) | 1959 - 1962 | Ven. Welivitiye Soratha Nayaka Thero | Jan. 1959 – July 1963 |
Hon. William Gopallawa, Governor (Ex-Officio) | 1962 - 1977 | Ven. Palannoruwe Sri Wimaladhamma Nayake Thero | Aug 1963 – Sept. 1966 |
Ven. Parawahera Vajiragnana Nayake Thero | Mar. 1966 – Sept. 1966 | ||
Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Nayake Thero | Oct. 1966 – Nov. 1966 | ||
Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula Thero | Nov. 1966 – July 1969 | ||
Prof. D. E. Hattiarachchi | Aug. 1969 – Aug. 1970 | ||
Prof. HemaEllawala (Vice-Chancellor/Campus President) | Sept. 1970 – Sept. 1972 | ||
Prof. V. K. Samaranayake (Campus President) | Oct. 1972 – Sept. 1973 | ||
Prof. M. D. C. Dharmawardena | Mar. 1974 – Jan. 1975 | ||
Prof. W. M. K. Wijayathunge | Feb. 1975 – May 1977 | ||
HE J. R. Jayawardana President (Ex-Officio) | 1978 –1979 | Prof. K. Tuley de Silva | June 1977 – July 1978 |
Dr. E. W. Adhikaram | 01-01-1979 to 31-12-1983 | Prof. K. Jinadasa Perera (Campus President/Vice-Chancellor) | Jan. 1979 – Dec. 1981 |
Prof. T. B. Kangahaarachchi | Jan. 1982 – Jan. 1983 | ||
Dr. Wimala de Silva | 01-02-1984 to 31-01-1989 | Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku (Competent Authority) | 07 Feb. 1983 – 12 March 1984 |
-do - | 01-02-1989 to 31-01-1994 | Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku | 13 Mar. 1984- 7 April 1988 |
-do- | 01-02-1994 to 31-01-1999 | Prof. L.P.N. Perera | April 1988 – Sept. 1990 |
-do- | 01-02-1999 to 31-01-2004 (resigned on 31st August 2001) | Prof. S.B. Hettiarachchi | Oct. 1990 – Oct. 1992 |
W. B. Dorakumbura | Nov. 1992 – Oct. 1995 | ||
Prof. P. Wilson | Nov. 1995- April 1999 | ||
- | Prof. Tissa Kariyawasam Actg. Vice-Chancellor | May 1999 | |
Ven. Medagoda Sumanatissa Thero | 22-03-2002 to 21-03-2007 | Prof. J. W. Wickremasinghe | June 1999- May 2002 |
Prof. Tissa Kariyawasam (Actg. Vice-Chancellor) | June 2002 – Oct. 2002 | ||
Dr. D. S. Epitawatta | October 2002 – Dec. 2003 | ||
Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero, | 19-07-2005 to 18-07-2010 | Prof. Chandima Wijebandara | 27 July 2004 – Oct. 2005 |
- do - | 19-07-2010 | Prof. Narada Warnasuriya | Nov. 2005-30 Sept. 2008 |
Dr. N. L. A. Karunaratne (Actg. Vice-Chancellor) | Oct. 2008 – Nov. 15, 2008 | ||
Dr. N. L. A. Karunaratne | 16 Nov. 2008 – Nov. 15 2011 | ||
Dr. N. L. A. Karunaratne | 16 Nov. 2011 – Nov. 15, 2014e | ||
Prof. Sampath Amaratunge | 17Nov. 2014 – to Nov.2017 | ||
08.02.2018 | Prof. Sampath Amaratunge | 16Nov.2017- to date | |
Ven. Dr. Ittapana Dhammalankara Thero | 28.02.2018- to date | Prof. Sampath Amaratunge | 16Nov.2017- to date |
Faculties[edit]
Jayewardenepura Science Faculty
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, The Sumangala Building
The University first commenced its academic activities with five faculties: Buddhist studies, Philosophy, Languages, Arts, Ayurveda and Science. The five faculties worked under 22 departments.[2]
A view of Department of Physics over the garden
![University Of Sri Jayewardenepura University Of Sri Jayewardenepura](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1f/University_of_Sri_Jayewardenepura_crest.png/200px-University_of_Sri_Jayewardenepura_crest.png)
Today the university has seven main faculties: Applied Sciences, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management Studies and Commerce, Medical Sciences, and Technology. University has built its' reputation around the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce which is the most
In 1962, Department of Science elevated to a Faculty of Applied Sciences and G. C. N. Jayesuriya became the first Dean of the Faculty. The current Dean of the Faculty is Sudantha Liyanage from the Department of Chemistry.[7]
The Department of Medical Education and Health Sciences (DME&HS)[8] was established to improve and sustain the quality of the learning/teaching processes in the faculty and to conduct certificate, diploma of degree courses in Health Sciences. Although Medical Education units are in the university system, the DME&HS is the 'first and only one' department established under the system to develop, implement and review activities related to improving the efficiency of learning/teaching related to Medical and Health Sciences. The DME&HS is successfully facilitating collaborative work in implementing medical and para-medical (Allied Health Sciences) programmes including Nursing, Pharmacy and Medical and Laboratory Science degrees.
