Anuradhapura district

Anuradhapura District is located in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. This area is famous for its ancient ruins and as a center of Buddhism. Many people visit Anuradhapura to see its beautiful temples and historic sites. It is known as අනුරාධපුර දිස්ත්රික්කය (anūrādhapūra distrikkaya) in Sinhala and அனுராதபுரம் மாவட்டம் (aṉurātapuram Māvaṭṭam) in Tamil.

History

The history of Anuradhapura District is very old and important. The city of Anuradhapura, which is in this district, was the first capital of ancient Sri Lanka. It became the capital more than 2,300 years ago. For over 1,000 years, it was the center of political power and Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The city is home to many ancient monuments and temples built by the kings of Sri Lanka. Among these are large stupas, which are dome-shaped buildings that hold sacred relics of Buddhism. The most famous stupa is the Ruwanwelisaya, built by King Dutugemunu around 140 B.C.

Geography

Anuradhapura District covers an area of 7,179 square kilometers (2,772 sq mi). It is surrounded by other eight districts: Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Matale, Kurunegala, and Puttalam. The landscape is mostly flat with some small mountains and dense forests. The district has many rivers, and the largest one is the Malwathu Oya. These water sources are very important for farming, which is a big part of life in Anuradhapura.

Administrative Units

Anuradhapura District is divided into 23 Divisional Secretary’s (DS) Divisions. Each DS Division is made up of smaller areas called Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions. There are 694 GN Divisions in Anuradhapura.

Cities and Towns

The most important city in Anuradhapura District is Anuradhapura itself. It is a major city with a lot of historical sites that attract tourists. Other towns in the district include Mihintale, which is known for its ancient Buddhist monastery, and Kekirawa, which is growing as a commercial center. Medawachchiya is a key town known for its strategic location as a transportation hub, connecting the northern and southern parts of the island. Habarana, on the other hand, is famous for its proximity to major wildlife parks like Minneriya and Kaudulla. It is a popular destination for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.

Demographics

Anuradhapura District has a population of about 856,000 people. The majority are Sinhalese, making up about 90% of the population. The rest include Moors, Sri Lankan Tamils and other ethnic groups such as Indian Tamil, Burgher and Malay. Buddhism is the main religion, followed by a majority of the people. Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are also practiced by smaller portions of the population.

Ethnicity

Sinhalese	676,073	(90.66%)
Sri Lankan Tamil	5,073	(0.68%)
Sri Lankan Moor	61,989	(8.31%)
Indian Tamil	443	(0.06%)
Burgher	179	(0.02%)
Sri Lankan Malay	279	(0.04%)
Other	1,657	(0.22%)

Religion

Buddhism	670,963	(89.98%)
Hinduism	3,459	(0.46%)
Islam	62,797	(8.42%)
Roman Catholic	6,266	(0.84%)
Other Christian	2,073	(0.28%)
Other	135	(0.02%)