View source for Gampaha

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name    = Gampaha
|native_name      = ගම්පහ
|image_skyline    = [[File:Gampaha Town.jpg|250px]]
|image_caption    = View of the Gampaha town, Sri Lanka
|image_flag       =
|image_seal       =
|image_map        =
|map_caption      =
|pushpin_map      = Sri Lanka
|settlement_type = [[City]]
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Sri Lanka
|subdivision_type2 = District
|subdivision_name2 = [[Gampaha District]]
|leader_title     = Chief
|government_type = [[Gampaha Municipal Council|Municipal Council]]
|leader_name      = 
|leader_title1    = Mayor
|leader_name1     = Eric Lakshman Ediriwickrama, [[National People's Power|NPP]]
|area_magnitude   =
|area_total_km2   =
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_km2    =
|area_land_sq_mi  =
|area_water_km2   =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|population_as_of = 2014<ref name="census">[http://www.gampaha.mc.gov.lk/Common/Views/City_Profile.php Gampaha Municipal Council]</ref>
|population_total = 62,797
|population_density_km2 =
|timezone         = [[Sri Lanka Standard Time|SLST]]
|utc_offset       = +5:30
|timezone_DST     = 
|utc_offset_DST   =
|coordinates      = {{coord|7|05|30|N|79|59|59|E|region:LK|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Sri Lanka|Postal code]] 
| postal_code      = 11000
| area_code        =[[Telephone numbers in Sri Lanka|033]]
|website          =
|footnotes        =
}}

'''Gampaha''' (Sinhala: ගම්පහ {{IPA|si|ˈɡamːpaha|}}; Tamil: கம்பஹா {{IPA|ta|kambahaː|}}) is an urban city in [[Gampaha District]], [[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province]], [[Sri Lanka]]. It is situated to the north-east of the capital [[Colombo]]. It is the sixth largest urban area in [[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province]], after [[Colombo]], [[Negombo]], [
Kalutara]], [[Panadura]] and [[Avissawella]].<ref name="DN">{{cite web | url=http://dailynews.lk/?q=2016/03/15/business/real-estate-gampaha-%E2%80%93-then-and-now | title=Real Estate in Gampaha – then and now| publisher=[[Daily News (Sri Lanka)]]| date=15 March 2016 | access-date=27 November 2016}}</ref> Gampaha is also the second largest municipal centre in Gampaha district, after [[Negombo]].  Gampaha has a land area of {{convert|25.8|ha|acre|abbr=on}} and is home to the offices of 75 government institutions.Ethnic composition in Gampaha DS division according to 2012 census is as follows Sinhalese-195,379-98.84%,Tamils-1,271-0.64%,Muslim-230-0.12%,Others-787-0.40%.
Religious composition is Buddhist-173,095-87.57%,Roman Catholic-21,085-10.67%,Other Christian-2,137-1.08%,Hindu-855-0.43%,Islam-463-0.23%,Others-32-0.02%.

==Namesake==
The name "Gampaha" in [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] (ගම්පහ) literally means “Five Villages”. The five villages are known to be Ihalagama, Pahalagama, Medagama, Pattiyagama and [[Aluthgama]]. However, at present the location of Pattiyagama can no longer be identified within the town limits of Gampaha and remains disputed. Gampaha was also formerly known as Henarathgoda.

==History==
[[File:Gampaha town volleyball.JPG|thumb|left|The former volleyball statue was an iconic landmark in Gampaha. Due to the development program this statue has been moved next to the railway station entrance.]]
During reign of Portuguese, the main route to the hill country had been laid through the Gampaha area and in the period of Dutch, this area was served as centre for the collection of cinnamon.<ref name="DS 2">{{cite web| url=http://www.gampaha.ds.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=63&lang=en| title=A Brief Description of Gampaha Secretariat Division| publisher=Gamapaha Divisional Secretariat| date=19 November 2010| access-date=21 February 2016| archive-date=14 July 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714111214/http://www.gampaha.ds.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=63&lang=en| url-status=dead}}</ref> But before year 1815, it is said that Gampaha was a dense forest. The 5th Governor of [[Ceylon]], [[Sir Edward Barnes]] made a visit to Gampaha in 1825, on the way to observe the construction work of the Negombo-Colombo main road. When British built the “Moragoda” catholic church in 1828, Gampaha and surrounding areas slowly became inhabited.

