Gampaha District
Gampaha District
ගම්පහ දිස්ත්රික්කය கம்பஹா மாவட்டம் | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within Sri Lanka | |
| Coordinates: 07°08′N 80°00′E / 7.133°N 80.000°E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Western |
| Created | September 1978 |
| Capital | Gampaha |
| DS Division | List
|
| Government | |
| • District Secretary | Lalinda Gamage |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,387 km2 (536 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,341 km2 (518 sq mi) |
| • Water | 46 km2 (18 sq mi) 3.32% |
| • Rank | 21st (2.11% of total area) |
| Population (2021 census)[2] | |
• Total | 2,443,000 |
| • Rank | 2nd (11.32% of total pop.) |
| • Density | 1,822/km2 (4,718/sq mi) |
| Ethnicity (2012 census)[2] | |
| • Sinhalese | 2,079,115 (90.61%) |
| • Sri Lankan Moors | 95,501 (4.16%) |
| • Sri Lankan Tamil | 80,071 (3.49%) |
| • Malays | 11,658 (0.51%) |
| • Other | 28,296 (1.23%) |
| Religion (2012 census)[3] | |
| • Buddhist | 1,640,166 (71.48%) |
| • Christian | 486,173 (21.19%) |
| • Muslim | 114,851 (5.01%) |
| • Hindu | 52,221 (2.28%) |
| • Other | 1,230 (0.05%) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka) |
| Post Codes | 11000-11999 |
| Telephone Codes | 011, 031, 033 |
| ISO 3166 code | LK-12 |
| Vehicle registration | WP |
| Official Languages | Sinhala, Tamil |
| Website | Gampaha District Secretariat |
Gampaha District (Sinhala: ගම්පහ දිස්ත්රික්කය gampaha distrikkaya, Tamil: கம்பஹா மாவட்டம் Kampakai Māvaṭṭam) is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. It is the most populous district of Sri Lanka. 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. The capital of the district is the town of Gampaha. The district was carved out of the northern part of Colombo District in September 1978.[4]
Geographical Nature
Gampaha District is located in the west of Sri Lanka and has an area of 1,387 square kilometres (536 sq mi).[1] It is bounded by Kurunegala and Puttalam districts from north, Kegalle District from east, Colombo District from south and by the Indian Ocean from west.[4] The borders of the district are the Ma Oya on the north, Kelani River on the south and 1,000 ft contour line on the east.
Administrative units
Gampaha District is divided into 13 Divisional Secretary's Division (DS Divisions), each headed by a Divisional Secretary (previously known as an Assistant Government Agent).[5] The DS Divisions are further sub-divided into 1,177 Grama Niladhari Divisions (GN Divisions).[5]
Economy
The economy of Gampaha District is multi-faceted:
1. Industry and Manufacturing Free Trade Zones are located in areas such as Katunayake and Biyagama, and industries such as clothing, electronics, and food processing are widely operated. These contribute greatly to foreign income.
2. Trade and Services Trade is very active in cities such as Gampaha and Negombo. Supermarkets, banks, hotels, and small businesses are abundant.
3. Agriculture Agriculture is also important in Gampaha District.
Coconuts Rice Vegetables and fruits Especially the coconut industry (areas belonging to the Coconut Triangle) contribute to the economy here.
4. Aviation and Tourism The aviation and logistics industry is very important due to the location of Bandaranaike International Airport.
The Negombo beach area is popular with tourists.
Transport
Gampaha District has a well-developed transport network: The highest number of expressway entrances in Sri Lanka are located in Gampaha District.
1. Road Network
Colombo–Katunayake Expressway (E03) – connects Colombo to the airport
Central Expressway (E04 – under construction/partially operational)
Major roads such as A1, A3
These act as the primary backbone for the country's transport.
2. Rail Service
The Main Line from Colombo Fort via Ragama, Gampaha
Coastal/airport connections near Negombo and Katunayake
The rail line is very important for daily commuters.
3. Air Transport
Bandaranaike International Airport is the main international airport in Sri Lanka,
and plays a major role in the transport of import/export tourists and business travelers.
