Moratuwa

Moratuwa (Sinhala: මොරටුව) is a sizable municipality on Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast, not far from Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It lies along the Galle–Colombo main highway, about 18 km south of central Colombo. The town is nearly encircled by water: the Indian Ocean to the west, Lake Bolgoda to the east, and the Moratu River to the south; only its northern side is landbound. As of the 2012 census, the population stood at 168,280.

This is the hometown of several notable figures: Veera Puran Appu, who resisted British rule in Matale; philanthropist Sir Charles Henry de Soysa; and musician Pandit W. D. Amaradeva.

**Suburb Structure** Moratuwa is made up of 24 main areas: Angulana, Borupana, Dahampura, Egoda Uyana, Idama, Indibedda, Kadalana, Kaduwamulla, Kaldemulla, Katubedda, Katukurunda, Koralawella, Lakshapathiya, Lunawa, Molpe, Moratumulla, Moratuwella, Puwakaramba, Rawathawatta, Soysapura, Thelawala, Uswatta, Uyana, and Willorawatta.

**History** Both Moratuwa and Lakshapathiya appear in the 15th-century poem *Kokila Sandesha*, written by a monk poet from Devundara to honor Prince Sapumal under King Parakramabahu VI. Lunawa, Uyana, and Rawathawatte are mentioned in 16th-century chronicles and church records of martyrs; the latter commemorates Revatha Thera, chief monk of a temple built by King Vijayabahu I. Lakshapathiya, meaning “commanding a hundred-thousand,” was once land granted to Lak Vijaya Singu, a commander under King Nissanka Malla. After the Wijayaba Kollaya and the split of the Kotte Kingdom, the hamlet of Koralawella was formed as part of Raigam Korale, later becoming part of Moratuwa in 1735, though Ratmalana and parts of Borupane were lost to Dehiwala. The name “Moratuwa” comes from “Mura Atuwa,” Sinhalese for “sentry turret,” which once stood at Kaldamulla.

**Industries** Local industries include furniture making, rubber products, batteries, transformers, and wood handicrafts. The suburb also serves as a fishing and trading hub. Moratuwa is best known for its furniture.

**Attractions** Lake Bolgoda, the largest natural lake in Sri Lanka, lies within Moratuwa. A tributary of the Kalu Ganga (which starts at Adam’s Peak), it winds from Ratmalana through Moratuwa and Panadura, meeting the sea at Wadduwa and Moratuwa via the Moratu ganga. It is a popular spot for swimming, angling, and boating. Moratuwa is home to the oldest church dedicated to St. Sebastian, as well as Holy Emmanuel Church, once the tallest building in Sri Lanka. A monument to Puran Appu stands on the grounds of the Moratuwa Municipal Council, and a museum is housed at Weera Puran Appu Vidyalaya.

**Music** Moratuwa has a strong musical tradition and is the birthplace of musicians such as W. D. Amaradeva, C.T. Fernando, M. S. Fernando, Paul Fernando, Nihal Nelson, Priya Peiris (La Bambas), Sunil Perera (The Gypsies), Maxwell Mendis, and Niranjala Sarojini. The town has a well-known theme song, “Punsada paaya Moratuwa dillenna” (meaning “Moratuwa in the splendour of the full moon”), a staple at local musical events. Clarence Wijewardena also composed a tribute song, “Moratuwa Moratuwa mea nomakena nama.”

**Sport** Moratuwa is noted for its cricketers, including Duleep Mendis, Susil Fernando, Roger Wijesuriya, Ajantha Mendis, Amal Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Sajeewa de Silva, Dinusha Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Prasanna Jayawardene, Angelo Perera, Kusal Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Amila Aponso, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Dunith Wellalage, Oshada Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, and Praveen Jayawickrama. The international De Soysa Stadium (also known as Tyronne Fernando Stadium) is located here.

**Demographics** Moratuwa is predominantly Buddhist, though it includes all ethnic and religious groups found in Sri Lanka. It has the highest percentage of Christians after Negombo, significantly above the national average.

**Public Library** The Moratuwa Municipal Council’s public library, “Janasetha Kala Ketha,” on Galle Road in Katubedda, opened in 1987. It was built with funds of 15 lakh rupees from the municipal council and 50 lakh rupees from the Japanese organization “World Exposition Commemorative,” and its design follows Japanese architecture. The library offers art and story hours, a Tamil language hour for children, computer classes for both children and adults, and conference and lecture facilities. Each year, it celebrates Literature Month (September) and National Reading Month (October) with activities to encourage reading among children. Janasetha Kala Ketha was named the Best Public Library in the Colombo district in 2012 and 2013, and the Best Public Library in the Western Province in 2012.

**Transport** The main road link is the Colombo-Galle Highway (Galle Road), connecting the suburb north and south. Four bridges cross Bolgoda Lake: the Old Moratuwa Bridge at the town centre, the New Galle Road Bridge at Modara, Kospalana Bridge, and Borupana Road Bridge. Galle Road connects Moratuwa north to Ratmalana, south to Panadura, and east to Pilyandala. Access to the Southern Expressway is via Kottawa or Horana Road. There are two Sri Lanka Transport Board depots: Moratuwa S.L.T.B. Depot and Katubedda S.L.T.B. Depot. The Coastal Railway Line from Colombo to Matara runs along the coast through Moratuwa, with five stations: Angulana, Lunawa, Moratuwa, Koralawella, and Egodauyana.