Ambalantota

Ambalantota

අම්බලන්තොට
அம்பலங்தொட்டை
Ambalantota අම්බලන්තොට; அம்பலங்தொட்டை
Town
	Ambalantota Location in Sri Lanka
	Coordinates: 6°7′0″N 81°1′0″E / 6.11667°N 81.01667°E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Southern Province
District	Hambantota District
Time zone	+5.30

Ambalantota is a coastal town in southern Sri Lanka. It is located in Southern Province in Hambantota District between Matara and Hambantota.

The

Valave River

meets the sea near Ambalantota.

The Ambalantota is famous for its ancient ruins of the

Kingdom of Ruhuna. After his many conquests abroad King Gajaba returned to the country from the port of Godavaya

that is within sight of Ambalantota.

History

Ambalantota played an important role in past Sri Lanka as the major city of the

Kingdom of Ruhuna

. It was called 'Manaulu Pura'. The great king Vijayaba, the great warrior Therapuththabhaya, Divisional king Mahanagha made Ambalantota flourish and Ridiyagama was the commercial hub in those days.

Gajaman Nona's Statue Situated at Nonagama Junction Crossing A2 Highway with A18 Highway

Attractions

There are many remarkable places in Ambalantota.

Ussangoda Beach - Nonagama
Ochchama Beach - Nonagama
Godawaya Beach - Godawaya (Dehigahalanda, Ambalantota)
Godawaya ancient port - (Dehigahalanda, Ambalantota)
Ridiyagama Lake
Safari park - Ridiyagama
Kalamatiya Bird Century - Hungama
Madunagala Temple - Koggalla
Walawe River Mouth - Ambalantota
Mangrove forest - Ambalantota
Karadhulena Temple - Koggalla
Liyangastota Amuna - Barawakubuka
Lunama kalapuwa-lunama
Ussangoda National Park-Lunama, Nonagama
Nonagama water park - Nonagama
Kirala Kele Forest - Malpeththawa

Valuable ancient temples

Ramba Raja Maha Vihara
Madhunagala Raja Maha Vihara
Karadhulena Raja Maha Vihara
Girihandu Raja Maha Vihara
Wilgamvehera Raja Maha vihara
Galvila Raja Maha vihara
Uswella Raja Maha Vihara
Godavaya Raja Maha vihara
Therapuththabhaya Raja Maha viharaya
Rangiri Raja Maha viharaya

Transport

The town is served by public and private buses. The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) (also known as the Hambantota International Airport) (IATA: HRI, ICAO: VCRI) is the closest international airport serving the town from nearby Hambantota.

Education

Theraputtha National School is the leading and popular mixed school in Ambalantota. The other leading schools are Vijayaba Central College (mixed) - Hungama and Ambalantota Maha Vidyalaya (mixed) - Malpeththawa.

Surrounding Ambalantota, the other leading schools are Bolana Maha Vidyalaya (mixed) – Bolana and St Mary's Central College, Hambantota (mixed). The Open University of Sri Lanka has opened a Study Centre for Ambalantota in Rajasaranagama Road, Lunama South, Ambalantota which will play an important role in improving the knowledge for Hambantota students. They offer a wide variety of Higher Education programmes in Management, Language, Education, Engineering, Information Technology, Human Resource Management, etc.

Development

The area is part of the southeastern region of Sri Lanka experiencing extensive investment in new infrastructure and services. The new Hambantota Port (

Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port

) is situated near Ambalantota. A new botanical garden is also proposed for Ambalantota.

A 500-acre (2.0 km²) Safari Park is being constructed in Ridiyagama, Ambalantota. The Safari Park is scheduled to open in April 2014^[1]

References

^ Work on Safari Park completed Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine, news.lk, 6. January 2014

External links

06°13′30″N 80°03′24″E / 6.22500°N 80.05667°E / 6.22500; 80.05667

[1] Work on Safari Park completed Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine, news.lk, 6. January 2014

[1]