As the extension of the railway track from Colombo to [[Ambepussa]], the [[Gampaha railway station|Henarathgoda railway station]] was completed in 1866 which acted as a key factor for the progress and recognition of the town. In 1867, the first rubber tree of Sri Lanka was planted in Henarathgoda botanical garden.

The town was planned in 1920, with 52 roads including the main street, a water tank, a public market, a hospital and an electrical generator. Most of these are still present in their original sites with various improvements over time.<ref name="event.lk">{{cite web|title=GAMPAHA|url=http://event.lk/venue/view/id/487|publisher=event.lk|access-date=21 February 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304005024/http://event.lk/venue/view/id/487|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Local Government==
Gampaha was a village council until 1945. On 1 January that year, the town qualified to become an urban council. The first urban council had five members. P. P. Jayawardane was the first chairman of the urban council. Total number of workforce in the urban council was 197 persons. In 1978 constitutional reforms declared Gampaha as a new administrative district (which was formerly recognised as a part of the [[Colombo District]]) and the main administrative centre was established in Gampaha.<ref name="DS 2" /> The new district status lead the town to a rapid development, establishing new government institutes. On 16 April 2002, the Urban Council was upgraded to become the [[Gampaha Municipal Council]].

==Economy==
The economy of Gampaha has been vastly extended in many aspects. Mainly [[Paddy (unmilled rice)|paddy]] and [[Rubber]] are grown here as main cultivation products and additionally [[pineapple]] and [[betel]] are grown here. Also some rural industries like pottery, tiles, hand loom textiles, coconut related products can be found.<ref name="DS 2" />

==Climate==
Gampaha has a [[tropical rainforest climate]] under the [[Köppen climate classification]]. The climate is fairly temperate all throughout the year with a significant rainfall. Even in the driest month there is a significant amount of rain. The driest month is January and there is about 62&nbsp;mm of precipitation. Most of the precipitation in Gampaha area falls in October, averaging 365&nbsp;mm. The precipitation varies 303&nbsp;mm between the driest month and the wettest month. April is warmest month in Gampaha, with an average temperature of 28.4&nbsp;°C (83.1&nbsp;°F) and the December is the coolest month, with temperatures averaging 26.1&nbsp;°C (79&nbsp;°F). Throughout the year, temperatures vary by 2.3&nbsp;°C.

The annual rain fall in the area is about 2398&nbsp;mm and the average temperature is about 27.3&nbsp;°C. The main sources of water canals of Gampaha are [[Attanagalu Oya]] and Uruwela Oya.

{{Weather box
 	
|location = Gampaha 
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 
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|Jan high C = 30.7	
|Feb high C = 31.8	
|Mar high C = 32.7	
|Apr high C = 32.6	
|May high C = 31.5	
|Jun high C = 30.3	
|Jul high C = 30.2	
|Aug high C = 30.4	
|Sep high C = 30.6	
|Oct high C = 30.3	
|Nov high C = 30.4	
|Dec high C = 30.1	
|year high C = 32.7		 
	
|Jan mean C = 26.2	
|Feb mean C = 26.8	
|Mar mean C = 27.9	
|Apr mean C = 28.4	
|May mean C = 28.3	
|Jun mean C = 27.5	
|Jul mean C = 27.5	
|Aug mean C = 27.6	
|Sep mean C = 27.5	
|Oct mean C = 26.9	
|Nov mean C = 26.5	
|Dec mean C = 26.1	
|year mean C = 27.2		

|Jan low C = 21.7	
|Feb low C = 21.8
|Mar low C = 23.1
|Apr low C = 24.2	
|May low C = 25.1	
|Jun low C = 24.8	
|Jul low C = 24.8
|Aug low C = 24.8
|Sep low C = 24.4
|Oct low C = 23.6	
|Nov low C = 22.7	
|Dec low C = 22.2	
|year low C = 21.7		 
	
