Kandawala, Negombo Explained

Kandawala
Native Name:Sinhala; Sinhalese: කඳවල
Tamil: கந்தவல
Pushpin Map:Sri Lanka
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Sri Lanka
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name3:Katana
Utc Offset:+5:30
Coordinates:7.2372°N 79.8808°W
Elevation M:2
Postal Code:11532 (Thimbirigaskatuwa)
11534 (Kandawala)

Kandawala (Sinhala; Sinhalese: කඳවල|translit=Kan̆davala, Tamil: கந்தவல|translit=Kantavala) (also known as Kandawala - Negombo and Kandawala - Katana) is a suburb of the city of Negombo, Sri Lanka.

Administration

Kandawala consists of three Grama Niladhari divisions: Ihala Kandawala, Pahala Kandawala and K. C. De Silva Pura, while the Kandawala Electoral Ward (subdivided into consisting Ilhala Kandawala and Pahala Kandawala) comes under the purview of the Katana Pradesiya Sabha.

Poththode, Anandapura and Batapaththala are other areas that lie within Kandawala.

In the Local Government Elections held in 2018, United National Party candidate Lasantha Deepal was elected to the Kandawala Ward, defeating Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna candidate Daisy Hapuarachchi.

Historical tower

Kandawala was home to a tower built in 1796 by the colonial Dutch for communication and surveillance, with a height of 150feet.[1] The tower was later used by the Department of Survey; it collapsed on 27 November 2015,[2] [3] with the remains visible today.

Demographics

Roman Catholicism

Kandawala Parish is one of the largest parishes in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo, and is home to the Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Demanhandiya church and Batapaththala church. A monastery of the Dominican Order and a community of Sisters of the Holy Family also exist in the area. Kandawala has a history of hosting Passion Plays, Yagaya being the best known.

Buddhism

Poththode Ananda Wivekashrama and Pahala Kandawala Sri Sambudaramaya temples are Buddhist religious places in the area.

Education

St. Joseph’s Junior School, Kandawala provides education for students from grades 1 to 11.

Transportation

Kandawala is Located on the Negombo - Katana 251 bus route. Private buses are frequent, and several SLTB services are also available. A bus travelling from Nikaveratiya to Colombo via Pannala, Katana, Kandawala and Negombo also exists.

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. News: A 150 feet high tower erected during the Dutch period collapsed. The Daily News. 30 November 2015. 22 April 2018.
  2. News: Dutch era tower collapses in Katana - Kandawala Road. ITN News. 27 November 2015. 22 April 2018.
  3. News: Dutch tower collapses. The Daily Mirror. Ranjith. Ferndinandes. 29 November 2015. 22 April 2018.