Ratnapura District

Ratnapura District
රත්නපුර දිස්ත්‍රික්කය
இரத்தினபுரம் மாவட்டம்
Map of Sri Lanka with Ratnapura District highlighted
Map of Sri Lanka with Ratnapura District highlighted
Coordinates: 6°35′N 80°35′E / 6.583°N 80.583°E / 6.583; 80.583
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceSabaragamuwa Province
Largest CityRatnapura
Government
 • District SecretaryMalani Lokupothagama
Area
 • Total3,275 km2 (1,264 sq mi)
Population
 (2012)[1]
 • Total1,088,007
 • Density332.2/km2 (860/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka)
ISO 3166 codeLK-91

Ratnapura (Sinhala: රත්නපුර දිස්ත්‍රික්කය, Tamil: இரத்தினபுரம் மாவட்டம்) is a district of Sri Lanka in the Sabaragamuwa Province.

This gem-mining centre of Sri Lanka is also a major crossroad between southern plains and the hill country to the east. A bustling market city servicing most of the surrounding towns, many of the prominent gem dealers in Sri Lanka operate from this town. There is a route to Sri Pada from Ratnapura direction. Excursions include Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Udawalawe National Park. The surrounding area is a popular trekking destination and a good place for bird watching. The district is home to Kukulugala, the 18th tallest mountain in Sri Lanka.[2][3]

  1. ^ "Census of Population and Housing 2011".
  2. ^ "GeoNames.org". www.geonames.org. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  3. ^ The national atlas of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka (Second ed.), Colombo: Survey Dept., Sri Lanka, 2007, ISBN 978-955-9059-04-2{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)