Kandy Four Gravets & Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat

Geographic Location

At present, this Division is known as Four Gravets and Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat, since it is surrounded by the river Mahaweli and the old Gamsabha Division was called Gangawata Korale and as per the historical records, earlier there were four gravets to enter into the Division, i.e. Katugastota, Thannekumbura, Ampitiya and Peradeniya.

This Divisional Secretariat consists of 64 Grama Niladhari Divisions and 281 villages, two Electoral Divisions as Kandy and Senkadagala, and Kandy Municipal Council, Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat and the two Local Governments. 

This Division consists of multi-ethnic population and Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim are its major ethnic groups. Subsequently, this Division consists of a multi-religious population and Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the major religions. This Division is peaceful and harmonious and a population of 177,351 live in corporation. Kandy, a city which receives worldwide attention because of its historical, cultural and religious sites and natural beauty and a city declared as a world heritage site, belongs to Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat. Social and economic infrastructure of this Division is comparatively higher than the other Divisional Secretariats of the District. Comparatively, this Divisional Secretariat has particular values and qualities.

Gangawata Korale is the only Divisional Secretariat that has a small land which is 76.2 km² in extent but a higher population density than the other Divisional Secretariats within Kandy District.

This Division which is located in the Kandy plateau that lies towards the North of the Central Highlands, is an undulating land of the right bank of the river Mahaweli, and the elevation of the area is 1000-5000 feet above sea level. This area which belongs to the Wet Zone, has an annual average rainfall of 84.3 m.m. Conventional rain and Monsoonal rain accounts for a major share of the annual rainfall. The mean annual temperature is 70°F. A drainage system flows from the East towards the West and North, and from the South towards the North, and these drainage systems rise from Hanthana mountains and Hewaheta highlands, and they join the river Mahaweli in the South and West (Peradeniya and Gatambe) and from North (Katugastota and Haragama).  The Geographical location of this Division is in the North grid No. 200-240, East grid No. 180-200. The boundaries of Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat are as follows: Pathadumbara Divisional Secretariat from North, Kundasale Divisional Secretariat from West, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara and Harispattuwa Divisional Secretariats from East, and Doluwa and Udapalatha Divisional Secretariats from South. Further, 70% of this Division is physically bounded by the river Mahaweli.

Physical Map

Historical Information

Historical Information

Taking the history of the upcountry into consideration, this area which once was a kingdom has an ancient value and this kingdom was the last Sinhalese monarchy of the Thun Sinhala.

As indicated in the historical records, boundaries of this area are drawn as follows: beyond Haragama, beyond Kundasale, beyond Lewella, beyond Watapuluwathota, upper areas of Mahaiyawa Murapola, Halloluthota, Gatambethota, and Attanagaha Kadulla. The boundary of this kingdom is almost similar to the boundaries of the present Divisional Secretariat. Although in the 14^th Century this area was called ‘Ruhunu Rata’, the ancient palm-leaf manuscript of Asgiri Viharaya (Asgiri Thalpatha) proves that this particular area in Mahanuwara (Kandy) was called ‘Katupuluwa’. The upcountry of Sri Lanka has a proud history of 2000 years.

 King Panditha Wickramabahu, firmly believing this area to be a ‘Jayabhoomi’ (a land of victory) initiated establishing the Senkadagala Kingdom. Different legends as well as historical literature reveal that the name Senkadagala was coined commemorating the hermit Senkada and the princess Senkunda, and further, historical information provide evidence to prove the fact that there was a red coloured rock. Following the establishment of Senkadagala Kingdom, this area was known as the Udarata Kingdom, and from time immemorial this city was called ‘Maha nuwara’ (Kandy) as this particular city is larger than the other cities. King Wimaladharmasuriya I established the Udarata Kingdom, having Mahanuwara as its capital in 1592 A.D. After King Narendrasinghe’s reign (1707- 1739 A.D), Sri Vijaya Rajasinghe, from Nayak dynasty of South India ascended the throne of Kandyan Kingdom in 1739. Since then, Malabar Street, which is now known as Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha was a colony of Nayak dynasty. In 1815, the officers of English Governors have been given these buildings for residence.

In 1798 A.D King Rajasinghe ascended to the throne and reigned the kingdom until the British forces invaded Kingdom. However, towards 1815, Kandy district was divided into 9 regions. Earlier, Kandy belonged to the Yatinuwara Division. However, later Yatinuwara Division was divided into three, i.e. Yatinuwara, Senkadagala, and Kandy.  

Taking the recent history of the area into consideration, Kandy electoral division and Senkadagala electoral division belong to Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretariat, and earlier, this electoral division was known as Mahanuwara.  Before the State principle of decentralizing administration was introduced in 1989, this division had been divided into 23 Grama Niladhari Divisions.

Historical incidents took place in this region manifest that the historic sites and cultural features of Kandy are of great importance. Esala Perahera which consists of the procession of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Four Devalas, is the most vibrant and colourful pageant of the Nation. Esala Perahera is annually held with state patronage, and consequently, the Divisional Secretary is the authorized officer of Esala Perahera.