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2025-06-04T01:54:06Z

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{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kottawa
| native_name = {{plainlist |
* {{Native name|si|කොට්ටාව|parensize=90%}}
* {{Native name|ta|கொட்டாவை|parensize=90%}}
}}
| native_name_lang = si,ta
| settlement_type = [[Suburb]]
| image_skyline = Kottawa Town, Pannipitiya, Sri Lanka - panoramio (6).jpg
| image_caption =
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_shield =
| motto =
| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka Colombo District
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Kottawa within Colombo District
| coordinates = {{coord|6|50|29|N|79|57|53|E|region:LK|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
| subdivision_name = Sri Lanka
| subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Sri Lanka|Province]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western Province]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Sri Lanka|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Colombo District]]
| government_footnotes =
| leader_party =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| unit_pref = [[Metric system|Metric]]
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft =
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 5,064
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_note =
| population_demonym = Kottawist
| timezone = [[Time zone#UTC .2B 6.2C F|Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone]]
| utc_offset = +5:30
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Code]]
| postal_code = 10230
| area_code =
| website =
}}

'''Kottawa''' ({{langx|si|කොට්ටාව}}, {{langx|ta|கொட்டாவை}}) is one of the main suburbs in [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]] and is administered by the [[Maharagama Urban Council]]. It is located {{convert|21|km|abbr=on}} from the centre of Colombo. It is a [[Road junction|five-way junction]] and lies as the epicenter for Maharagama road, [[Homagama]] road, [[Piliyandala]] road, [[Malabe]] road and [[Borella]] road.

== History ==

The name Kottawa might be derived from the Sinhalese phrase ''kotten awa'', meaning "just arrived from Kotte"{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} and later the name was shortened to "Kottawa". Another contemporary opinion is that it's the "city of the great one". The town was part of the [[Kottawa Electoral District]] which existed between 1960 and 1977 and has been identified as one of the main transportation hubs of [[Colombo]]. Kottawa comprises five [[grama niladhari]] divisions: north, south, east, west and city.<ref>{{cite web|title=GN Divisions|website=Divisional Secretariat - Maharagama|url=http://maharagama.ds.gov.lk/index.php/en/administrative-structure/gn-divisions.html|accessdate=21 October 2020}}</ref>

During the [[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]], Kottawa's strategic location on one of the main roads connecting [[Panagoda Cantonment]] to Colombo made it a target for attacks. In 2004, 7 alleged [[Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal]] militants were killed in a pre-dawn attack blamed on the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sambandan |first1=V S |title=Striking terror, again |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/world-affairs/article30224169.ece |access-date=22 December 2021 |work=Frontline |publisher=The Hindu |date=27 August 2004}}</ref> In June 2006, Major General [[Parami Kulatunga]] was killed by a suicide bomber just after passing Kottawa on his way to the [[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters in Colombo]] from his residence in Panagoda.<ref name="ST2">{{cite news |title=Who kept Kulatunga out of Army HQ |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060702/columns/sitrep.html |access-date=22 December 2021 |publisher=Sunday Times| date=2 July 2006}}</ref>

== Economy ==

Kottawa is a commercial hub with several banks,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pan Asia Bank opens 80th branch in Kottawa |url=https://www.ft.lk/Financial-Services/pan-asia-bank-opens-80th-branch-in-kottawa/42-520805 |website=Daily FT |publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref> shops,<ref>{{cite web |title=Wickramarachchi opens latest branch in Kottawa |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2018/04/04/business/147430/wickramarachchi-opens-latest-branch-kottawa |website=Daily News |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rich Look Fashion opens branch in Kottawa |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/03/23/business/244705/rich-look-fashion-opens-branch-kottawa |publisher=Daily News |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref> supermarkets,<ref>{{cite news |title=Softlogic Glomark enters Kottawa with new outlet |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Softlogic-Glomark-enters-Kottawa-with-new-outlet/273-170652 |access-date=29 October 2020 |agency=Daily Mirror |publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Limited |date=8 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Arpico opens 17th Superstore at Kottawa |url=https://www.ft.lk/Business/arpico-opens-17th-superstore-at-kottawa/34-387124 |website=Daily FT |publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd |access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref> a post office, bakeries and fuel depots. As a commuter suburb of Colombo, Kottawa has seen land prices increase twenty five to thirty two per cent in recent times, with the average price per perch being between LKR {{Format price|700000}}{{ndash}}{{Format price|1000000}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Land Prices in Greater Colombo Increase by up to 64% as Demand Grows for Affordable Land Outside the City |url=http://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/land-prices-in-greater-colombo-increase-by-up-to-64-as-demand-grows-for-affordable-land-outside-the-city/ |access-date=22 December 2021 |publisher=Ada Derana |date=27 June 2019}}</ref>

== Culture ==

The Kottawa United Traders Association constructs a [[pandal]] for the [[Vesak]] festival at the centre of town. This has been an annual event since 1988.<ref>{{cite news |title=කොට්ටාව වෙසක් තොරණ |url=https://www.lankadeepa.lk/provincial_news/%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%9C%E0%B6%A7%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%A7%E0%B7%8F%E0%B7%80-%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%99%E0%B7%83%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%9C%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%AB/59-314108 |access-date=22 December 2021 |work=Lankadeepa |publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Limited |date=4 May 2015}}</ref>