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|Jan precipitation mm = 62	
|Feb precipitation mm = 79
|Mar precipitation mm = 146	
|Apr precipitation mm = 255	
|May precipitation mm = 353	
|Jun precipitation mm = 216	
|Jul precipitation mm = 134	
|Aug precipitation mm = 123	
|Sep precipitation mm = 202	
|Oct precipitation mm = 365	
|Nov precipitation mm = 311	
|Dec precipitation mm = 152		 
	
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|source 1 = ''CLIMATE DATA.ORG'',<ref name= WWO>{{cite web	
  |url = http://en.climate-data.org/location/1012453/	
  |title = CLIMATE: GAMPAHA
  |publisher = CLIMATE DATA.ORG	
  |access-date = 21 February 2016}}</ref> 	
|date=		 	
}}

==Attractions==

* [[Henarathgoda Botanical Garden]] where the first rubber tree was planted in Sri Lanka<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bgci.org/garden.php?id=589|title=Gampaha Botanic Garden - Botanic Gardens Conservation International}}</ref> is still present located close to Gampaha town. The garden is bordered with Attangalle oya and covers about {{cvt|43|acres|order=flip}}. It is believed that the garden is more than 128 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tour.lk/sri_lanka/gampaha/henarathgoda_botanical_gardens.php|title=Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens|access-date=1 May 2015|archive-date=26 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826002020/http://tour.lk/sri_lanka/gampaha/henarathgoda_botanical_gardens.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Henarathgoda old railway station.jpg|thumb|Henarathgoda old railway station. Currently this building has been recognised as archaeological protected monument in Gampaha.]]
* [[Gampaha railway station|Henarathgoda old railway station]] was built in 1866 by the British to facilitate the transportation of [[Tea production in Sri Lanka|tea]] and [[Coffee production in Sri Lanka|coffee]] from the up country to [[Colombo]].<ref name="colombofort">{{cite web|title=Cutting the First Sod of Earth for the Railway in 1858|url=http://colombofort.com/1st.railway.htm|publisher=colombofort.com|access-date=21 February 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Gorakaella waterfall.jpg|thumb|145x145px|right|Goraka Ella Waterfall]]
* [[Asgiriya Rajamaha Vihara, Gampaha|Asgiriya Rajamaha Vihara]] is an ancient Buddhist temple which is located close to the Gampaha town. Currently this temple has been recognized as archaeological protected monument in Minuwangoda division. The history of this temple runs to the reign of [[Valagamba of Anuradhapura|King Valagamba]].
* [[Yatawatte Purana Vihara]] is an Tampita [[Vihara]], located in Pahalagama. Currently this temple has been protected as one of archaeological protected sites in Sri Lanka.
* [[Wathumulla Ketawala Ambalama]] is an old [[Ambalama]], located near to Daraluwa rail way station. During the past periods Ambalams were designed to provide shelter for the travelers.
* [[Ketawala Anicut]] is one of two anicut projects that come under the key irrigation scheme in Gampaha.
* Maligathenna Rajamaha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist Temple which located in Gampaha District. The history of this temple runs to the reign of [[Valagamba of Anuradhapura|King Valagamba]].  The tooth relic was hidden twice here.
*Kaleniya Rajamaha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist Temple in Gampaha District. It is located near to [[Kelani River]].
* Goraka Ella waterfall

