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Revision as of 12:21, 11 August 2015 by 112.135.5.190 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Town in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka| Gampaha
ගම්පහ கம்பஹா | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| District | Gampaha District |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| • Mayor | Eranga Senanyake |
| Population | |
| • Total | 9,889 |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (SLST) |
| Postal code | 11000 |
| Area code | 033 |
Gampaha(Sinhala: ගම්පහ [ˈgamːpaha]; Tamil: கம்பஹா [gam ɭpaha]) is a big town in Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is the sixth largest urban area in Western Province, after Colombo, Negombo, Kalutara, Panadura and Avissawella. Gampaha is also the second largest in Gampaha district, after Negombo city. It is situated on the north-east of the capital Colombo.
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 1979, 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.
Education
Bandaranayake College, Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya, Yasodara Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Holy Cross College, St. Peters College are the most popular colleges in the urban area.One of the key reasons in the improvement of its literacy is the higher span 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 older than 128 years. The first seedling was planted under the auspice 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
- 982 - Dewalapola
References
- District Secretariat Gampaha
- "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.
- "Gampaha Botanic Garden - Botanic Gardens Conservation International".
- "Henarathgoda Botanicl garden".
- "Siddhayurveda College AKA The Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute".
- "Siddhayurveda Rasayanushada Samagama".