The Postgraduate Institute of Management is a semi-autonomous body affiliated to the university. It promotes advanced education and professionalism in management in Sri Lanka through the provision of postgraduate instruction, training, research, and development in the branches of management and administrative studies.
International links[edit]
World Class University Project (WCUP) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura[edit]
The University Grants Commission (UGC) defines the role of WCUP as: ‘The implementation of a series of activities on par with international standards and to formulate and implement specific strategies to move up in the internal ranking indexes and become ‘world class’ in order to achieve global excellence.” The focus of the WCUP is to encourage local fields that support innovation that lead to national development by prioritizing interdisciplinary studies that combines the fields of basic sciences and the humanities.[9]
At the University of Sri Jayewardenepura the WCUP is designed to develop a research culture within the university. The project under the lead of Dr. Ranil De Silva (Director) was established with the intention of encouraging world- class scholars and researches to develop academic programmes and departments within the university.
The WCUP of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura has signed six, International Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) since 2013 and has initiated twelve since 2013.[9]
Foreign Students’ Affairs[edit]
One of the more recent developments implemented under the Foreign Students’ affairs office chaired by Dr. Lalith Ananda, was established to provide the university students to gain an international experience through split programmes, student-exchange programmes, study visits, etc. The office also provides opportunity for the international community to take part in academic and research activities conducted in the university.[10]
Research[edit]
Research council[edit]
The research council of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura was established in 2016. The intention behind establishing the council is to facilitate high quality research. The research council comprises over 18 research centres.
The research centres were established to facilitate research projects regarding pressing issues of the country. Research awards, a research awards scheme, an editing scheme, foreign travel scheme and a publishing cost scheme have been implemented to encourage research by the university.[11]
Institutes, Units and Faculties[edit]
The university has several important institutes and Units in place to further develop education.
Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM)[edit]
This is a semi-autonomous, self-financed body affiliated to the university under the Director, prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri. The PIM was established in 1986 under the Universities Act 16 of 1978. It is one of the eight postgraduate institutes in Sri Lanka. It is the only higher education entity in the government sector that is ISO 9000:2008. It is a member of the Association of advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).[12]
External Degrees and Extension Course Unit[edit]
During the inception of the university in 1959 as Vidyodaya Pirivena, female students were not granted admission. The unit was first established to register women for the Bachelor of Arts External Degree Programme.
Today the external student population amounts up to 1500000 students (Registered within the last 10 years).[13]
English Language Teaching Department (ELTD)[edit]
The ELTD is operated under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The unit aims to improve the English proficiency of students. The unit introduced a new course in 2013 to the Faculty of Humanities and Social studies to improve English Language proficiency among the First Year students. The course was made a credit bearing course to encourage students to pursue the learning of the language. As of 2017, the unit was renamed as the English Language Teaching Department by the UGC [14]
The Physical Education Division[edit]
The physical education division of the university was established in the year 1968. The division provides facilities for 38 games. The facilities include an Out-door Volleyball courts, Basketball courts, Tennis courts, Standard sized swimming pool complex and a cricket ground.[15]
Staff Development Centre of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (SDC-USJP)[edit]
The centre focuses on uplifting the quality of employees by conducting various professional development programmes. The Centre serves all seven faculties of study, centre/ units, over 560 academics, 35 academic support staff, 37 executive staff and 20 non-academic staff.[16]
Centre for IT Services[edit]
The centre manages the campus-wide IT infrastructure[17]
The Career Guidance Unit[edit]
Established in 1998, the centre helps produce employable graduates by facilitating them with professional guidance. The centre has initiated a gavel club which hosts an annual speech master contest, building the confidence of students. The Career guidance Unit have also established a Career Skills development society which maintains several schemes: Annual job fair, J’pura employability awards ceremony, OBT Camp, “Donate Happiness Cancer Hospital project and ‘Arunella’ career guidance seminar for School children.[18]
Sports[edit]
University of Sri Jayewardenepura has won the Sri Lanka University games for three consecutive years. The University emerged overall champions of the 12th Sri Lanka University Games Organized by Wayaba University of Sri Lanka in 2016. This was the first time in the history a university was able to achieve this award.
