Puttalam is a

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...

situated near to the west coast of

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

. It has an area of . Along with the

Kurunegala District Kurunegala is a district in North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Consists of and consists 30 Divisional Secretariats, 1610 Grama Niladari Divisions and 4476 total Villages. It consists of 14 Electorate Divisions, 02 Municipal Council, 19 Urban ...

, it formulates the North Western Province of Sri Lanka. The district capital is

Puttalam Puttalam ( si, පුත්තලම, translit=Puttalama; ta, புத்தளம், translit=Puttaḷam) is the largest town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Puttalam is the administrative capital of the Puttalam ...

, which borders the

Kala Oya The Kala Oya is the third longest river in Sri Lanka. It is approximately in length. The river has a basin size of , and more than 400,000 rural population live by the river basin. Its catchment area receives approximately 3,169 million cubic m ...

and Modaragam Aru in the north,

Anuradhapura District Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුර දිස්ත්‍රික්කය ''anūrādhapūra distrikkaya''; ta, அனுராதபுரம் மாவட்டம் ''Aṉurātapuram māvaṭṭam'') is a district in North Cent ...

and

in the east, Ma Oya in the south, and the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

in the west. Puttalam is well known for its picturesque

lagoons A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into ''coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons'') an ...

, popular for shallow sea fishing and

prawn Prawn is a common name for small aquatic crustaceans with an exoskeleton and ten legs (which is a member of the order decapoda), some of which can be eaten. The term "prawn"Mortenson, Philip B (2010''This is not a weasel: a close look at nature' ...

farming activities. The town of

Kalpitiya Kalpitiya (, ) is a coastal town located in western region of, Puttalam District. The Kalpitiya peninsula consists of a total fourteen islands. It is developing as a tourist destination. Etymology Scholars identify the Sinhalese name "Kalapi ...

, and the Kalpitiya Peninsula, is located in this district.

History

*In 1845, North Western Province was created. *In 1958, then Puttalam district was merged with Chilaw district.Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998,Gwillim Law, p.334

Geography

Puttalam district is situated in the upper part of the western coastal belt.

Administrative Structure

There are 548 GN division in the area. These areas are governed by the 16 Divisional Secretary areas.

List of Divisional Secretary areas in Puttlam district

* Anamaduwa Divisional Secretariat * Arachchikattuwa Divisional Secretariat * Chilaw Divisional Secretariat * Dankotuwa Divisional Secretariat *

Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka. References Divisional Secretariats Portal Divisional Secretariats of Puttalam District {{NorthWesternLK-geo-s ...

Karuwalagaswewa Divisional Secretariat Karuwalagaswewa Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka. References Divisional Secretariats Portal Divisional Secretariats of Puttalam District {{NorthWesternLK ...

Madampe Divisional Secretariat Madampe Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka. References Divisional Secretariats Portal Divisional Secretariats of Puttalam District {{NorthWesternLK-geo-stu ...

Mahakumbukkadawala Divisional Secretariat Mahakumbukkadawala Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka. References Divisional Secretariats* Grama niladhari Divisional Secretariats of Puttalam District { ...

Mahawewa Divisional Secretariat Mahawewa Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ila ...

Mundalama Divisional Secretariat Mundalama Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka. References Divisional Secretariats Portal Divisional Secretariats of Puttalam District {{NorthWesternLK-geo- ...

Nattandiya Divisional Secretariat Nattandiya Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, I ...

Nawagattegama Divisional Secretariat Nawagattegama Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை ...

Pallama Divisional Secretariat Pallama Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ila ...

Puttalam Divisional Secretariat Puttalam Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ila ...

Vanathavilluwa Divisional Secretariat Vanathavilluwa Divisional Secretariat is a Divisional Secretariat of Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka. References Divisional Secretariats Portal Divisional Secretariats of Puttalam District {{NorthWesternLK-ge ...

* Wennappuwa Divisional Secretariat

Religion

Puttalam district is a multi-religious area. Buddhism is the major religion in the district. It has established since the early part of the Anuradhapura kingdom. The second commonest religion is the Roman Catholics. In addition to two of the above major religions Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are well established in the area. Munneswaram Hindu Temple, St. Anne's Church Thalawila are some of the historical religious places in the area.

Major cities

(Urban Council) *

Chilaw Chilaw ( si, හලාවත, translit=Halāvata, ta, சிலாபம், translit=Cilāpam) is a large town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is governed by an urban council. The town is located 80 kilometres away f ...

(Urban Council)

Other towns

Anamaduwa Anamaduwa (Sinhala: ආණමඩුව) is a town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is located about away from Puttalam. Etymology There are few stories around the name of Anamaduwa. According to one such story, afte ...

* Battuluoya *

Dankotuwa Dankotuwa is a small town situated in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is located away from Negombo. Dankotuwa is a junction town, connecting Colombo - Negombo - Kuliyapitiya main road and Negombo - Kurunegala Kurune ...

* Eluvankulam *

Madampe Madampe is a town situated in the Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Madampe is a town with historical importance which was ruled by king Thaniwallbha according to the history. There are two areas: Old town and New town w ...

* Mahawewa * Marawila * Mundel * Nattandiya * Nuraicholai * Palavi * Thillayadi *

Wennappuwa Wennappuwa is a town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is north of Negombo. The village of Wennappuwa is mentioned in the Culavamsa as a small farming hamlet. History A church made of wattle and daub, consecrated ...

*Katuneriya *Nainamadama

References

Districts of Sri Lanka {{NorthWesternLK-geo-stub