Kalmunai

Kalmunai
கல்முனை
—  City  —
Kalmunai
Coordinates:
Country Sri Lanka
Province Eastern
District Ampara
DS Division Kalmunai
Government
 • Type Municipal Council
 • Mayor H. M. M. Harees (SLMC)
Population (2001[1])
 • Total 94,579
Time zone Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30)
 • Summer (DST) Summer time (UTC+6)

Kalmunai (Tamil: கல்முனை Sinhala: කල්මුනේ Kalmune) is a municipality within the Ampara District of Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. It had a total population of 91,457 as of 2001.[2] And It is the one and only Muslim majority municipality in the country. There were Sri Lankan Muslims, Sri Lankan Tamils, Sinhalese, and Burghers with the Moors forming a majority. It consists of four major regions namely Kalmunai Town (Thalavatuvan Junction to Zahira College Road), Kalmunai North (Pandiruppu, Maruthamunai and Neelavanai), Kalmunai South (Sainthamaruthu) and Kalmunai West (Natpittimunai, Savalakkadai etc..). The devastated Sri Lankan civil war has adversely affected the area with number forced disappearances, and civil unrest targeting the local civilians. It was also directly impacted by the 2004 Tsunami leading to number of deaths and destruction of property worth of millions of rupees. It is bounded on the east by the Indian Ocean on the north by the Periyaneelavanai village and on the south by Karaitivu village which is considered to be a suburb of the town.[3][4][5]

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