| Official Name: | Panadura |
| Native Name: | Sinhala; Sinhalese: පානදුර Tamil: பாணந்துறை |
| Pushpin Map: | Sri Lanka |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Sri Lanka |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Western Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kalutara District |
| Subdivision Type3: | Division |
| Subdivision Name3: | Panadura Division |
| Leader Title: | Panadura Urban Council |
| Leader Title1: | Chairman |
| Leader Name1: | Nandana Gunathilake, (UNP).[1] |
| Area Urban Km2: | 7.00 |
| Area Metro Km2: | 44.00 |
| Population Urban: | 30,069 |
| Population Metro: | 182,285 |
| Timezone: | Time in Sri Lanka |
| Utc Offset: | +5:30 |
| Timezone Dst: | not observed |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +5:30 |
| Coordinates: | 6.7133°N 79.9042°W |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
| Postal Code: | 12500 |
| Area Code: | 038 |
| Demographics Type1: | Language |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Area Total Km2: | 7.00 |
| Government Type: | Local Government |
| Governing Body: | Panadura Urban Council |
| Population Density Urban Km2: | 4,296 |
| Population Density Metro Km2: | 4,143 |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Sinhala and Tamil |
| Demographics1 Info2: | English |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Additional |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
Panadura (si|පානදුර|translit=Pānadura; ta|பாணந்துறை|translit=Pāṇantuṟai) is a main city in Kalutara District, Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 27km (17miles) south of Colombo. Panadura is surrounded on all sides by water; the Indian Ocean, the Bolgoda Lake and river is reason for that. Panadura is famed as the location of important events in the Buddhist revival movement of Sri Lanka. Panadura Beach is an attractive place for local and foreign tourists.
The Panadura Debate, held in 1873, was the climax of the first phase of the Buddhist revivalist movement which began with the establishment of the Society for the Propagation of Buddhism at Kotahena and the establishment of the Lankopakara Press in Galle. The two key persons in the Panadura Debate were Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera and Father David de Silva, and the two key institutions were the Rankoth Viharaya and the Methodist Church of Panadura.[2] [3] It was the success of the Panadura Debate that prompted Colonel Henry Steel Olcott to come to Ceylon.
Panadura is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic city. The Sinhalese make the majority in the city. Muslims are the second largest group in the city. Buddhism is the largest religion in this city.Others include Sri Lankan Tamils, small numbers of Indian Tamils, Burgher and Malay.
Source:statistics.gov.lk.
Pandura is located at the junction of the A2 (Galle Road) and the A8 (Panadura-Ratnapura Road).
Panadura railway station is located to the west of the town, and is located on the Coastal line.
Due to Panadura being situated along Galle Road, it is serviced by many bus routes terminating at Panadura as well as ones heading further south.
"Kethumathi" (si|කේතුමතී කාන්තා රෝහල) is the fourth largest hospital in the country, dedicated for Obstetrics and Gynecology. It is situated at the centre of Panadura, 10m (30feet) from the A2 road. This hospital is a comprehensive with neonatal ICU and has a 300 bed capacity. A grade-1 Base hospital situated near the Panadura police station facing A2 road. Apart from this there are wide range of health care facilities run by the Government. There is an Ayurvedic Treatment Centre in Pallimulla, Panadura.[4]
One of the oldest and most representative buildings in Panadura is the Post Office in Galle Road. The Domingo Dias Memorial Town Hall dating from 1927 is used for concerts and exhibitions.