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17-529: It is located 19 km (12 mi) north of Matara at the intersection of the B356 (Kamburupitiya-Kirinda Road) and the B415 (Thihagoda-Kotapola Road). The town is situated in a wet, hilly zone, where cinnamon , and tea with high tannin levels, are grown. Traditional employment is growing rubber and working in the rice paddy fields in the low-lying lands. This Southern Province, Sri Lanka location article

34-669: A well-preserved fort and its street life. The Matara railway station , was the terminus of Sri Lanka Railways ' Coastal Line , until an extension to Beliatta was opened in April 2019. Matara is a major transport hub in the country. It is served by the A2 highway , which runs through the city. It is also the southern terminus of stage 2 of the southern expressway E01 expressway (Sri Lanka) since March 2014. Gajaman Nona Donna Isabella Koraneliya ( Sinhala : දෝන ඉසබෙලා කොරනෙලියා ) ( a.k.a. Gajaman Nona ) (10 March 1746 – 15 December 1815)

51-501: A widow with four sons from both marriages. She had to find her income by writing poems and teaching poetry. With time, her children too died. The premature deaths of her children left her sad and destitute. Therefore, she wrote an appeal in poetry to the then British Government Agent in Matara. Sir John D’Oyly, who gifted her a land (nindagama) and named it Nonagama that helped her and her siblings live quietly. She died on 15 December 1814 at

68-568: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Matara, Sri Lanka Matara ( Sinhala : මාතර , romanized:  Māthara ) is a major city in Sri Lanka , on the southern coast of Southern Province . It is the second largest city in Southern Province . It is 160 km (99 mi) from Colombo . It is a major commercial hub, and it is the administrative capital and largest city of Matara District . Consist of two elements,

85-624: The Walawe River . In 1760, the fort was successfully attacked by forces from the Kingdom of Kandy . Matara maintained in the hands of the Sinhalese for almost one year. In 1762, the Dutch recaptured Matara Fort, without any significant resistance. Matara was the second most important fort, behind Galle fort , for the southern maritime provinces of the Dutch and a commanding base for some inland forts. In 1796,

102-614: The Portuguese and the Dutch respectively. In 1756, the Dutch captured the Maritime Province and divided it into four administrative areas — Sabaragamuwa, Sath Korle, Sathara Korele and Matara. Out of these, Matara District covered the largest area (essentially the whole of the Southern Province up to the Kalu River ). In the deed given by King Dharmapala to the Dutch, it mentioned that the area of Matara District extended from Kotte to

119-541: The St Mary's Church and the marketplace at Nupe Junction. The most famous thinkers who lived in the area are Kumaratunga Munidasa and Gajaman Nona . The ethnic majority of Matara is Sinhalese; during the 16th and 17th centuries Moors arrived in the area as traders from Arabia. Today their descendants coexist with Sinhalese peacefully as an ethnic minority. Matara is a busy, booming and sprawling commercial town. Matara's main attractions are its ramparts, Dutch architecture,

136-618: The Weragampita Temple to study more about literature. Since women weren't allowed to be taught at temples, she disguised herself as a boy and got educated under Koratotha Dharmarama Thero. It was here where she mastered the art of writing poetry. Her talents were noticed at an early age when someone hid her water pot, and she wrote this Sinhala poem: පුංචි රුවන් පුංචි රුවන් පුංචි කලේ වතුර අරන් ළිඳ උඩ තිබූවාය කලේ අට පහ නොදන්නා ජඩයෙකි මේක කලේ ගෙදර යන්න දෙනවාද මගේ පුංචි කලේ Little golden pot, filled with water And left on

153-522: The age of 56. Gajaman Nona is often regarded as one of the foremost female poets in Sri Lankan history. Her works have been studied and appreciated for their literary value and their insight into the culture and society of her time. A statue of her stands at Ambalantota , Nonagama Junction (the name derived from Gajaman Nona ) is situated at that nindagama. The television series, Gajaman Nona , broadcast by Rupavahini depicted her life story. Her portrait

170-629: The edge of the well, The one who hid it is a scoundrel who can't count to five or eight! Will you give back my little pot, so that I can go home? Her poetry is noted for its emotional depth, lyrical beauty, and social commentary. She often wrote about love, nature, and the social issues of her time. Some of them were powerful and some were harsh and sarcastic. She also displayed a strong sense of humour. Some of her well-known works include "Gajaman Kavi," "Dedi Soka Malaya" containing 206 verses, "Denipitiye Nuga Ruka Vanuma" (the banyan tree in Denepitiya) and

187-657: The fort was ceremoniously handed over to the British. The Dutch and English culture and architecture can still be seen throughout the area. The lighthouse at Dondra Head was built by the Dutch, and it is considered one of the oldest lighthouses in Sri Lanka. The two fortresses, the Matara fort and the Star fort , that were built by the Dutch can be found in the city. Other important Colonial works are

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204-475: The great ferry. Maha Ethara meaning "great ford". Today, the Nilwala River runs through Matara and it is said that there was a wide area where ferries used to cross. In 1673, the Dutch minister Philippus Baldaeus had called it 'Mature', in 1681, Robert Knox named it as 'Matura' and in 1744, Heydt called it 'Maderon'. Matara historically belongs to the area that was called the Kingdom of Ruhuna , which

221-532: The poetic petition to John D'Oyly . Being elegant and charming, Gajaman Nona was able to catch the attraction of many noblemen. While many men sought her hand, she rejected them through poems. She had a close poetic relationship with Elapatha Mudaliyar of Ratnapura District who was also a student of Dhammarama Thero. At a young age, she married Thalpe Merenchegei Garadiya Arachchi. He died leaving Gajaman Nona almost destitute. Years later, she married Hendrick Siriwardena Wijaya Wimalasekera who also died. She became

238-553: The term Matara gives its meaning as the Great Ferry , that may be the meaning "great seaport" or "great fortress". It is also thought as being derived from the mispronunciation of the word 'Matora' by the Portuguese who called it 'Mature' or Maturai in 1672. The native word 'Matora' might also derived from 'Maha Tera' meaning the place where the Great River was crossed. It was also called 'Maha Tota' (Malo Tota) or Maha- pattana,

255-611: Was a Sri Lankan poet of the Matara Era, noted for her ability to create impromptu Sinhala poetry. She was born in Kollupitiya , Ceylon as the second daughter of Don Francisco Senarathna Kumara Perumal and Francina Jasenthu Graivo. Gajaman was baptised as Donna Isabella Koraneliya at St. Paul's Church, Milagiriya in Bambalapitiya . She was brought to Kahawatta in Beliatta as her father

272-458: Was one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka (Thun Sinhalaya තුන් සිංහලය). According to Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera 's Paravi Sndesaya King Weerabamapanam made Matara as his capital and named it "Mapatuna". The temple in the middle of the town is also built by ancient kings, and now it is a very popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area. In the 16th and 18th centuries, Matara was ruled by

289-585: Was undertaking Rājākariya . She grew up in Weragampita, Matara , where her father served as the Thombu Arachchi (officer in charge of land registry). Her father became to be known as Gajaman Arachchi, hence she inherited the title Gajaman Nona (Lady Gajaman) after the death of her mother. She had her early education within her own family and then from Milagiriya Church School (currently known as St. Paul's Girl's School ). After moving to Matara, she visited

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