The university has also produced the first undergraduate to participate in the Olympic games representing the country. Sumedha Ranasinghe of the University took part in the Rio Olympics 2016 with the intention of bringing glory to his motherland.[19]
Historically related institution[edit]
The Vidyalankara University was created at the same time as the Vidyodaya University. Today Vidyalankara University is known as the University of Kelaniya.
References[edit]
- ^Commemoration speech, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- ^ abc'History of University of Sri Jayewardenepura'. University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'Higher Education Act (No. 20 of 1966)'. www.commonlii.org. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'University Of Ceylon Act (No. 1 of 1972)'. www.commonlii.org. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka,Undergraduates admitted, number enrolled and graduate output of Universities by academic streams 2000-2006Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^University of Sri Jayewardenepura Annual Report 2016. pp. 8–9.
- ^'Introduction and History : A Journey Through Time'. Faculty of Applied Sciences. 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^Kumara, Chamil. 'Departments - Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura'. medical.sjp.ac.lk. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^ ab'World Class University Project'. www.sjp.ac.lk. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka'. University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'Research Council'. University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'https://www.pim.sjp.ac.lk/'. www.pim.sjp.ac.lk. Retrieved 2017-12-05.External link in
|title=
(help) - ^'Introduction and History'. External Degrees and Extension Course Unit. 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'English Language Teaching Unit | English Language Teaching Unit, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences'. fhss.sjp.ac.lk. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'Physical Education and Sports Center (PESC)'. University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'Staff Development Centre'. University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'Home | Centre for IT Services - University of Sri Jayewardenepura'. cits.sjp.ac.lk. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'Services providedby CGU - Career Guidance Unit - University of Sri Jayewardenepura'. Career Guidance Unit - University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^'Japura Champions of Inter University games 2017 meet Vice Chancellor'. University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
The name 'Walpola Rahula' should be edited/changed as Ven Dr. Walpola Rahula Thero
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=University_of_Sri_Jayewardenepura&oldid=897287954'
ශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ ஶ்ரீ ஜெயவர்த்தனபுர கோட்டே | |
---|---|
Colombo Metropolitan Region | |
Diyatha Uyana | |
Coordinates: 6°55′N79°55′E / 6.917°N 79.917°E | |
Country | Sri Lanka |
Province | Western Province |
District | Colombo District |
Government | |
• Mayor | Madura Vithanage (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) |
Area | |
• Administrative Capital | 17 km2 (7 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Administrative Capital | 115,826 |
• Density | 3,305/km2 (8,560/sq mi) |
• Metro | 2,234,289 |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (SLST) |
Postal code | |
Area code(s) | 011 |
Website | www.kotte.mc.gov.lk |
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, commonly known as Kotte (/ˈkoʊteɪ/), is the official, administrative capital of Sri Lanka.[2] Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is a satellite city and within the urban area of Sri Lanka's de facto economic and legislative capital, Colombo. Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council area is bounded in:
- the North by Kolonnawa Urban Council area,
- the North-East by the Kotikawatta–Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha area,
- the East by the Kaduwela Municipal Council area,
- the South-East by the Maharagama Urban Council area,
- the South-West by the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council and
- the West by the Colombo Municipal Council area, which is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka.
