North Central Province (Sinhala: උතුරු මැද පළාත Uturumæda Paḷāta, Tamil: வட மத்திய மாகாணம் Vada Mattiya Mākāṇam) is one of the nine provinces of Sri 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.
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 |
History
editThe North Central province is home to the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, both of which were historical capitals of Sri Lanka during ancient times. The two cities were the capitals of the Anuradhapura kingdom (437 BCE–1017 CE) and the Polonnaruwa kingdom (1070–1232) respectively. As a result, there are many culturally and historically important ancient sites in this province.[2]
The provinces of Sri Lanka were established by the British in 1833. In independent Sri Lanka, provinces did not have any legal status or power until 1987, when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils.[3][4] The North Central Provincial Council is the main administrative and control body in the North Central Province.
Geography
editThe 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 a semi-arid climate and most forests situated in the province are Sri Lankan dry-zone dry evergreen forests.
The province is also referred to as Wew Bendi Rajje due to the many tanks (reservoirs) situated in the province, with more than 3000. Tanks were essential to manage water supplies in this dry province, and allowed Anuradhapura to develop into a large city as early as 437 BCE.[5] More than 65% of the province’s population depend on basic agriculture and agricultural based industries.
Demographics
editIn 2024, the North Central province has a population of 1,407,610.
Ethnicity
edit- Sinhala (90.4%)
- Sri Lankan Moors (8.54%)
- Others (1.03%)
| 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% |
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
Religion
edit- Buddhism (89.7%)
- Islam (8.60%)
- Hinduism (0.78%)
- Catholicism (0.59%)
- Others (0.36%)
| Religion | Census 2012[10] | |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Employment
edit| 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 |
Administrative divisions
editThe North Central Province is divided into two districts and 29 divisional secretariats.
Districts
edit| District | Capital | Area (km²) | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anuradhapura District | Anuradhapura | 7,128 | 856,232 |
| Polonnaruwa District | Polonnaruwa | 3,293 | 403,335 |
Divisional secretariats
edit
| Division | District | Population (2001 census)[12] |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Major population centres
editEducation
edit- Anuradhapura
- Anuradhapura Central College
- Anuradhapura Walisinghe Harischandra college
- Niwaththaka Chethiya National School. Anuradhapura
- Anuradhapura Technical College
- Buddhsravaka Bhiksu University
- K. B. Rathnayake MW
- Open University of Sri Lanka
- Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education
- St. Joseph's College
- Teachers Training School
- University College of Anuradhapura (University of Vocational Technology)
- Polonnaruwa
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 :.News Line : North, East record highest GDP growth rate Archived 2012-06-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Wimalaratana, V. W. (2016). "Cultural tourism potential in the north central province of Sri Lanka" (PDF). Social Affairs. 1 (4): 46–64.
- ↑ "Provinces of Sri Lanka". Statoids.
- ↑ "Provincial Councils". Government of Sri Lanka.
- ↑ Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Hettiarachchi, S.; Lo Seen, D.; Batelaan, O.; Sooriyarachchi, S.; Jayatissa, L. P.; Koedam, N. (2005-03-29). "Transitions in Ancient Inland Freshwater Resource Management in Sri Lanka Affect Biota and Human Populations in and around Coastal Lagoons". Current Biology. 15 (6): 579–586. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.01.053. hdl:2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/46639. ISSN 0960-9822.
- ↑ "Population by ethnicity according to Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 2024". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. 2024.
- ↑ "Population by religion according to Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 2024". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. 2024.
- ↑ "Population by religion and district, census 1981, 2001, 2012". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A4: Population by district, religion and sex" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-12-29.
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka, 2012 - Table A4: Population by district, religion and sex" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-12-29.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka Census of Population and Housing, 2011". Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ↑ "Population of principal towns by sex, census years" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.