Warakapola

Warakapola (Sinhala: වරකාපොල; Tamil: வரகாபொல) is a town situated in the Dedigama Electorate of the Kegalle District, which is part of the Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. Warakapola falls under the administrative unit of the Warakapola Divisional Secretariat and the local governance of the Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha. It is located 58 km (36 mi) northeast of Colombo on the Colombo-Kandy Road.

History

Pre-colonialism

Warakapola was part of Kiraweli Pattuwa, located in the Beligal Korale of the Dissava of Sabaragamuwa. This area was under the rule of the Kingdom of Kandy until it came under British colonial rule in 1815.

British Ceylon

During British Ceylon, the Kegalle District was subdivided into Paranakuru Korale, Galboda Korale, Kinigoda Korale, Beligal Korale, Atulugam Korale, Dehigampal Korale, Panawal Korale and Lower Bulatgama Korale.

Warakapola was part of Kiraweli Pattuwa, located in the Beligal Korale of the Kegalle District within the Sabaragamuwa Province. The population of Kiraweli Pattuwa, as recorded in 1871, is provided below.

**The population in Beligal Korale** ^[1]
	1871 Population	Percentage
Gandolaha Pattuwa	3,553	12.97%
Kandupita Pattuwa	7,599	27.75%
Kiraweli Pattuwa	12,187	44.50%
Otara Pattuwa	4,047	14.78%
Beligal Korale Total	27,386	100.00%

Demographics

**Religious Identification in Warakapola** ^[2]
	2012 Population	Percentage
Buddhist	102,661	90.81%
Islam	6,326	5.60%
Hindu	3,065	2.71%
Roman Catholic	677	0.60%
Other Christian	320	0.28%
Other	7	0.01%
Total	113,056	100.00%

Tourist attractions

Warakapola has a number of nearby tourist attractions:

Algama Ella, a waterfall located on the Algama-Uduwaka road.
Dedigama Kotawehera, found adjacent to the 3rd km post on the Galapitamada road, which branches off from the Colombo-Kandy main route at Nelumdeniya junction.
Dorawaka Rock Cave, also known as Ethubendi Lena, an archaeologically significant site situated some distance from the Warakapola-Anguruwella road.^{[citation needed]}
Dunumala Waterfall, located in the village of Uduwaka on the Algama-Galapitamada road.
Theli Ella, a waterfall on the Gurugoda Oya, a tributary of the Kelani River, lying off the Nelundeniya-Galapitamada road, close to Dedigama.
Muthukeliya Mountain Range, known for its natural beauty and biodiversity.^{[citation needed]}
Bandula barb (Pethia bandula) is a species of cyprinid endemic to Sri Lanka. It is found only in a small stream near Galapitamada.^[where?]

Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha

Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha ^[3] established under the Pradeshiya Sabha Act No. 15 of 1987, is the largest Pradeshiya Sabha in the Kegalle District. Historically, the Dedigama area was governed by three separate local government institutions: the Warakapola Town Council, Dedigama Village Council, and Tholangamuwa Othara Pattu Village Council. These three institutions were amalgamated in 1991 to form the Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha.^{[citation needed]}

The inaugural session of the Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha was held on 1 July 1991 at the Warakapola Town Hall.^{[citation needed]} The Pradeshiya Sabha office was relocated to its current building, equipped with modern facilities, on 26 October 2020.^{[citation needed]}

Education

Technical College

Technical College - Warakapola

Central College

Babul Hassan Central College - Medagoda, Warakapola

Madhya Maha Vidyalaya

Maha Vidyalaya

Ambepussa Maha Vidyalaya - Ambepussa, Warakapola
Etnnawla Maha Vidyalaya -Etnnawla, Warakapola
Gamini Maha Vidyalaya - Dummaladeniya, Warakapola
Mainnoluwa Maha Vidyalaya - Mainnoluwa, Warakapola

Vidyalaya

Baudda Vidiyalaya - Pilanduwa, Warakapola
Dummaladeniya Muslim Vidyalaya - Dummaladeniya, Warakapola
Madeniya Tamil Vidyalaya - Madeniya, Warakapola

Kanishta Vidyalaya

Mahena Kanishta Vidyalaya - Mahena, Warakapola

Health Services

Public Health Services

Hospitals

Ayurvedic Hospital - Warakapola
Base Hospital - Warakapola

References

7°13′28″N 80°11′48″E / 7.22444°N 80.19667°E / 7.22444; 80.19667

[1] "Census and Statistics - Population by Paththuawa - 1871".

[2] "Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka - Population by divisional secretariat division, Warakapola and sex- 2012".

[3] "Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha - Overview".

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