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In 1756, the Dutch captured the
Maritime Province and divided it into four administrative areas — Sabaragamuwa, Sath Korle, Sathara Korele and Matara. Out of these, Matara District covered the largest area (essentially the whole of the
679:, which was erected in 2008 (replacing an earlier bridge, which was washed away in the 2004 tsunami). The temple is set in attractive gardens and houses numerous statues of Buddha and a replica of the alleged footprint found on
726:
is on the western or landward side of the Nawali River. The fort was constructed by the Dutch following the Matara rebellion in 1761, to protect the main fort from attacks originating from the river. Construction of the unique
558:
King
Weerabamapanam made Matara as his capital and named it "Mapatuna". The temple in the middle of the town is also built by ancient kings, and now it is a very popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area.
593:. Matara maintained in the hands of the Sinhalese for almost one year. In 1762, the Dutch recaptured Matara Fort, without any significant resistance. Matara was the second most important fort, behind
698:/ramparts: The Matara fort was built in 1560 by the Portuguese and was substantially re-built by the Dutch in 1640, following the capture of Galle. The fort, which consists of a large stone
445:, that may be the meaning "great seaport" or "great fortress". It is also thought as being derived from the mispronunciation of the word 'Matora' by the Portuguese who called it 'Mature' or
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675:
Parey Dewa (Rock in Water) or Paravi
Dupatha temple is a relatively modern Buddhist temple on Pigeon Island (a small offshore island) in front of the city. It is reached by an elegant
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783:
756:, 22 km (14 mi) east of Matara is noted for Sri Lanka's largest seated Buddha statue, which is 50 metres (160 ft) tall and can be visited in Wewurukannalla Viharaya Temple.
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Matara is a busy, booming and sprawling commercial town. Matara's main attractions are its ramparts, Dutch architecture, a well-preserved fort and its street life.
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In 1796, the fort was ceremoniously handed over to the
British. The Dutch and English culture and architecture can still be seen throughout the area. The
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Weherehena Temple in the east of Matara which was built in 1909 and renovated in 1990 is famous for its wall paintings and its tall Buddha statue.
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was constructed within Matara fort by the Dutch in 1706. It was extensively remodeled in 1767, following the recapture of the fort in 1762.
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St Mary's Church is on Beach Road. The date on the doorway (1769) refers to the reconstruction following the 1762 Matara
Rebellion.
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in 1672. The native word 'Matora' might also derived from 'Maha Tera' meaning the place where the Great River was crossed.
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can be found in the city. Other important
Colonial works are the St Mary's Church and the marketplace at Nupe Junction.
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was built by the Dutch, and it is considered one of the oldest lighthouses in Sri Lanka. The two fortresses, the
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In the 16th and 18th centuries, Matara was ruled by the
Portuguese and the Dutch respectively.
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was constructed in 1784 by the Dutch, about 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) from Matara fort.
8:
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429:. It is a major commercial hub, and it is the administrative capital and largest city of
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Kulasuriya, A. S. (1995). "Place Name study in Sri Lanka some Issues and perspectives".
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arrived in the area as traders from Arabia. Today their descendants coexist with
639:. The ethnic majority of Matara is Sinhalese; during the 16th and 17th centuries
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Faith of our fathers: history of the Dutch
Reformed Church in Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
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It was also called 'Maha Tota' (Malo Tota) or Maha- pattana, the great ferry.
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to the Dutch, it mentioned that the area of Matara
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Matara is a major transport hub in the country. It is served by the
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runs through Matara and it is said that there was a wide area where
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In 1760, the fort was successfully attacked by forces from the
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Consist of two elements, the term Matara gives its meaning as
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named it as 'Matura' and in 1744, Heydt called it 'Maderon'.
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Matara historically belongs to the area that was called the
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631:The most famous thinkers who lived in the area are
67:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
936:Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka
1597:Populated places in Southern Province, Sri Lanka
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806:Mahinda Rajapassa School, established in 2013
778:Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
389:Matara Fort: Clocktower, merlons and bartizan
149:
996:The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names
809:Matara Central College, established in 1932
800:Janadhipathi Vidyalaya, established in 1814
514:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
464:used to cross. In 1673, the Dutch minister
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1140:
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803:Mahamaya Girls' School established in 1932
999:. Oxford University Press. p. 1125.
842:Shariputhara Collage, established in 1927
534:Learn how and when to remove this message
127:Learn how and when to remove this message
959:. Academy of Tamil Culture. p. 180.
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1066:Punchihewa, Gamini G. (24 March 2002).
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1078:from the original on 24 September 2015
425:. It is 160 km (99 mi) from
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686:Weragampita Rajamaha Viharaya Temple
512:adding citations to reliable sources
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65:adding citations to reliable sources
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16:City in Southern Province, Sri Lanka
421:. It is the second largest city in
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993:Everett-Heath, John (2018-09-13).
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647:peacefully as an ethnic minority.
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953:Nayagam, Xavier S. Thani (1964).
667:Wewurukannala Viharaya, Sri Lanka
468:had called it 'Mature', in 1681,
456:meaning "great ford". Today, the
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979:. Pragna Publishers. p. 41.
