Moratuwa
Municipality on Sri Lanka's southwestern coast, known for furniture and music.
Moratuwa is a large municipality on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo main highway, 18 km south of the centre of Colombo, and is surrounded on three sides by water: the Indian Ocean on the west, Lake Bolgoda on the east, and the Moratu river on the south.
- location
- Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka
- area_divisions
- 24 main areas
- known_for
- Furniture manufacturing, music, cricket
- major_water_bodies
- Indian Ocean, Lake Bolgoda, Moratu river
- railway_stations
- 5 (Angulana, Lunawa, Moratuwa, Koralawella, Egodauyana)
Lore & Background
Moratuwa is the birthplace of Veera Puran Appu, a resistance fighter against British rule in Matale; philanthropist Sir Charles Henry de Soysa; and musician Pandit W. D. Amaradeva. The name Moratuwa is derived from 'Mura Atuwa', meaning sentry turret in Sinhalese, which once existed at Kaldamulla. Both Moratuwa and Lakshapathiya are mentioned in the 15th-century poem Kokila Sandesha, and Lunawa, Uyana, and Rawathawatte appear in 16th-century chronicles and church records. The suburb is famous for its music, being home to musicians such as W. D. Amaradeva, C.T. Fernando, M. S. Fernando, Paul Fernando, Nihal Nelson, Priya Peiris, Sunil Perera, Maxwell Mendis, and Niranjala Sarojini. It also has a famous theme song, 'Punsada paaya Moratuwa dillenna'. Moratuwa is well known for its furniture industry, as well as the manufacture of rubber products, batteries, transformers, and wood handicrafts, and is also a fishing and trading center.
Reader's Guide
Moratuwa holds significance as a major industrial and cultural hub in Sri Lanka. Its furniture industry is particularly renowned, and the suburb has produced numerous notable musicians and cricketers, including Duleep Mendis, Ajantha Mendis, Romesh Kaluwitharana, and Lahiru Thirimanne. The De Soysa Stadium (Tyronne Fernando Stadium) is an international cricket stadium located in Moratuwa. The suburb is also home to the largest natural lake in Sri Lanka, Bolgoda Lake, a popular resort for swimming, angling, and boating. Moratuwa features the oldest church dedicated to St. Sebastian and the Holy Emmanuel Church, once the tallest building in Sri Lanka. A monument to Puran Appu stands at the Moratuwa Municipal Council, and a museum is housed at the Weera Puran Appu Vidyalaya.
Did You Know?
- Moratuwa is surrounded on three sides by water: the Indian Ocean, Lake Bolgoda, and the Moratu river.
- The name Moratuwa comes from 'Mura Atuwa', meaning sentry turret in Sinhalese.
- Moratuwa has a highest percentage of Christian population after Negombo, significantly higher than the national average.
- The public library Janasetha Kala Ketha was constructed according to Japanese architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moratuwa?
Moratuwa is a large coastal municipality located on the southwestern shore of Sri Lanka, just south of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It sits along the Galle–Colombo main highway, roughly 18 km from Colombo's city centre.
What is Moratuwa known for?
The town is best recognized for its furniture-manufacturing industry, a vibrant local music scene, and its association with cricket. These three pillars give Moratuwa a distinct cultural identity among Sri Lankan coastal towns.
How is Moratuwa bordered by water?
Three water bodies enclose the municipality on different sides: the Indian Ocean to the west, Lake Bolgoda to the east, and the Moratu river along the southern edge. This makes Moratuwa one of the few Sri Lankan towns effectively ringed by water on three sides.
Which railway stations serve Moratuwa?
Five stations fall within the municipality's 24 main areas: Angulana, Lunawa, Moratuwa, Koralawella, and Egodauyana. Together they connect residents to the broader Colombo-area rail network.
Why is Moratuwa geographically significant on Sri Lanka's coast?
Its position on the Galle–Colombo corridor makes it a key transit and commercial node between the capital and the southern province. Being flanked by the ocean, a lake, and a river also gives it a unique micro-environment that shapes local livelihoods in fishing, trade, and manufacturing.
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