- Source: Southern Province, Sri Lanka
The Southern Province (Sinhala: දකුණු පළාත Dakuṇu Paḷāta, Tamil: தென் மாகாணம் Theṉ Mākāṇam) of Sri Lanka is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the country. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. It is the 7th largest province by area and is home to 2.5 million people, the 3rd most populated province. The province is bordered by Sabaragamuwa Province and Uva Province to the North, Eastern Province to the Northeast, Western Province to the Northwest and the Indian Ocean to the South, West and East. The Province's capital is Galle.
The Southern Province is a geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of this region. Government School education is primarily handled by the Southern Provincial Education Department.
Administrative divisions
Southern Province is divided into 3 districts and 47 divisional secretariats.
= Divisional Secretariats
=The districts of the Sri Lanka are divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became 'Assistant Government Agents' and the divisions were known as 'A.G.A. Divisions'. Currently, the divisions are administered by a 'Divisional Secretary', and are known as a 'D.S. Divisions'.
There are 47 divisional secretariats in the Southern Province, with 19 in Galle District, 12 in Hambantota District and 16 in Matara District.
= Major population centres
=Landmarks
Important landmarks of the Southern Province include the wildlife sanctuaries of the Yala and Udawalawe National Parks. Ussangoda in Ambalantota is a panoramic view of the beach and the sea, and the holy city of Kataragama, and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. (Although Galle is an ancient city, almost nothing survives from before the Portuguese invasion.) During the Portuguese period there were two famous Sinhalese poets called Andare who was from Dickwella and Gajaman Nona who was from Denipitiya in Matara District, composing poems on common man.
The Southern Province was seriously affected by the tsunami in 2004. The province is going through a rebuilding process.
See also
List of settlements in Southern Province (Sri Lanka)
Provinces of Sri Lanka
Districts of Sri Lanka
Urban councils of Sri Lanka
References
External links
Southern Provincial Council Official website
Governor's Office - Southern Province Official website
Chief Secretariat - Southern Province Official website
Southern Provincial Education Department
Southern Provincial Post Codes
Cities in Southern Province
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Provinsi Selatan, Sri Lanka
- Gempa bumi dan tsunami Samudra Hindia 2004
- Provinsi Sabaragamuwa
- Madras Cafe
- Daftar jenis beras
- Bogo
- Bantuan kemanusiaan untuk korban gempa bumi Samudra Hindia 2004
- Bahasa Inggris
- Cymbopogon
- Channa gachua
- Southern Province, Sri Lanka
- Divisional secretariats of Sri Lanka
- Matara, Sri Lanka
- Western Province, Sri Lanka
- List of schools in Southern Province, Sri Lanka
- Electoral districts of Sri Lanka
- Southern Province
- Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
- Provinces of Sri Lanka
- Flag of Southern Province, Sri Lanka