- 3Municipal structure [7]
- 5Infrastructure
History[edit]
Map of Kotte (1557-1565)
The village of Darugama lay at the confluence of two streams, the Diyawanna Oya and the Kolonnawa Oya. As Darugama was a naturally secure place, it was not easy for enemies to enter it. Here, in the 13th century, a chieftain named Nissanka Alagakkonara built a Kotte (meaning fortress)
Alagakkonara is mentioned by Ibn Batuta as ruling in Kurunegala, but other sources indicate that he was the Bandara (Guardian) of Raigama Korale (county) in the modern Kalutara District. Arya Chakravarthy's army was held by Alagakkonara in front of Kotte, while he defeated the enemy's invasion fleet at Panadura to the south-west.[3]
Kotte was a jala durgha (water fortress), in the shape of a triangle, with the Diyawanna Oya and Kolonnawa Oya marshes forming two long sides; along the shorter third (land) side a large moat (the 'inner moat') was dug. The fortress was nearly 2.5 km2 (0.97 sq mi) in area, fortified with ramparts of kabook or laterite rock, 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) high and 10.7 metres (35 ft) in breadth.[4]
In 1391, following the conquest of the Jaffna Kingdom by Prince Sapumal (Sembahap Perumal), Kotte was given the epithet 'Sri Jayawardhanapura' ('resplendent city of growing victory'). It became the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Kotte, which it remained until the end of the 16th century.
From the ramparts to the magnificent three storied buildings that housed the Kings Palace, Laterite and clay were the main raw material used in its construction. One of the places from which the laterite blocks were mined can be seen even today inside the premises of Ananda Sasthralaya (a local school).
The main features of the capital city were [4]-
- The King's palace, with walls of quartz that sparkle in the moonlight (candrakanta pasana) and a golden spire, with beautiful flower gardens and springs of water.[5]
- The three-storeyed Dalada Maligawa with Buddha's sacred tooth relic in it (Temple of the tooth)
- The five-storeyed 'Arama' where sixty Buddhist Bhikkus resided, with a Sangha Raja(a high priest)as the chief incumbent.
- The King's Treasure House
- The 'Kotavehara' at Baddagana, the only Buddhist temple of the city outside the moat and rampart.
- The Royal cemetery at Beddagana (Veherakanda memorial)
- The 'Angampitiya', the military parade and training ground just inside the inner moat.
The Portuguese arrived on the island in 1505 and were initially welcomed by the king. But they had militaristic and monopolistic intentions and gained control of the city by 1565. Failing to withstand repeated assaults by the forces of the neighbouring kingdom of Sitawaka, the city was abandoned by the Portuguese, who made Colombo their new capital.[6]
Like similar cities of that era, Sri Jayawardhanapura was built with security in mind. A rampart and moat protected the entire city. Traces of this moat and rampart are still visible today at certain places. Along parts of the rampart, encroachers have now built houses, garages and even toilets.
The urbanisation of Kotte restarted in the 19th century. The archaeological remains were torn up and used as building materials (a process that continues) — some of it even ending up in the Victoria Bridge, across the Kelani River.
Legislature[edit]
The New Parliament was inaugurated on 29 April 1982. The buildings were built on reclaimed land, after a massive lake was formed by dredging the marshlands around the Diyawanna Oya. The new parliamentary buildings were built on Duwa, a 50,000 square metre (12 acre) island in the centre of the lake. The island (off Baddegana Road, Pita Kotte) had been used as a recreation and brawling spot for Portuguese soldiers in the last days of the Kotte era, alcohol being banned from the Royal City. It had belonged to E. W. Perera and had housed a chicken farm prior to being vested in the state. On 29 April 1982, the new parliamentary complex was declared open by the former president J. R. Jayewardene.
The process of relocating government institutions from the former capital of Colombo is still in progress.
Municipal structure [7][edit]
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is located at the south east of Colombo.
The Kotte Urban Development Council was created in the 1930s, with a modern building at Rajagiriya. It was succeeded by the Kotte Urban Council, which had a large section of its area removed and tagged onto the Colombo Municipal Council ward of Borella while the Battaramulla urban council was dissolved and a small section of Battaramulla tagged onto the Kotte Urban Council. The Kotte Urban Council became the Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council in 1997, with Chandra Silva as the first Mayor.
There are 20 Members of the Municipal Council (MMCs), elected on proportional representation. There are 18 wards, but these are now merely polling divisions, without individual representation.