4. Bus and Public Transport SLTB and private bus services are spread throughout the Gampaha district.
| DS Division | Main Town | Divisional Secretary | GN Divisions [5] |
Area (km2) [6] |
Population (2012 Census)[7] | Population Density (/km2) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | Sri Lankan Moors | Sri Lankan Tamil |
Malays | Other | Total | ||||||
| Attanagalla | Nittambuwa | D. M. Rathnayake | 151 | 149 | 154,969 | 21,389 | 927 | 657 | 874 | 178,816 | 1,200 |
| Biyagama | Biyagama | T. D. S. P. Perera | 49 | 59 | 171,454 | 12,133 | 1,622 | 677 | 976 | 186,862 | 3,167 |
| Divulapitiya | Divulapitiya | H. M. L. S. Herath | 123 | 202 | 142,420 | 80 | 1,003 | 34 | 334 | 143,871 | 712 |
| Dompe | Kiridiwela | H. G. J. P. Wijesiriwardhna | 133 | 176 | 150,016 | 2,282 | 443 | 52 | 344 | 153,137 | 870 |
| Gampaha | Gampaha | C. P. W. Gunathilaka | 101 | 96 | 194,292 | 359 | 942 | 119 | 733 | 196,445 | 2,046 |
| Ja-Ela | Ja-Ela | Nimali De Silva | 57 | 60 | 186,201 | 962 | 7,778 | 1,232 | 4,981 | 201,154 | 3,353 |
| Katana | Katana | K. G. H. H. R. Kiriella | 79 | 116 | 214,207 | 3,361 | 9,878 | 1,020 | 5,388 | 233,854 | 2,016 |
| Kelaniya | Kelaniya | W. H. V. Pushpamala | 37 | 20 | 113,133 | 8,588 | 7,834 | 2,674 | 2,464 | 134,693 | 6,735 |
| Mahara | Mahara | Thamara D. Perera | 92 | 94 | 194,637 | 5,488 | 2,326 | 3,548 | 1,231 | 207,230 | 2,205 |
| Minuwangoda | Minuwangoda | C. P. W. Gunathilake | 121 | 128 | 171,254 | 5,633 | 827 | 243 | 444 | 178,401 | 1,394 |
| Mirigama | Mirigama | Y. I. M. Silva | 149 | 183 | 155,469 | 5,592 | 885 | 99 | 2,121 | 164,166 | 897 |
| Negombo | Negombo | A. K. R. Alawaththa | 39 | 50 | 107,155 | 19,364 | 12,590 | 278 | 2,289 | 141,676 | 2,834 |
| Wattala | Wattala | Chandima Dissanayake | 46 | 54 | 123,908 | 10,270 | 33,016 | 1,025 | 6,117 | 174,336 | 3,228 |
| Total | 1,177 | 1,387 | 2,079,115 | 95,501 | 80,071 | 11,658 | 28,296 | 2,294,641 | 1,654 | ||
Demographics
Population
Gampaha District's population was 2,294,641 in 2012.[2] The majority of the population are Sinhalese, with a minority Sri Lankan Moor and Sri Lankan Tamil population.
Ethnicity
- Sinhala (89.8%)
- Sri Lankan Moors (5.05%)
- Sri Lankan Tamils (4.02%)
- Others (1.09%)
| Year | Sinhalese | Sri Lankan Moors | Sri Lankan Tamil | Malays | Other | Total No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
| 1981 Census | 1,279,512 | 91.99% | 37,826 | 2.72% | 48,182 | 3.46% | 8,675 | 0.62% | 16,667 | 1.20% | 1,390,862 |
| 2001 Census | 1,877,545 | 90.98% | 78,705 | 3.81% | 65,302 | 3.16% | 13,683 | 0.66% | 28,449 | 1.38% | 2,063,684 |
| 2012 Census | 2,079,115 | 90.61% | 95,501 | 4.16% | 80,071 | 3.49% | 11,658 | 0.51% | 28,296 | 1.23% | 2,294,641 |
Religion
| Year | Buddhist | Christian[a] | Muslim | Hindu | Other | Total No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
| 1981 Census | 989,212 | 71.12% | 325,915 | 23.43% | 48,117 | 3.46% | 26,750 | 1.92% | 868 | 0.06% | 1,390,862 |
| 2001 Census | 1,479,955 | 71.71% | 446,647 | 21.64% | 93,496 | 4.53% | 42,356 | 2.05% | 1,230 | 0.06% | 2,063,684 |
| 2012 Census | 1,640,166 | 71.48% | 486,173 | 21.19% | 114,851 | 5.01% | 52,221 | 2.28% | 1,230 | 0.05% | 2,294,641 |
Notes
- ^ Roman Catholic and Other Christian.
References
- ^ a b "Area of Sri Lanka by province and district" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-13.
- ^ a b c d "A2 : Population by ethnic group according to districts, 2012". Census of Population & Housing, 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
- ^ a b "A3 : Population by religion according to districts, 2012". Census of Population & Housing, 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2019-01-07. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
- ^ a b "Overview". Gampaha District Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
- ^ a b c "Grama Niladhari Divisions". Gampaha District Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
- ^ "Land area by province, district and divisional secretariat division" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-13.
- ^ "A6 : Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary's Division, 2012". Census of Population & Housing, 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
- ^ "Population by ethnicity according to Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 2024". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. 2024.
- ^ "Population by ethnic group and district, Census 1981, 2001" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-15.
- ^ "Population by religion according to Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 2024". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. 2024.
- ^ "Population by religion and district, Census 1981, 2001" (PDF). Statistical Abstract 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-13.
External links
- Gampaha District Secretariat Archived 2015-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