== Education ==

There are several schools located in Kottawa:

* [[Kottawa Dharmapala Maha Vidyalaya]]
* [[Ananda Vidyalaya, Kottawa]]
* Kottawa North Dharmapala Vidyalaya
* Vidyadana Maha Vidyalaya
* Vijayagosha Vidyalaya
* Madduma Bandara Kanishta Vidyalaya

== Law Enforcement ==

Kottawa is served by the Kottawa Police Station. In 2010, the artist Lalaka Peiris was found dead after arrest here.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bangala Arrachi |first1=Tiran Kumara |title=SRI LANKA: Killings at the police stations |url=http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-092-2010/ |website=Asian Human Rights Commission |publisher=Asian Human Rights Commission |access-date=29 October 2020}}</ref>

== Climate ==

Kottawa displays a tropical climate. Highest temperatures are usually recorded in March and April; while the lowest temperatures are usually recorded in December, January and February. The atmospheric pressure in Kottawa is around 1.010 [[Bar (unit)|bar]], while the wind speeds range from 8 to 16 [[Kilometres per hour]].

{{Weather box
|location=Kottawa
|collapsed=
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan high C= 30.3
|Feb high C= 31.2
|Mar high C= 31.4
|Apr high C= 31.4
|May high C= 30.3
|Jun high C= 29.2
|Jul high C= 28.8
|Aug high C= 28.6
|Sep high C= 28.9
|Oct high C= 29.7
|Nov high C= 30.3
|Dec high C= 29.7
|year high C= 31.4
|Jan mean C= 27.0
|Feb mean C= 27.5
|Mar mean C= 28.8
|Apr mean C= 28.6
|May mean C= 28.5
|Jun mean C= 28.1
|Jul mean C= 27.7
|Aug mean C= 27.5
|Sep mean C= 27.6
|Oct mean C= 27.8
|Nov mean C= 27.4
|Dec mean C= 27.2
|year mean C= 27.5
|Jan low C= 23.3
|Feb low C= 23.5
|Mar low C= 24.8
|Apr low C= 26.0
|May low C= 26.4
|Jun low C= 26.1
|Jul low C= 25.5
|Aug low C= 25.5
|Sep low C= 25.2
|Oct low C= 25.4
|Nov low C= 24.7
|Dec low C= 24.1
|year low C= 23.3
|Jan sun= 285
|Feb sun= 282
|Mar sun= 282
|Apr sun= 279
|May sun= 270
|Jun sun= 254
|Jul sun= 239
|Aug sun= 223
|Sep sun= 232
|Oct sun= 242
|Nov sun= 205
|Dec sun= 217
|source 1= {{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/sri-lanka/kottawa-climate
|title=Climate and monthly weather forecast of Kottawa, Sri Lanka
|website=weather-atlas.com
|access-date=April 26, 2023}}
}}

== Infrastructure ==

Kottawa town is located alongside the [[A4 highway (Sri Lanka)|A4 highway]] connecting [[Colombo]] and [[Batticaloa]].<ref name=info /> Kottawa town shows a potential to become a key landmark in Sri Lanka's road systems due to the development of the [[Expressways of Sri Lanka]]. The Kottawa - Makumbura multimodal transport centre allows commuters to switch between Expressway buses, the [[Kelani Valley Railway Line]] and buses running on the [[A4 highway (Sri Lanka)|A4 highway]].<ref name="multimodal">{{cite news |title=Kottawa-Makumbura multimodal transport center opens 31st March |url=https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/kottawa-makumbura-multimodal-transport-center-opens-31st-march/ |access-date=29 October 2020 |agency=Lanka Business Online |publisher=Lanka Business Online (Pvt) Ltd. All rights reserved |date=March 29, 2019}}</ref>

===Road===

[[File:A4 Road in Kottawa Town.jpg|thumb|A bus passes through Kottawa on the A4 Highway]]

Kottawa can be reached via [[A4 highway (Sri Lanka)|A4 (Colombo - Batticaloa) highway]].<ref name=info>{{cite web|title=Kottawa city|url=http://www.lanka.info/Sri_Lanka/cities/colombo_kottawa.jsp|publisher=Lanka.info|access-date=4 January 2013}}</ref> The northern end of the [[Southern Expressway (Sri Lanka)|Southern Expressway]] is about {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} east of Kottawa<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rda.gov.lk/supported/expressways/stdp.htm |title=Southern Expressway from Pinnaduwa (Galle) to Godagama (Matara) |publisher=Road Development Authority |date=28 March 2014 |access-date=8 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319113720/http://www.rda.gov.lk/supported/expressways/stdp.htm |archive-date=19 March 2012 }}</ref> on the High Level Road ([[A4 highway (Sri Lanka)|A4]]) and the Outer Colombo Circular Highway also extends from here towards north.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/infographics/44196-kottawa-kaduwela-highway-declared-open.html|title=Kottawa - Kaduwela Highway declared open|newspaper=[[Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|Daily Mirror]]|last=Alwis|first=Harshi|date=8 March 2014|access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref>