==Education==
Literacy in Gampaha district is the highest in Sri Lanka.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} The literacy rate for both sexes is 98.5.
<ref>{{cite web
| url        = http://www.statistics.gov.lk/Indicators/htdocs/index.php?usecase=indicator&action=Data&indId=019
| title      =Literacy Rates by District and Sex (Population of Age 10 Years and Over)
| date       = 23 March 2015
| website    = Department of Census and Statistics-Sri-Lanka
| access-date = 23 March 2015
}}</ref> Gampaha is home to secondary educational institutes in Sri Lanka. The government owned schools in the gampaha area are listed below.<ref name="DS 1">{{cite web | url=http://www.gampaha.ds.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28&Itemid=23&lang=en | title=Schools| publisher=Gamapaha Divisional Secretariat| date=21 November 2010 | access-date=21 February 2016}}</ref>

===Universities===
*[[University of Kelaniya]]

====Ayurveda====
Pundit Wickramarachchi found the first Ayurveda College of the country - "Sri Lanka Siddhayurveda Vidyalaya"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kln.ac.lk/institutes/wickramarachchi/introduction.htm|title=Siddhayurveda College AKA The Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913173644/http://www.kln.ac.lk/institutes/wickramarachchi/introduction.htm|archive-date=13 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siddhayurveda.lk/|title=Siddhayurveda Rasayanushada Samagama}}</ref> in 1929 closer to Yakkala. "Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Vidyalaya (Incorporation) Act No. 30 of 1982" established the college as a national institute for Ayurveda education. From 1 March 1995 the institute was recognized as [[Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute]] and was affiliated to the main university stream of the country Under [[University of Kelaniya]]. The institute offers "Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery" (BAMS) diploma and the practitioners are distinguished around the country as "Gampaha Ayurvedic Physicians". Rules for the regulation of the professional conduct of Ayurvedic physicians have been approved by the Minister of Health and gazetted in June 1971.

===Schools===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*Anura Central College
*[[Bandaranayake College, Gampaha|Bandaranayake College]]
*[[Bandarawatta Parakrama Maha Vidyalaya]]
*Bemmulla Gamini Kanishta Vidyalaya
*Bendiyamulla Gajaba Vidyalaya
*Sri Bodhi College
*Chandrajothi Maha Vidyalaya
*[[Sri Dharmaloka College Kelaniya]]
*[[Gothami Kanishta Vidyalaya]]
*Gunanodaya Vidyalaya-Divlapitiya
*[[Gurukula College Kelaniya]]
*[[Holy Cross College (Gampaha)|Holy Cross College]]
*Ihala Yagoda Lumbini Kanishta Vidyalaya
*Indigolla Vijitha Prathamika Vidyalaya 
*Keppetipola Maha Vidyalaya
*Kirindiwela Central College
*Kirindiwela Maha Vidyalaya
*Kirindiwita Gemunu Kanishta Vidyalaya
*Mahagamasekaya Maha Vidyalaya 
*Mahaththuwa Jinarathana Prathamika Vidyalaya
*Moragoda Wimaladharmasuriya Kanishta Vidyalaya
*[[Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya Gampaha|Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya]]
*[[St Peter's College, Gampaha|St. Peter's College]]
*Sidharthakumara Vidyalaya
*Sanghabodhi College
*Sumedha College 
*Thakshila College
*[[Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya Kiribathgoda]]
*[[Vishaka Balika Vidyalaya Makola]]
*[[Yasodara Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya]]
{{div col end}}

==Transport==
Gampaha is the 15th railway station from the Colombo fort on main railway line.

Numerous bus routes terminatate at Gampaha.

{{Geographic Location (8-way)
| Centre = Gampaha.
| North = [[Udugampola]].
| Northeast = .
| East = [[Yakkala]].
| Southeast = 
| South= Belummahara.
| Southwest = 
| Northwest = 
| West = [[Ganemulla]].
| image =
}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081012202041/http://www.liccavi-earth.com/Liccavi/Search.aspx?lat=7.09102&lon=79.99950&zoom=12 Detailed map of Gampaha and Sri Lanka]

{{Municipalities and Urban areas of Sri Lanka}}

[[Category:Gampaha| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Gampaha District]]
[[Category:Populated places in Western Province, Sri Lanka]]