Moratuwa () is a large municipality in Sri Lanka, on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo (Galle road) main highway, south of the centre of Colombo. Moratuwa is surrounded on three sides by water, except in the north of the city, by the Indian Ocean on the west, the Lake Bolgoda on the east and the Moratu river on the south. According to the 2012 census, the suburb had a population of 168,280.
Moratuwa is also the birthplace of Veera Puran Appu, a resistance fighter against British rule in Matale, the philanthropist Sir Charles Henry de Soysa and the musician Pandit W. D. Amaradeva.
Suburb structure
Moratuwa consists 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 are mentioned in the 15th century poem Kokila Sandesha, written by a monk poet of Devundara to celebrate Prince Sapumal during the reign of King Parakramabahu VI. Lunawa, Uyana and Rawathawatte are mentioned in 16th century chronicles and church records of martyrs, the latter commemorates Revatha Thera, the chief incumbent of a temple built by King Vijayabahu I. Lakshapathiya, meaning commanding a hundred-thousand, was once the land awarded to Lak Vijaya Singu, a Commander of King Nissanka Malla. Subsequent to the Wijayaba Kollaya and the division of the Kotte Kingdom, the hamlet of Koralawella was created as part of Raigam Korale, which again became part of Moratuwa in 1735, however losing Ratmalana and parts of Borupane to Dehiwala. The name Moratuwa is derived from "Mura Atuwa" meaning sentry turret in Sinhalese which once existed at Kaldamulla.
Industries
Industries in Moratuwa include the manufacture of furniture, rubber products, batteries, transformers, and wood handicrafts. This suburb is also a fishing and trading center. Of these, Moratuwa is most well known for its furniture.
Education
The University of Moratuwa, a leading technological university in South Asia is situated on the banks of the Bolgoda Lake in Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. The University of Moratuwa is an independent state university and it was established as the University of Moratuwa (UoM), Sri Lanka on 22 December 1978 under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 and operates under the general direction of the University Grants Commission.
The Ceylon - German Technical Training Institute (also known as CGTTI or German Tech) is an engineering college located in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. It is under the preview of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development.
Industrial Engineering Training Institute (IETI) is one of a national institute located in Moratuwa. IETI belongs to the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) as well as it is one of the 92 Vocational Colleges in Sri Lanka
High schools in the area are Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, Prince of Wales' College, St. Sebastian's College, Princess of Wales' College, Our Lady of Victories Convent, St. Sebastian's Girls' School, Weera Puran Appu Model School, Methodist High School - Puwakaramba, Janajaya Vidyalaya, De Soysa Maha Vidyalaya, Podujaya Vidyalaya - Angulana, Rawathawaththa Roman Catholic School, Sri Sunanda Upananda Maha Vidyalaya - Egodauyana, St. Anthony's School - Kadalana, Koralawella Roman Catholic School, Sri Saddarmodaya Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Arafath Muslim Maha Vidyalaya - Egodauyana Modara, Willorawatte Gnanissara Buddhist Vidyalaya, Shikshadana Maha Vidyalaya - Lakshapathiya, Rawathawaththa Methodist College, Egodauyana Junior School and Kusinara International School.
As primary schools are Bodhiraja Vidyalaya - Katubedda, Saleena Primary School - Kaldemulla , Moratumulla Lanka Saba Vidyalaya, St. Mary's College - Katukurunda, Thilaka Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Sri Nagasena Vidyalaya - Koralawella, Sugathadharmadhara Vidyalaya - Egodauyana and Uyana Junior School.