In December 2021, area residents protested delays and irregularities in the construction of the Kottawa–[[Piliyandala]] road.<ref>{{cite news |title=කොට්ටාව -පිළියන්දල බස්පාර නිසි සැලැස්මකට ක්‍රියාත්මක කරන්නැයි උද්ඝෝෂණයක් |url=https://www.lankadeepa.lk/provincial_news/%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%9C%E0%B6%A7%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%A7%E0%B7%8F%E0%B7%80--%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%92%E0%B7%85%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%AF%E0%B6%BD-%E0%B6%B6%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%BB-%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%92%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%92-%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%90%E0%B7%83%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%A7-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%8D%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%9A-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%90%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%92-%E0%B6%8B%E0%B6%AF%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%9D%E0%B7%9D%E0%B7%82%E0%B6%AB%E0%B6%BA%E0%B6%9A%E0%B7%8A/59-603990 |access-date=22 December 2021 |work=Lankadeepa |publisher=Wijeya Newspaper Limited |date=1 December 2021}}</ref>

====Bus Routes affiliated with Kottawa====

*99 - Colombo (Pettah) – Badulla / Passara / Welimada / Lunugala / Bibila
*122 - Pettah – Avissawella / Rathnapura / Embilipitiya
*124 - Maharagama – Ihala bope
*125 - Pettah / Maharagama – Padukka / Ingiriya
*128 - Kottawa – Kiriwaththuduwa / Yakahaluwa
*128/1 - Maharagama – Munamalewatta
*129 - Kottawa – Moragahahena
*138 - Pettah – Kottawa / Homagama / Maharagama / Mattegoda / Rukmalgama / Athurugiriya / Diyagama
*138/2 - Pettah – Mattegoda
*138/3 - Pettah – Rukmalgama
*138/4 - Pettah – Athurugiriya
*174 - Kottawa – Borella
*255 - Kottawa – Mount Lavinia
*280 - Maharagama – Horana
*296 - Kottawa – Piliyandala
*342 - Kottawa – Piliyandala (via Polgasowita)
*336 - Kottawa – Malabe
*336/1 - Kottawa – Malabe (via Horahena)
*E01 - Maharagama – Galle / Matara

===Rail===
{{Main|Kottawa railway station}}
[[Kottawa railway station|Kottawa Railway Station]] is located on the [[Kelani Valley Railway Line]] (which connects Colombo to [[Avissawella]]). It is situated approximately {{convert|200|m|abbr=on}} from Kottawa Junction along the Kottawa-Athurugiriya Road

Kottawa has been included in the proposal for elevated commuter rail lines serving the Colombo metropolitan area. An elevated track named "Neela" (Blue), {{convert|23|km|abbr=on}} in length, will connect Hunupitiya to Kottawa via [[Pelawatte]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mudugamuwa |first1=Ishara |title=Four colour-coded elevated rail tracks for Colombo |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/03/31/local/245483/four-colour-coded-elevated-rail-tracks-colombo |access-date=6 November 2021 |work=Daily News |publisher=The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd |date=31 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Four colour-coded elevated railways for Colombo |url=https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Four-colour-coded-elevated-railways-for-Colombo/44-715650 |access-date=6 November 2021 |work=Daily FT |publisher=Wijeya Newspapers Ltd |date=31 March 2021}}</ref> The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project aims to address heavy traffic congestion during the morning and evening rush hours in Colombo.

== Architecture and Housing ==
[[File:Stupa_of_the_Digana_Rajamaha_Viharaya,_Kottawa.jpg|thumb|The stupa of the Digana Purana Rajamaha Viharaya, Kottawa seen at night]]

Kottawa is home to several renowned Buddhist temples, including Digana Purana Rajamaha Viharaya and Pinhena Temple.

Two middle-income housing projects have been initiated by the [[Ministry of Urban Development (Sri Lanka)|Urban Development Authority]] in the Kottawa area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Work on two housing projects in Pannipitiya and Kottawa expedited |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2021/10/13/local/261773/work-two-housing-projects-pannipitiya-and-kottawa-expedited |access-date=6 November 2021 |work=Daily News |publisher=The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd |date=13 October 2021}}</ref> They are Kottawa Green Arcade Apartments in Kulasevana Watte on Hokandara Road, and the Viyathpura Housing Complex in Weera Mawatha. These are scheduled to be completed in June 2022 and consist of 300 housing units and parking spaces for each of the units.

== Notable landmarks and sights ==
*Kottawa nursing home
*Kottawa kulasewana public library
*Digana purana rajamaha viharaya
*Great Kottawa zebra crossing

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
{{commons}}

{{Suburbs of Colombo}}
[[Category:Suburbs of Colombo]]
[[Category:Populated places in Western Province, Sri Lanka]]

Kottawa - Revision history

imported>WikiOriginal-9: /* See also */