Kegalle District

This article is about the district in Sri Lanka. For the town, see Kegalle.

Kegalle District කෑගල්ල දිස්ත්‍රික්කය கேகாலை மாவட்டம்
Administrative District
Map of Sri Lanka with Kegalle District highlighted
Coordinates: 7°18′N 80°24′E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Sabaragamuwa Province
Largest Town	Kegalle
Divisions	List Divisional Secretariats: 11 Grama Niladhari: 573
Government
• District Secretary	Mahinda S. Weerasooriya
• Local	List Municipal Councils: - Urban Councils: 1 Pradeishiya Sabhas: 11
Area
• Total	1,693 km2 (654 sq mi)
• Land	1,685 km2 (651 sq mi)
• Water	8 km2 (3 sq mi)
Population  (2012)
• Total	837,179
• Density	490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka)
ISO 3166 code	LK-92

Kegalle is a district in Sabaragamuwa 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. It was a former Dissavani of Sri Lanka.

It covers an area of 1,693 km² (654 sq mi). The district has a population of 837,179 according to 2012 Census, which is approximately 4.0% of the total population of Sri Lanka.

Physical information

The District of Kegalle is situated in between the central highlands and western southern plains and has an enchanting environment. The height of the western region is 50 m (160 ft) above sea level while the eastern region exceeds 1,800 m (5,900 ft). Rubber cultivation has stretched over most of the area of the District and minor export crops from the district include coffee, cocoa, pepper, clove and nutmeg. Sri Lanka's best graphite mine is situated at Bogala in Kegalle District. The extent of the District is 1,692.8 km² (653.6 sq mi).

Major cities

• Kegalle (Municipal Council)

Other towns

• Ambepussa
• Aranayaka
• Bulathkohupitiya
• Dehiovita
• Deraniyagala
• Galigamuwa
• Ganthuna
• Hemmathagama
• Karawanella
• Kitulgala
• Kotiyakumbura
• Mawanella
• Rambukkana
• Ruwanwella
• Thalgaspitiya
• Yatiyanthota
• Warakapola

Demographics

Population (2005)

Administration Type	Number
Female	521,683
Male	504,541
Total Population	1026,224
No. of Families	296,348

Ethnic distribution (2001 census)

Most of the population are Sinhalese. Indian Tamils brought by the British as indentured labourers to work in tea states makes a significant minority.

Ethnic group	Population	%
Sinhala	674,665	85.89%
Sri Lankan Tamil	14,908	1.90%
Indian Tamil	44,202	5.63%
Sri Lankan Moors	50,419	6.42%
Burger	191	0.02%
other	1,139	0.14%
Total	785,524	100.00%

Religious groups (2011 census)

Religions in Kegalle District (2011)

  Buddhism (84.7%)

  Islam (7.24%)

  Hinduism (6.45%)

  Christianity (1.68%)

Religious group	Population	%
Buddhist	707,830	84.7%
Islam	60,575	7.24%
Hindu	53,997	6.45%
Roman Catholic	8,221	0.98%
protestant	5,865	0.7%
other	115	0.02%
Total	836,603	100.00%

Land usage

Crops	Quantity( Hec.)
Rice	23,516
Tea	18,673
Coconut	27,192
Rubber	89,311

Notable places

Situated between coastal lowlands and central highlands district has a contrasting landscape.

Elephant Orphanage of Pinnawala

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage of Pinnawala attracts thousands of tourists daily.