Galhinna

Galhinna (Sinhala: ගල්හින්න, pronounced [ɡalˈhinnə]; Tamil: கல்ஹின்னை, pronounced [ɡalˈhinnəj]) is a village situated in the Kandy District, Sri Lanka. It is located some 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north-west of the city of Kandy, and at an altitude of 675 metres (2,215 ft) above sea level is one of the highest points in Kandy.

Etymology

The name Galhinna is derived from the Sinhalese "gal" and "hena", meaning 'stone fence'. Which refers to the area's rocky landscapes, now known as Galhinna.

History

Galhinna is surrounded mainly by tea plantations and rubber estates. It has a very rich history and holds a very important place in producing some of the finest businessmen in the Country.

The area is thought to be inhabited from as early as the 19th century AD.

Galhinna is home to Al Manar Central College, a well known public school, established in 1934. The school provides education for approximately 1,500 pupils from elementary to GCE Advanced Level. The school prides itself in educating so many well known poets, doctors, engineers and philanthropists to the community.

The Galhinna Grand Mosque is another important place in the village.^[3] Next to it is the Islamic Madrasa which has been one of the wealthiest Islamic institutions in Sri Lanka for the past two centuries. The grand mosque in the village is one of the oldest in Sri Lanka. The village has several small mosques and a few Buddhist temples in the surrounding areas.

Demographics

Galhinna has a population of around 10,000. The majority of the people living in Galhinna are Muslims surrounded mostly by Sinhala villages. Tamil is the major language spoken in Galhinna by the majority of the population. The other languages spoken are Sinhala and English.

References