Zones[edit]
Wards[edit]
Ward Map of Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte Municipal Council[8]Ward No | Ward Name |
01 | Obesekarapura |
02 | Moragasmulla |
03 | Meda Welikada |
04 | Rajagiriya |
05 | Bandaranayakapura |
06 | Nawala West |
07 | Koswatta |
08 | Ethulkotte |
09 | Pitakotte East |
10 | Pitakotte |
11 | Pitakotte West |
12 | Nawala East |
13 | Nugegoda West |
14 | Pagoda North |
15 | Gangodavila East |
16 | Pagoda South |
17 | Nugegoda East |
18 | Gangodavila West |
Grama Niladhari Division[edit]
Division No | Division Name |
514 | Welikada East |
514A | Welikada West |
514B | Rajagiriya |
514C | Obesekarapura |
514D | Welikada North |
519 | Nugegoda |
519A | Pagoda |
519B | Nugegoda West |
519C | Pagoda East |
520 | Nawala West |
520A | Koswatte |
520B | Nawala East |
521 | Ethul Kotte |
521A | Ethul Kotte West |
522 | Pitakotte West |
522A | Pitakotte East |
522B | Pitakotte |
526 | Gangodavila North |
526A | Gangodavila South |
526C | Gangodavila East |
Demographics[edit]
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious urban centre. According to the census of 2012 the demographics by ethnicity and religion is as follows:
2012 | Percentage | |
---|---|---|
Buddhist | 82,841 | 77.06% |
Roman Catholic | 7,827 | 7.28% |
Muslim | 6,772 | 6.30% |
Other Christian | 5,040 | 4.69% |
Hindu | 4,864 | 4.52% |
Other | 164 | 0.15% |
Total | 107,508 | 100.00% |
Sinhalese | 91,268 | 84.89% |
Sri Lankan Tamil | 7,503 | 6.98% |
Sri Lankan Moor | 5,207 | 4.84% |
Burgher | 1,049 | 0.98% |
Other | 840 | 0.78% |
Indian Tamil | 801 | 0.75% |
Malay | 710 | 0.66% |
Sri Lankan Chetty | 72 | 0.07% |
Baratha | 58 | 0.05% |
Total | 107,508 | 100.00% |
Infrastructure[edit]
The HSBC Service Center
The Parliament of Sri Lanka situated in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Transport[edit]
The only main railway station is at Nugegoda, on the Kelani Valley Line . Also at Nugegoda is the main bus terminus. There is subsidiary bus stands at Pita Kotte. This urban area is well served by buses and there is a CTB bus depot at Udahamulla.
In 2005, a Passenger boat service was being finalised and would commence adjacent to Parliament Junction at Bataramulla and end at the Wellawatte canal near Marine drive. Each journey would take around 30 minutes. It would have stations at the Kotte Marsh, Nawala, Open University, Apollo Hospital, Duplication road, Wellawatte and at St Peter's College, Colombo.[11] The Sri Lanka Navy is currently[when?] conducting a pilot project between the Open University and Wellawatte.[citation needed]
Health[edit]
The main hospital of area situated at Madivela known as Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital is a gift from the Japanese government. There is a dedicated Eye & ENT hospital at Rajagiriya, and another maternity hospital under construction in Nawala. A small private health centre, the Blue Cross Hospital at Rajagiriya, provides basic facilities for medical diagnostics, and there is a small nursing home in Park Lane, Welikada, much patronised by Maldivians.
Education[edit]
There are a number of State and Private Schools in Kotte. They are either 'National schools' (run by the central government; Main School President's College, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte), 'Government schools' (run by the Provincial Councils), Semi-government/Private schools, or International schools (run by trusts and individuals; Gateway College Colombo is an example of the latter class of school).
The oldest English School on the island is Sri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya, formerly known as Christian College, located in Pita Kotte. The Ananda Sastralaya at Pita Kotte is the oldest Buddhist school in the city, and Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda is the biggest Buddhist girls school in South Asia, with over 5000 students.
The Education Ministry as well as the Department of Examinations is based in Kotte.
A considerable number of the students living within the zone study at government owned colleges and International schools in Colombo.
Located at Nawala is the Open University, Sri Lanka, and at Nugegoda is the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Public Libraries are conveniently located, and can be found at Nugegoda and Rajagiriya.
Climate[edit]
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte features a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen: Af) more subject to the Intertropical Convergence Zone than the trade winds. Since there are a few cyclones, the climate is not purely equatorial but subequatorial, with little variation in temperatures throughout the course of the year. The city does feature wetter and drier months, with February on average being its driest month, seeing on average 63 mm (2.5 in) of precipitation. However, since none of the average monthly precipitation falls below 60 mm (2.4 in), Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte falls under the tropical rainforest climate category.
