# Anuradhapura District, North Central Province – DS divisions > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/ District · North Central Province # Anuradhapura District Anuradhapura District is a district of Sri Lanka in North Central Province. It had an estimated **950,000 people** in 2023 on 7,218 km² (about 132 per km²). Its main town is Anuradhapura. It is divided into 22 DS divisions. 1,312 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 915 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 950,000people (2023) - 7,218km² - 22DS divisions - 915mapped services ## How many people live in Anuradhapura District? Anuradhapura District had an estimated **950,000 people** in 2023 — 68.1% of North Central Province, 8th of 25 districts. There are 1,047 women for every 1,000 men (close to the North Central Province figure of 1,039). Spread over 7,218 km², that is about **132 people per km²**, 19th of 25 districts. 26.8% of people are children under 15 and 5.3% are 65 or older; the median age is about 30 years (it is 30 across North Central Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 47 children and older people. 0–4 ****94,744** 5–9 ****84,460** 10–14 ****75,759** 15–19 ****75,856** 20–24 ****73,031** 25–29 ****74,815** 30–34 ****85,127** 35–39 ****71,749** 40–44 ****64,658** 45–49 ****60,122** 50–54 ****55,978** 55–59 ****46,693** 60–64 ****36,604** 65–69 ****20,001** 70–74 ****13,433** 75–79 ****8,840** 80+ ****8,130** 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 Anuradhapura District? Anuradhapura District lies in [North Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 8 other districts: [Kurunegala District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/), [Mannar District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/mannar/), [Matale District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/), [Mullaitivu District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/mullaitivu/), [Polonnaruwa District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/polonnaruwa/), [Puttalam District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/), [Trincomalee District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/eastern/trincomalee/) and [Vavuniya District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/vavuniya/). By area it is the largest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 67.5% of [North Central Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/). The centre of Anuradhapura District is about 172 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 8.3694° N, 80.4399° E. Local names: අනුරාධපුර දිස්ත්‍ · அனுராதபுரம் மாவட் . 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 Anuradhapura District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Galenbidunuwewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/galenbidunuwewa/) 293 41 18 [Galnewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/galnewa/) 139 30 10 [Horowpathana DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/horowpathana/) 833 38 14 [Ipalogama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/ipalogama/) 142 32 24 [Kahatagasdigiliya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/kahatagasdigiliya/) 370 40 6 [Kebithigollewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/kebithigollewa/) 614 26 11 [Kekirawa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/kekirawa/) 347 53 33 [Mahawilachchiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/mahawilachchiya/) 617 17 10 [Medawachchiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/medawachchiya/) 489 37 17 [Mihinthale DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/mihinthale/) 229 25 64 [Nachchaduwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/nachchaduwa/) 110 19 13 [Nochchiyagama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/nochchiyagama/) 838 36 50 [Nuwaragam Palatha Central DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/nuwaragam-palatha-central/) 401 40 148 [Nuwaragam Palatha East DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/nuwaragam-palatha-east/) 92 29 332 [Padaviya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/padaviya/) 247 15 5 [Palagala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/palagala/) 225 35 1 [Palugaswewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/palugaswewa/) 206 16 90 [Rajanganaya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/rajanganaya/) 106 21 14 [Rambewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/rambewa/) 306 38 13 [Thalawa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/thalawa/) 229 39 10 [Thambuththegama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/thambuththegama/) 113 26 25 [Thirappane DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/thirappane/) 272 41 7 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 Anuradhapura District - Anuradhapura60,943 - Mihintale5,000 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 Anuradhapura District Named natural and historic features inside Anuradhapura District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 1,382 reservoirs and tanks; 77 rivers and streams. - Acharigama Wewa - Adampana Wewa - Addetkalle Wewa - Aduppan Oya - Akkara Wewa - Akkara Wewa - Aladimurippu Kulam - Alankulama Wewa - Alapat Wewa - Alapath Wewa - Alawa Wewa - Aliawa Wewa - Aliyagale Wewa - Aliyawetuna Wewa - Aliyawetunu Wewa - Aliyawetunu Wewa - Alladi Kulam - Alritgama Wewa - Alut Hammillewa Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alutgama Wewa …and 1,435 more. ### Hills and mountains 46 hills; 5 mountains. - Ritigala · 672 m - Sangilimalai · 295 m - Inamaluwa · 286 m - Kandurakanda Number One · 258 m - Kandurakanda Number Two · 252 m - Kahatagashinna · 247 m - Ranawe Kanda · 247 m - Karandaka · 232 m - Manawewakanda · 218 m - Weddakanda · 217 m - Galsiyambalahinna · 205 m - Hiriwaduna · 203 m - Ratmale Kanda · 179 m - Kinihirikanda · 176 m - Elagamuwa · 174 m - Kotahinna · 171 m - Pimburugalahinna · 168 m - Thoniya-Gala · 164 m - Murungahitikanda · 161 m - Helambagaswewa · 153 m - Kaluwanduru-Ulpotahinna · 151 m - Galkanda Number One · 150 m - Karippikadakanda · 148 m - Udanidigama · 148 m …and 27 more. ### Forests and nature 122 forests; 5 forest reserves; 1 nature reserve; 1 park; 1 garden. - Adampane - Aluthgama - Andiyagala - Anuradhapura Preservation Scheme - Baduwewa - Bambarahela - Bandaragama - Bellankadawela - Berawayagama - Dabalaslyambalawa - Damanaulpota Galawala Kema - Dambaulpatha - Demala Hammillewa - Dematagahaulpota - Dickwewa - Diwulwewa - Doramadalewa - Etakaduwa Proposed Forest Reserve - Galahitiyagama - Galebe - Galegoda - Galkandegama - Galkendewa - Gallindawewa …and 106 more. ### History 11 ruins; 7 ancient sites; 1 historic site. - Abhayagiriya - Asokaramana - Galbendi Neeravia Ruins - Kadigala - Kanthaka Chetiya - Kolunruppe Ruins - Kopakulama - Kuttam Pokuna - Maha Kirilagala - Mangala Maduwa - Moragoda Ruins - Pattirippuwa - Ratnaprasada - Relapana - Samadhi Pilimaya - Sandakada Pahana - Tantirimalai Archaeological Reserve - Veherahandigala - Vijanarama Dagoba ### Estates 209 estates; 7 estates. - Achariyakulama - Aliwanguwa - Aluth Punchikulama - Aluthabendiwewa - Aluthwewa - Aluthwewa - Aluthwewa - Amanakatuwa - Amanakkattuwa - Ambu Wewu - Amunewewa - Amunubendawewa - Araluwewa - Arunagama - Ataweerawewa - Athdathbendiwawa - Aturuwella - Badahelawewa - Badugama - Baduwewa - Bandiyalankulama - Bathalanwala - Berandiyagama - Borawewa …and 192 more. ### Getting around 2 railway stations; 1 airport; 1 railway halt. - Kekirawa - Medawachchiya - Negama - SLAF Anuradhapura 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 Anuradhapura District and the best time to visit In Anuradhapura District, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jan (24 °C). About 1,364 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (279 mm) and the driest Jun (24 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to March, June and September**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 24 89 Feb 25 69 Mar 27 68 Apr 28 118 May 28 98 Jun 28 24 Jul 28 29 Aug 28 52 Sep 28 74 Oct 27 220 Nov 26 279 Dec 25 244 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Anuradhapura District Places mapped inside Anuradhapura District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals41 - Banks47 - ATMs11 - Petrol pumps25 - Hotels443 - Shopping malls9 - Schools139 - Colleges and universities46 - Cinemas7 - Pharmacies10 - Restaurants120 - Police stations15 - Dental clinics2 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. ## Anuradhapura in history The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Anuradhapura as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed. > ANURADHAPURA, a ruined city of Ceylon, famous for its ancient monuments. It is situated in the North-central province. In its prime it ranked beside Nineveh and Babylon in its colossal proportions—its four walls, each 16 m. long, enclosing an area of 256 sq. m.,—in the number of its inhabitants, and the splendour of its shrines and public edifices. It suffered much during the earlier Tamil invasions, and was finally deserted as a royal residence in A.D. 769. It fell completely into decay, and it is only of recent years that the jungle has been cleared away, the ruins laid bare, and some measure of prosperity brought back to the surrounding country by the restoration of hundreds of village tanks. The ruins consist of three classes of buildings, dagobas, monastic buildings, and pokunas. The dagobas are bell-shaped masses of masonry, varying from a few feet to over 1100 in circumference. Some of them contain enough masonry to build a town for twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Remains of the monastic buildings are to be found in every direction in the shape of raised stone platforms, foundations and stone pillars. The most famous is the Brazen Palace erected by King Datagamana about 164 B.C. The pokunas are bathing-tanks or tanks for the supply of drinking-water, which are scattered everywhere through the jungle. Source: [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911) — public domain; transcription via Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica). Boundaries in 1901 may differ from today's; sentences describing castes or communities are omitted. ## Quick answers - Where is Anuradhapura District?In North Central Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Anuradhapura District?950,000 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Anuradhapura District?About 30 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Anuradhapura District?About 132 people per km² - What borders Anuradhapura District?Kurunegala District, Mannar District, Matale District, Mullaitivu District, Polonnaruwa District, Puttalam District, Trincomalee District and Vavuniya District - What is the largest town in Anuradhapura District?Anuradhapura - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Anuradhapura District?1,382 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Anuradhapura District?Ritigala (672 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Anuradhapura District?January to March, June and September - How many hospitals are in Anuradhapura District?41 mapped - How many banks are in Anuradhapura District?47 mapped - How many ATMs are in Anuradhapura District?11 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Anuradhapura District?25 mapped - What is the P-code of Anuradhapura District?LK71 (OCHA common operational dataset)