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357:(Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone)
302:13 km (5 sq mi)
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1127:District Secretariat – Matara
1068:"The historic tale of Matara"
920:
915:Railway stations in Sri Lanka
718:Dutch Reformed Church, Matara
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784:University College of Matara
772:Open University of Sri Lanka
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552:Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera
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334:5,841/km (15,130/sq mi)
7:
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975:Franciscus, S.D. (1983).
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26:Not to be confused with
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677:cable-stayed footbridge
1267:Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
1025:www.archaeology.gov.lk
877:, was the terminus of
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869:Matara railway station
731:was completed in 1765.
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825:St. Servatius College
815:, established in 1923
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789:University of Ruhuna
633:Kumaratunga Munidasa
508:improve this section
331: • Density
310:2 m (7 ft)
61:improve this article
19:For other uses, see
1163:Metropolitan cities
1045:"The Matara Church"
839:established in 1898
831:St. Thomas' College
821:established in 1908
226: /
76:"Matara, Sri Lanka"
1572:Provincial capital
1446:Katunayake Seeduwa
1217:Municipal councils
905:since March 2014.
879:Sri Lanka Railways
819:St. Mary's Convent
714:is well-preserved.
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466:Philippus Baldaeus
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299: • Urban
289:Ranjith Yasarathna
1592:Matara, Sri Lanka
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1174:National capitals
1006:978-0-19-256243-2
846:Sujatha Vidyalaya
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1491:Nawalapitiya
1471:Kuliyapitiya
1387:Embilipitiya
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1230:Anuradhapura
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1186:(Commercial)
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1080:. Retrieved
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935:
929:
896:
883:Coastal Line
872:
766:Universities
745:Surroundings
670:
637:Gajaman Nona
630:
599:
588:
584:Walawe River
564:
561:
555:
545:
530:
521:
506:Please help
494:
453:
451:
446:
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393:
392:
123:
114:
104:
97:
90:
83:
71:
59:Please help
54:verification
51:
1521:Talawakelle
1506:Point Pedro
1486:Minuwangoda
1431:Kadugannawa
1352:Ambalangoda
1345:Trincomalee
1312:Bandarawela
696:Matara fort
681:Adam's Peak
651:Attractions
610:Matara fort
606:Dondra Head
470:Robert Knox
454:Maha Ethara
362:Postal code
233: /
1586:Categories
1501:Peliyagoda
1476:Maharagama
1441:Kattankudy
1327:Hambantota
1287:Batticaloa
1255:Kurunegala
1030:2020-06-28
942:: 131–154.
921:References
899:A2 highway
704:promontory
602:lighthouse
595:Galle fort
572:Kalu River
570:up to the
373:Area codes
315:Population
268:Government
87:newspapers
1550:Wattegama
1466:Kolonnawa
1416:Hikkaduwa
1362:Balangoda
1245:Ratnapura
1167:Sri Lanka
1111:Sri Lanka
1098:Sri Lanka
1082:15 August
1051:15 August
858:Transport
761:Education
724:Star Fort
645:Sinhalese
614:Star fort
495:does not
437:Etymology
415:Sri Lanka
350:Time zone
344:Matarians
307:Elevation
252:Sri Lanka
117:July 2016
1555:Weligama
1540:Vavuniya
1530:Tangalle
1511:Puttalam
1496:Panadura
1436:Kalutara
1402:Haputale
1367:Beruwala
1322:Dambulla
1282:Kalmunai
1272:Moratuwa
1262:Kaduwela
1076:Archived
909:See also
887:Beliatta
754:Dikwella
712:bartizan
612:and the
355:UTC+5:30
262:Southern
258:Province
1570:also a
1545:Wattala
1525:Lindula
1461:Kinniya
1456:Kesbewa
1451:Kegalle
1411:Dickoya
1397:Gampola
1297:Gampaha
1277:Negombo
1250:Badulla
1182:Colombo
795:Schools
708:merlons
700:rampart
582:to the
516:removed
501:sources
476:History
462:ferries
447:Maturai
427:Colombo
410:Māthara
398:Sinhala
340:Demonym
247:Country
221:80°32′E
101:scholar
32:Mataram
1481:Mannar
1426:Ja-Ela
1421:Horana
1407:Hatton
1392:Eravur
1382:Chilaw
1357:Ampara
1302:Matale
1292:Matara
1240:Jaffna
1003:
710:and a
394:Matara
326:74,193
218:5°57′N
199:Matara
146:Matara
103:
96:
89:
82:
74:
21:Matara
1567:Note:
1235:Galle
1225:Kandy
641:Moors
618:Dutch
580:Kotte
366:81xxx
285:Mayor
108:JSTOR
94:books
1084:2014
1053:2014
1001:ISBN
893:Road
873:The
863:Rail
635:and
499:any
497:cite
402:මාතර
322:City
294:Area
161:City
151:මාතර
80:news
1165:of
604:at
554:'s
510:by
378:041
63:by
30:or
1588::
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1023:.
985:^
965:^
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938:.
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