Climate data for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °C (°F) | 31.0 (87.8) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.7 (89.1) | 31.8 (89.2) | 31.1 (88.0) | 30.4 (86.7) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.3 (86.5) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.2 (86.4) | 30.4 (86.7) | 30.7 (87.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.6 (79.9) | 26.9 (80.4) | 27.7 (81.9) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.3 (82.9) | 27.9 (82.2) | 27.5 (81.5) | 27.6 (81.7) | 27.5 (81.5) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.7 (80.1) | 26.6 (79.9) | 27.4 (81.3) |
Average low °C (°F) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.7 (72.9) | 23.7 (74.7) | 24.6 (76.3) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 25.2 (77.4) | 24.8 (76.6) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.2 (73.8) | 22.8 (73.0) | 24.1 (75.4) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 85 (3.3) | 63 (2.5) | 112 (4.4) | 252 (9.9) | 335 (13.2) | 195 (7.7) | 130 (5.1) | 95 (3.7) | 165 (6.5) | 358 (14.1) | 309 (12.2) | 153 (6.0) | 2,251 (88.6) |
Source #1: Free Meteo (1961-1990)[12] | |||||||||||||
Source #2: Weatherbase[13] for precipitation |
Sports and recreation[edit]
Diyatha Uyana
Cricket is the most popular sport in this urban area as well as the country and is usually played in the grounds around the city.
![University Of Sri Jayewardenepura University Of Sri Jayewardenepura](https://www.casrilanka.com/casl/images/stories/2016/2016_images/news/prasadika1.png)
Association football was at one time the most popular sport in the Colombo area, although it was eclipsed by cricket after 1980. Four separate football clubs (Lido, Welikada Progress, Welikada Red Star and Welikada United) once used the EW Perera Park grounds at Welikada, Rajagiriya where a pavilion was constructed in the 1970s. However, when the grounds were destroyed by the JR Jayawardene regime in the late 1970s, the football clubs disappeared. Football continued to be played at the grounds at Obeysekerapura in Rajagiriya.
In the 1990s the Kotte Municipal Council constructed the Chandra Silva Stadium, to replace the EW Perera Grounds. Part of the grounds was sold and later used to construct the HSBC building. In 2007 the Municipality, with aid from the Ministry of Urban Development, completed the first stage of the new Chandra Silva Stadium on the site of a rubbish dump behind the HSBC building.
Recently, football has once more grown in popularity, and the sport now has a considerable following. The football association's new training facility at Kotte is aimed at harnessing and developing the available talent and organizing the individual players into a cohesive team. It includes a football playground with a sprinkler system, gym and a host of other facilities.[14]
Other sports are mostly played in the numerous clubs and gyms, and include tennis, squash, billiards, horse riding, indoor cricket, badminton and table tennis. Horse riding can be pursued at the Premadasa Riding School in Nugegoda.
Coordinates: 6°54′39″N79°53′16.21″E / 6.91083°N 79.8878361°E
Notable residents[edit]
- Edward Walter Perera (1875–1953), a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) barrister, politician and freedom fighter.
- Sir James Peter Obeyesekere IIMaha Mudaliyar, JP (1879-1968), a Ceylonese colonial-era headmen, the last Head Mudaliyar and served as aide-de-camp to the British Governor of Ceylon and Governor General of Ceylon.
- Tissa Abeysekara (1939–2009), an eminent film personality.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^[1]
- ^'The Administrative Capital of Sri Lanka since 1982 is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte'. Official Sri Lanka government website. Archived from the original on 2014-12-20. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
- ^'Sri Lanka: A Country Study'. Russell R. Ross and Andrea Matles Savada. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
- ^ ab'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2009-01-30.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ^Edmund Jayasuriya (Tr), sälaḷihini sandeśa of Toṭagamuve Srī Rāhula Thera, Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, 2002, ISBN955-613-144-2
- ^'European encroachment and dominance'. U.S. Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
- ^'Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte Municipal Council - Colombo District'.
- ^'Ward Map of Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte Municipal Council - Colombo District'(PDF).
- ^'Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka - Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary's Division, 2012'.
- ^'Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka - Population by divisional secretariat division, religion and sex- 2012'(PDF).
- ^'Canal transport to ease traffic pile up'. Chanuka Mannapperuma. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2005-07-10.
- ^'Weather Forecast Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte: Averages (1961-1990)'. Free Meteo. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
- ^'Kotte, Sri Lanka Travel Weather Averages'. Weatherbase. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
- ^'National training centre for Football at Beddegana'. Sri Lanka Football. Archived from the original on 2006-11-17. Retrieved 2007-02-26.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sri_Jayawardenepura_Kotte&oldid=900251042'