Padukka
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Padukka is a city in the district of Colombo in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It has a population of about 6,000.
Padukka, which is part of the Avissawella electorate is situated 34 kilometers east of Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. The Padukka town is located nearly 44 feet above sea level (as mentioned at the Padukka Railway Station).
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[edit] History
The town of Padukka is thought to have been founded as a camp site by the forces of the Seethawaka Kingdom in the 16th century CE, on the banks of the Pusweli Oya (stream). It was a well-protected site with marshland and hills surrounding the site. Legend says that the town got its name as it was under the "Naa"(Iron Wood) Trees in the town that the Portuguese Army rested after being defeated by the Army of King Seethawa Rajasinghe in the battle at the adjoining Hanwella Fort. It was said that the defeated Portuguese army rested there until they settled their minds. Thus in the Sinhala Language it was called "Paha Dukka" ("paha"= vanish; "dukka"= sadness), which became "Padukka" later. The famous "Naa"(Iron Wood) Trees are present today in the town's rest house premises.
Padukka has also played a significant role in other wars against Portuguese occupants as an integral part of the Hewagam Korale which literally means the korale (an administrative division) that provided soldiers (hewa). According to the historical data, Sinhalese soldiers confronted the retreating Portuguese army, chased them down at the current Galagedera junction, and inflicted heavy casualties upon the Portuguese contingent.
[edit] Location
Padukka can be accessed via the B2 highway or by the Kelani Valley Railway. An alternative but comfortable drive is via the Colombo-Avissawella (Highlevel) road (A4 Axis) up to Galagedera junction. From here, one has to take a turn to the right and drive on Horana road to Padukka town(1.5 KMs). It is one of the borders of Colombo District. Horana, the next town after Padukka, belongs to Kalutara District. Homagama, Horana, Hanwella, Handapangoda, Habarakada are the adjoining towns to Padukka. Udumulla, Meepe, Galagedera, Liyanwala, Malagala, Beliaththawila, Kahawala, Poregedara, Kotigamgoda, Bope, Arukwatta, Weragala, Angampitiya, Pitumpe, Uggalla, Wewelpanawa, Angamuwa, Meeriyagalla, Mawathagama, Galkaduwa, Koshena, Watareka, Daampe, Horagala, Kurugala and Madulawa are main satellite villages scattered around Padukka.
[edit] Development
The development of Padukka as an urban center began with the building of a road from Colombo to Ingiriya in the 19th century and the opening of the interior forests with the spreading of rubber, tea, cinnamon and coconut plantations. The building of the Kelani valley railway, which ran from Colombo to Ratnapura passing Padukka and Avissavella, also contributed greatly to the growth of the city. In 1871, when the first census in the country was done, the town's population stood at 400.
With rapid urbanization in the country, Padukka and its surrounding villages have started to expand vastly. As a result, the government has carved out a separate divisional secretariat division for Padukka from the Hanwella division to which it previously belonged. Padukka city has become the main administrative centre of this divisional secretariat whose current population stands at 54395[1]
[edit] Demographics
Padukka is predominantly a Sinhalese area, with 95% of the population being Sinhalese. Tamils (both Sri lankan and Indian) comprise 2.5% while Sri lankan Moors are also present. 1405 people live in the estae sector in the division. Religious composition is also similar to racial distribution with 95% Buddhists, 1.9% Hindus, 1.1% Christians and 1.7% Muslims.
The number of housing units in the Padukka division, according to the census data of 2001, is 15010 while total number of building units including government buildings is 17065.
[edit] Administration
The Padukka city, which was once administered by the Padukka--Waga Village Council is now run by the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha (Divisional Council). Notable government institutions in Padukka include:
- Divisional Secretariat
- Police Station
- Government Hospital
- Rest House
- Railway Station
- Siri Piyaratana Central College
The office of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) the main preventive medicine centre for public health activities in the region is situated on Horana Road in Padukka town. This MOH office has a unique history having dated back to British colonial era. The Padukka hospital also has a long history in the Sri Lankan medical system.
There is a monumental gas lamp placed in the center of the town to commemorate the peace treaty ending World War I in 1919. Padukka also has a splendid Rest House run by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and also a few Guest Houses.
Two out of three Satellite Earth Stations in Sri Lanka are also situated in Padukka. Today Padukka is also famous for having a number of rubber estates. The highest mountain in the Colombo district, Udagama Kanda (1492ft) lies near Padukka.
