# Matale District, Central Province – DS divisions & Population > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/ District · Central Province # Matale District Matale District is a district of Sri Lanka in Central Province. It had an estimated **524,999 people** in 2023 on 2,059 km² (about 255 per km²). It is divided into 11 DS divisions. 666 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 934 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 524,999people (2023) - 2,059km² - 11DS divisions - 934mapped services ## How many people live in Matale District? Matale District had an estimated **524,999 people** in 2023 — 18.8% of Central Province, 18th of 25 districts. There are 1,075 women for every 1,000 men (below the Central Province figure of 1,092). Spread over 2,059 km², that is about **255 people per km²**, 15th of 25 districts. 26.0% of people are children under 15 and 7.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years (it is 31 across Central Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 51 children and older people. 0–4 ****47,823** 5–9 ****46,219** 10–14 ****42,473** 15–19 ****40,462** 20–24 ****35,209** 25–29 ****38,323** 30–34 ****41,431** 35–39 ****35,927** 40–44 ****35,016** 45–49 ****35,300** 50–54 ****33,716** 55–59 ****29,018** 60–64 ****24,152** 65–69 ****15,675** 70–74 ****10,784** 75–79 ****7,037** 80+ ****6,434** Source: [Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, population estimates 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-lka). ## Where is Matale District? Matale District lies in [Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 6 other districts: [Ampara District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/eastern/ampara/), [Anuradhapura District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/), [Badulla District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/uva/badulla/), [Kandy District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/kandy/), [Kurunegala District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/) and [Polonnaruwa District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/polonnaruwa/). By area it is the 13th largest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 35.9% of [Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/). The centre of Matale District is about 123 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. It is about 45 km from Kandy, the main town of Central Province. The centre point is at 7.6979° N, 80.6603° E. Local names: මාතලේ දිස්ත්‍රික් · மாத்தளை மாவட்டம் . Source: [Survey Department of Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-lka). ## DS divisions of Matale District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Ambanganga DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/ambanganga/) 55 20 5 [Dambulla DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/dambulla/) 453 59 606 [Galewela DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/galewela/) 197 59 43 [Laggala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/laggala/) 370 37 31 [Matale DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/matale/) 71 52 102 [Naula DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/naula/) 288 52 34 [Pallepola DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/pallepola/) 83 44 18 [Rattota DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/rattota/) 104 54 29 [Ukuwela DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/ukuwela/) 79 73 29 [Wilgamuwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/wilgamuwa/) 291 39 25 [Yatawatta DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/yatawatta/) 67 56 12 Source: [Survey Department of Sri Lanka via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-lka); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). ## Largest towns in Matale District - Dambulla66,716 - Matale36,462 - Sigiriya1,001 Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above. ## Landscape and landmarks of Matale District Named natural and historic features inside Matale District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 180 reservoirs and tanks; 73 rivers and streams; 1 lake. - Ahatulla Wewa - Ahorande Wewa - Akuramboda Oya - Alakola Ela - Aliyawala Oya - Ambagaha Dalupota Wewa - Ambokka Ganga - Andagala Alut Wewa - Andawala Ela - Andinnapatha Ela - Andinnapatha Wewa - Angunakola Wewa - Angunapelessa Wewa - Arangamuwa Wewa - Arawwala Oya - Atabendi Wewa - Bakamuna Wewa - Balugammana Wewa - Bambaragala Wewa - Bambaragas Wewa - Bannekgama Wewa - Batalakotuwa Wewa - Bellanne Oya - Bibila Tank …and 230 more. ### Coast and islands 1 island. - Sri Lanka ### Hills and mountains 11 mountains; 9 hills; 3 mountain passes. - Patanagala · 1,472 m - Opalgala · 1,267 m - Etapola · 1,160 m - Bata Anduwa Gap · 1,145 m - Malkirigoda Gap · 984 m - Makulussa · 694 m - Imaduwa Gap · 615 m - Bobella · 606 m - Dahaiyagala · 575 m - Ingurugala New · 508 m - Horagala New · 501 m - Gedagaha · 478 m - Etmbawatta · 455 m - Ambawagama · 411 m - Kitulgala · 398 m - Ellawella · 392 m - Hapugahalanda · 390 m - Ihala Erawulla Paranagama · 379 m - Dambulla Rock · 324 m - Monerawatta · 293 m - Sigiri Rock · 262 m - Nagalawewa · 203 m - Idiriyagala · 193 m ### Forests and nature 10 forests; 3 forest reserves; 1 nature reserve. - Campbell’s Lane Forest Reserve - Hattota Amuna - Inamalawa Forest Reserve - Kabaragaha Ela - Kabarawa - Kadurupitiya - Kalundewa - Madaulpota - Nuwaragalkanda - Pelwehera Forest Reserve - Pilmitiya - Wasgomuwa Strict Natural Reserve - Weheragoda - Wewala Colony ### History 1 ruin; 1 fort. - Kaludinapokuna Ruins - Sigiriya ### Estates 126 estates; 65 estates; 32 rubber estates; 21 oil-palm estates; 19 tea estates. - Akramboda - Akramboda Group - Akramboda Group - Alakolamada - Alawathuwala - Aluwihare - Ambanganga Group - Ankande - Annamally - Arambawatta - Arangalla - Arduthie - Arunachalam Polwatta Colony - Asgeriya - Atabendiwewa - Awiscombe - Ballacadua - Bambragalla - Bandarapola - Bandarapola Group - Bandarapola Group - Beligama - Bigirana - Blackstone …and 239 more. ### Getting around 1 airport; 1 railway station. - Sigiriya Airport - Ukuwela Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Matale District and the best time to visit In Matale District, the warmest month is Apr (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jan (23 °C). About 1,645 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (279 mm) and the driest Jul (62 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to March and June to September**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 23 116 Feb 24 89 Mar 26 96 Apr 27 154 May 26 133 Jun 26 73 Jul 25 62 Aug 26 70 Sep 26 101 Oct 25 228 Nov 24 279 Dec 23 243 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Matale District Places mapped inside Matale District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals31 - Banks57 - ATMs4 - Petrol pumps19 - Hotels545 - Schools65 - Colleges and universities13 - Cinemas2 - Pharmacies14 - Restaurants173 - Police stations11 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Quick answers - Where is Matale District?In Central Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Matale District?524,999 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Matale District?About 31 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Matale District?About 255 people per km² - What borders Matale District?Ampara District, Anuradhapura District, Badulla District, Kandy District, Kurunegala District and Polonnaruwa District - What is the largest town in Matale District?Dambulla - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Matale District?180 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Matale District?Patanagala (1,472 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Matale District?January to March and June to September - How many hospitals are in Matale District?31 mapped - How many banks are in Matale District?57 mapped - How many ATMs are in Matale District?4 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Matale District?19 mapped - What is the P-code of Matale District?LK22 (OCHA common operational dataset)