Moratuwa

Moratuwa is a big town in Sri Lanka. It sits near the blue sea. Water is all around the town. A large lake is on one side.

Many people live in this place. They make things from wood. They make beautiful furniture.

Moratuwa is also famous for music. Many great singers come from here.

People love to play cricket there. There is even a big stadium.

It is a busy and fun place to visit.

Moratuwa is a large town in Sri Lanka. It sits on the southwest coast. The Indian Ocean is on its west side. A big lake called Bolgoda is on the east. The Moratu river flows to the south. This lake is the largest natural lake in the country. People like to go there for swimming and boating.

Many people live in Moratuwa. In 2012, there were 168,280 people there. The town is very famous for making furniture from wood. People also make rubber goods and batteries there. It is a busy place for fishing and trade.

Moratuwa is also a place for learning. It is home to the University of Moratuwa. This is a top school for technology. The town has many other schools too. Many great musicians and cricket players come from this area. There is even a large cricket stadium called De Soysa Stadium. The town has many different churches and beautiful buildings. Some of these buildings are very old.

Moratuwa is a large municipality on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It sits near a place called Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. The town is located on the Galle-Colombo highway. It lies just south of the center of Colombo. Water surrounds the town on three sides. The Indian Ocean is to the west. Lake Bolgoda is on the east side. The Moratu river flows along the southern edge.

Many different things happen in this busy area. Moratuwa is a center for fishing and trading. It is very famous for making furniture. People there also make rubber products and batteries. They also make transformers and wood handicrafts. The town is a place for learning too. The University of Moratuwa is a top school for technology. It sits on the banks of Bolgoda Lake.

This place has a very long history. A poem from the 15th century mentions Moratuwa. It also mentions a place called Lakshapathiya. Lakshapathiya was land given to a commander named Lak Vijaya Singu. The name Moratuwa comes from the words "Mura Atuwa." This means "sentry turret" in the Sinhalese language. Such a turret once stood at Kaldamulla.

There are many important facts about the people here. In 2012, the population was 168,280 people. Most people in Moratuwa are Buddhist. However, it has a very high number of Christians. The town is home to famous musicians like W. D. Amaradeva. It also produces many great cricket players. The De Soysa Stadium is a large place for cricket.

Traveling through Moratuwa is quite easy. The Galle Road connects the town to the north and south. There is also a railway line that runs along the coast. This line has five different stations. You can find stations at Angulana, Lunawa, Moratuwa, Koralawella, and Egodauyana. Four bridges cross Lake Bolgoda to help people move around. The town also has a public library built with Japanese architecture.

Moratuwa is a large municipality located on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. It is situated within the Colombo District of the Western Province. The town sits along the Galle–Colombo main highway, just south of the center of Colombo. Moratuwa is uniquely positioned by water on three of its sides. To the west lies the Indian Ocean. To the east is Lake Bolgoda, which is the largest natural lake in Sri Lanka. To the south, the Moratu river defines the boundary.

The geography of the area is shaped by these water bodies. Lake Bolgoda is a major feature that twists from Ratmalana through Moratuwa and Panadura. It eventually meets the sea at Wadduwa. The lake is a tributary of the Kalu Ganga, a river that starts at Adam's Peak. Because of this, the lake is a popular spot for boating, angling, and swimming. The town is also connected to the rest of the country by several transport links. These include the Coastal Railway Line and the Galle Road. Four bridges cross Lake Bolgoda to connect different parts of the region. These are the Old Moratuwa Bridge, the New Galle Road Bridge, the Kospalana Bridge, and the Borupana Road Bridge.

Moratuwa has a deep history that stretches back many centuries. The 15th-century poem Kokila Sandesha mentions both Moratuwa and Lakshapathiya. During the reign of King Parakramabahu VI, a monk poet wrote this poem to celebrate Prince Sapumal. In the 16th century, chronicles and church records mention the areas of Lunawa, Uyana, and Rawathawatte. The name "Moratuwa" itself has a specific origin. It comes from the Sinhalese words "Mura Atuwa," which means "sentry turret." This refers to a turret that once existed at Kaldamulla.

The local economy is driven by several different industries. Moratuwa is a significant center for fishing and trading. However, it is most famous for the manufacture of furniture. The town also produces rubber products, batteries, and transformers. Workers there also create wood handicrafts. This industrial activity is supported by a strong educational system. The University of Moratuwa is a leading technological university in South Asia. It was established on December 22, 1978, under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978. It sits on the banks of Lake Bolgoda in Katubedda. Other technical institutions include the Ceylon-German Technical Training Institute and the Industrial Engineering Training Institute.

The people of Moratuwa represent a diverse community. According to the 2012 census, the population was 168,280. While the majority of the population is Buddhist, the area has a very high percentage of Christians. Specifically, 19.80% of the population is Catholic, and 7.76% identifies with other Christian groups. This is significantly higher than the national average for Sri Lanka. The ethnic makeup includes 94.33% Sinhalese, 2.96% Sri Lankan Tamils, 0.24% Indian Tamils, and 1.60% Sri Lankan Moors.

Moratuwa is also known for its cultural contributions in music and sport. Many famous musicians come from this town, including W. D. Amaradeva and Sunil Perera. The town even has a famous theme song called "Punsada paaya Moratuwa dillenna." In the world of sport, Moratuwa has produced many notable international cricket players. The De Soysa Stadium, also known as the Tyronne Fernando Stadium, is an international cricket venue located here.

Architecture and public services further define the character of the municipality. The town features a variety of church buildings, such as the neogothic Anglican Holy Emmanuel Church. This church was built between 1857 and 1860 and features a tall clock tower. The public library, "Janasetha Kala Ketha," is another important landmark. It was opened in 1987 and was built using Japanese architecture. The library was funded by the Moratuwa Municipal Council and a Japanese organization called "World Exposition Commemorative." This library has been recognized as the best public library in the Colombo district and the Western Province.