Nuwara Eliya District

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

Nuwara Eliya District (Tamil: நுவரெலியா மாவட்டம், romanized: Nuvareliyā Māvaṭṭam; Sinhala: නුවරඑළිය දිස්ත්‍රික්කය, romanized: Nuvaraeḷiya Distrikkaya) is a district in Central Province, Sri Lanka, centered on the tourist city of Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya District நுவரெலியா மாவட்டம் නුවරඑළිය දිස්ත්‍රික්කය
Administrative District
Map of Sri Lanka with Nuwara Eliya District highlighted
Coordinates: 7°00′N 80°45′E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Central Province
Largest Town	Nuwara Eliya
Divisions	List Divisional Secretariats: 5 Grama Niladhari: 491
Government
• District Secretary	M. B. R. Pushpakumara
• Local	List Municipal Councils: 1 Urban Councils: 2 Pradeishiya Sabhas: 5
Area
• Total	1,741 km2 (672 sq mi)
• Land	1,706 km2 (659 sq mi)
• Water	35 km2 (14 sq mi)
Population  (2013)
• Total	731,415
• Density	420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka)
ISO 3166 code	LK-23
Website

Demographics

Ethnic groups
Indian Tamil	355,830	(50.57%)
Sinhalese	282,621	(40.17%)
Sri Lankan Tamil	46,066	(6.55%)
Sri Lankan Moor	16,555	(2.35%)
Burgher	632	(0.09%)
Sri Lankan Malay	1,059	(0.15%)
Other	847	(0.12%)

Religions
Hinduism	359,135	(51.04%)
Buddhism	279,139	(39.67%)
Islam	19,099	(2.71%)
Roman Catholic	35,008	(4.98%)
Other Christian	10,741	(1.53%)
Other	488	(0.07%)

Religion in Nuwara Eliya District (2011)^[1]

1. Hinduism (51.1%)
2. Buddhism (39.1%)
3. Christianity (6.60%)
4. Islam (3.00%)
5. Other (0.10%)

According to the 2001 census of Sri Lanka, population of Nuwara Eliya district is 703,610, of which 50.57% are Tamils of Indian origin, 40.17% Sinhalese, 6.55% native Sri Lankan Tamils and 2.35% Sri Lankan Moors. In terms of religion, 51.04% of the population are Hindu, 39.67% Buddhists, 4.98% Roman Catholics, 2.71% Muslims and 1.53% belong to non-catholic Christian denominations.^[2]

Geography

Marker on the A5 highway in Nuwara Eliya, horse and Race Course in the background

Nuwara Eliya district is located in the hill country of Central Province. The terrain is generally mountainous, with deep valleys.

Cities

• Nuwara Eliya (Municipal Council)

Towns

• Agrapatana
• Ambewela
• Bogawantalawa
• Bopattalawa
• Dayagama Bazaar
• Ginigathena
• Hapugastalawa
• Haggala
• Hanguranketha
• Hatton-Dikoya UC
• Kotagala
• Kotmale
• Labukele
• Laxapana
• Lindula-Talawakele UC
• Maskeliya
• Nildandahinna
• Nuwara Eliya
• Nanu Oya
• Norton Bridge
• Padiyapelella
• Ramboda
• Ragala
• Rikillagaskada
• Rozella
• Udapussallawa
• Walapane
• Watawala
• Norton
• Koththallena
• Pundaluoya
• Kandapola
• Pattipola

Schools

Poramadulla Central College is located in the Rikillagaskada community in Hanguranketha.^[3]

Diyathilaka Central College is located in the Hanguranketha community in Hanguranketha.