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Gampaha(Sinhala: ගම්පහ [ˈgamːpaha]; Tamil: கம்பஹா [gam ɭpaha]) is a big town in Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is situated to the north-east of the capital Colombo. It is the sixth largest urban area in Western Province, after Colombo, Negombo, Kalutara, Panadura and Avissawella. Gampaha is also the second largest urban area in Gampaha district, after Negombo city.

Namesake

The name "Gampaha" in Sinhala (ගම්පහ ) literally means “Five Villages”. The five villages are known to be Ihalagama, Pahalagama, Medagama, Pattiyagama and Aluthgama. However, at present village Pattiyagama cannot be identified within the town limits of Gampaha and remains disputed. Gampaha was also known to be called Henarathgoda in the past.

Historical points of the town

Before year 1815, Gampaha was a dense forest. The 5th governor of Ceylon, Sir Edward Barnes made a visit to Gampaha in 1825, on the way to observe the construction work of the Negombo-Colombo road. The British colonists built Henarathgoda railway station in 1864 which act as a key factor for the progress and recognition of the town. In 1867, the first rubber tree of Sri Lanka was planted in Henarathgoda botanical garden. When British built the “Moragoda” catholic church in 1828, Gampaha and surrounding areas became inhabitant slowly. The town was planned in 1920, with 52 roads including the main street, a water tank, a public market, a hospital and an electrical generator. Most of these are still present in their original sites with various improvements over time.

Local Government

Gampaha was a village council until 1945. On 1 January that year, the town qualified to become an urban council. The first urban council had 5 members. P.P Jayawardane was the first chairman of the urban council. Total number of workforce in the urban council was 197 persons. In 1978 constitutional reforms declared Gampaha as a new administrative district, which was formerly recognized as a part of the Colombo District. The new district status lead the town to a rapid development, establishing new government institutes. On 16 April 2002, Gampaha urban council upgraded to the Municipal council.

Climate

Gampaha has a tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification. The climate is fairly temperate all throughout the year. From March to June is the warmest time in Gampaha, with an average temperature of 29 °C (84 °F) and the coldest time period is December to January at 27 °C (81 °F). The annual rain fall is about 2500mm and the average temperature is about 27.9 °C. The main sources of water canals of Gampaha are Attanagalu Oya and Uruwela Oya.

Demographics

According by the statistics of 2012, about 8.5% of the population of Gampaha district live in Gampaha divisional Secretary's Division and it is a major Sinhala majority in Sri Lanka.

Education

Literacy in Gampaha is the highest in Sri-Lanka. The literacy rate for both sexes is 98.5. Bandaranayake College, Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya, Yasodara Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Holy Cross College are popular colleges in the urban area. The other schools are Bandarawatta Parakrama Maha Vidyalaya, Gothami Kanishta Vidyalaya, St Peter's College, Gampaha Takshila Maha Vidyalaya,Commercial College, and Siddartha Vidyalaya,One of the key reasons in the improvement of its literacy is the large number of tuition classes that operate in the area.

Botanical Garden

Henarathgoda Botanical Garden where the first rubber tree was planted in Sri Lanka is still present located close to Gampaha Town. The garden is bordered with Attangalle oya and covers about 43 acres. It is believed that the garden is mpre than 128 years old. The first seedling was planted under the auspices of the vast garden's original owner Muhandiam Amaris De Zoysa, who became the garden's first OIC. The generous Muhandiram donated this vast estate for public use, to enhance the local surroundings.

Ayurveda

Pundit Wickramarachchi found the first Ayurveda College of the country - "Sri Lanka Siddhayurveda Vidyalaya" in 1929 closer to Yakkala. "Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Vidyalaya (Incorporation) Act No. 30 of 1982" established the college as a national institute for Ayurveda education. From 1 March 1995 the institute was recognized as "Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute" and was affiliated to the main university stream of the country Under University of Kelaniya. The institute offers "Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery" (BAMS) diploma and the practitioners are distinguished around the country as "Gampaha Ayurvedic Physicians". Rules for the regulation of the professional conduct of Ayurvedic physicians have been approved by the Minister of Health and gazetted in June 1971.

Transport

Gampaha is the 15th railway station from the Colombo fort on main railway line.

Bus routes terminating at Gampaha

• 200 - Colombo (Pettah)
• 201 - Ja-Ela / Nittambuwa
• 202 - Kirindiwela (via Weliweriya)
• 205 - Kirindiwela (via Wathuragama)
• 207 - Pugoda (via Weliweriya & Delgoda)
• 211 - Divulapitiya
• 214 - Ganemulla
• 228/1 - Kaduwela (via Weliweriya)
• 231 - Kirindiwela (via Yakkala & Radawana)
• 244 - Negombo (via Seeduwa)
• 270 - Air Port (via Minuwangoda)
• 276 - Kandana
• 376 - Kandana / Ja-Ela (via Ragama & Batuwaththa)
• 979 - Ragama

v t e Places adjacent to Gampaha
Udugampola Ganemulla Gampaha Yakkala Belummahara

References

1. District Secretariat Gampaha
2. "Gampaha Monthly Climate Average, Sri Lanka". worldweatheronline. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
3. "A6 : Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary's Division, 2012". Census of Population & Housing, 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
4. "Literacy Rates by District and Sex (Population of Age 10 Years and Over)". Department of Census and Statistics-Sri-Lanka. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
5. "Gampaha Botanic Garden - Botanic Gardens Conservation International".
6. "Henarathgoda Botanicl garden".
7. "Siddhayurveda College AKA The Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute".
8. "Siddhayurveda Rasayanushada Samagama".

External links

• MSN Map - elevation = 14m
• Detailed map of Gampaha and Sri Lanka

v t e Urban councils of Sri Lanka
Ambalangoda Ampara Balangoda Beruwala Boralesgamuwa Chavakachcheri Chilaw Embilipitiya Eravur Gampola Haputale Hatton-Dickoya Hikkaduwa Horana Ja-Ela Kadugannawa Kalutara Kattankudi Katunayaka-Seeduwa Kegalle Kesbewa Kinniya Kolonnawa Kuliyapitiya Maharagama Mannar Minuwangoda Nawalapitiya Panadura Peliyagoda Point Pedro Puttalam Seethawakapura Tangalle Talawakele-Lindula Trincomalee Valvettithurai Vavuniya Wattala-Mabola Wattegama Weligama

• Gampaha
• Gampaha District
• Populated places in Western Province, Sri Lanka