Divisional Secretariat - Kotapola

Historical Background

This Divisional Secretariat which belongs to the Division called Morawak Korale –west takes an important place in historically. Aborigines who lived in this hilly area have made their habitats in valleys of the Nilwala Ganga and Gin Ganga which flowing across the area. Enough evidences found that the aborigines had lived where in the river valleys engage in agricultural activities.

After the Imperialists introduced tea cultivation to this area, brought here the south Indians and made their settlement here for labour of tea growing activities and along with the internal road system has been developed in order to facilitate goods and passengers transport activities.

There are two main historical important places in this area. Those are historical Getabaru Raja Maha Vihara with Devol and Kolawenigama Raja Maha Vihara. King Walagambha had hidden in this area for safe guard after defeated him from Solei invaders. It is a belief that the Getabaru Raja Maha Viharaya and Devol have been built by the King Walagambha has respect to this historical area in which support him safety and also the villagers in the area believe that the God Rajjuru Bandara is the main guardian of the area.It is being held a marvelous perahera festival annually in the Getabaruwa Raja Maha Viharaya in July –August months in the year.

Kolawenigama Raja Maha Vihara bears another important historical place in the area. Tooth Relic of Buddha had been kept in this Raja Maha Vihara for five years by the King Buwaneka bahu for protection from enemies.The King offered a big land grant of a number of 1798 Acres to the Raja Maha Vihara as the respect and this property of land grant are being controlled Vihara up to now.

Location of Divisional Secretariat 

Kotapola Divisional secretariat called “Punchi Nuwaraeliya”which centered  Deniyaya area,spread out about 175.50.square kilometres  in extent in geographical distribution, situated in a beautiful environment in which connected to Sinharaja  world heritage rainy forest and it is  corner of Matara District in the Southern Province. It is one of the Divisional Secretariat among the sixteen Divisional Secretariats belongs to Matara District. Kotapola Divisional Secretariat bounded on the North by Kolonna Divisional Secretariat of Rathnapura District,on the South by Pitabeddara Divisional Secretariat which belongs to Matara District ,on the East by  Divisional Secretariat of Matara District and on the West by Neluwa Divisional Secretariat of Galle District.There are thirty seven Grama Niladhari’s Divisions  of which included 101 villages.

Kotapola Divisional Secretariat is a very difficult area of Matara District as well as it is the most beautiful area with scenic beauty of the area will be protected by this reason itself according to factors geographical. There are many beautiful places drawn tourists’ attractions.

Location of Divisional Secretariat Office

Kotapola Divisional Secretary’s office situated bounded to    Diyadawa forest reservation high feet of 425 from the sea level and it is in between Northern longitude 6.175 and Eastern latitude 80.326. Very first it has been started officer’s office of Morawak Korale in 1940s Century. By 50^th Century it has developed as Regional Revenue office,in 1972  came to rule under  Area government Agent ,in 1992  it  widen as the Divisional Secretariat. From the outset it has been started with few officers and widen gradually. At present there are large number of officers exceeding hundred are being worked.

Although very first this office has established merely  for the Morawak Korale .by  1960s century in the case of being expanded the duties render to the people ,has  been   divided in to two division called Morawak Korale- West and Morawak Korale -East.