Hambantota District ( Sinhala : හම්බන්තොට දිස්ත්රික්කය hambantoṭa distrikkaya ; Tamil : அம்பாந்தோட்டை மாவட்டம் Ampāntōṭṭai māvaṭṭam ) is a district in Southern Province, Sri Lanka . It is one of 25 districts of Sri Lanka , the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary (previously known as a Government Agent ) appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka .
6-512: Weeraketiya is a small town in Hambantota District , Southern Province in southern Sri Lanka , about 18 kilometres (11 mi) by road north of Tangalle . It is known for being the birthplace of Mahinda Rajapaksa . The town belongs to Weeraketiya Divisional Secretariat . The St. Joseph's Estate, operated in Weeraketiya during the colonial times, produced tomatoes and coconuts. In 1969,
12-616: The Germans funded the installation of medium-wave 50 kilowatt transmitters at Maho and Weeraketiya. It was installed by the first quarter of 1970. The town lies around the Udakiriwila Tank (lake). The Seegala Temple of Pillars lies near its western bank. The town contains the Rajapaksha Central College and a National Youth Corps Training Center. To the south of the tank is Weeraketiya Hospital , Singapore Friendship College and
18-474: The Teacher Training Center and Weerakatiya Rajapaksha Central College. 6°10′00″N 80°44′48″E / 6.1668°N 80.7467°E / 6.1668; 80.7467 Hambantota District Hambantota District is located on the southeastern coast of Sri Lanka . It has an area of 2,593 km (1,001 sq mi) and a very dry climate. The district capital is Hambantota town;
24-440: The administrative headquarters are there as well as the center of salt production. Other prominent towns include Tangalle , Ambalantota , Sooriyawewa , Tissamaharama , and Beliatta . Before modern development took place after the country gained independence in 1948, the agriculture in the district was characterised by swidden cultivation (chena or slash-and-burn ) and, to some extent, paddy cultivation on non-irrigated land. In
30-623: The district's population. The long history of Malay settlement in the district has impacted the local culture of Hambantota, with Sri Lankan Malay being a shared language between the Sri Lankan Malays and some members of the Sinhalese community. Religion in Hambantota District (2011) Ethnicity in Hambantota District (2011) Hambantota District has a population of 596,617 (2011) of whom 96% are considered rural residents. Some 13.4% of
36-589: The highlands, kurakkan — a grain used to make an eatable paste — was cultivated with other grains such as corn. Leonard Woolf 's Village in the Jungle provides a highly interesting and insightful account of the people, the land and issues of concern during the British Colonial period as he worked as an assistant government agent for Hambantota. The area has traditionally been home to Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Malay people, who collectively make up 98% of
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