# Kurunegala District, North Western Province – DS divisions > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/ District · North Western Province # Kurunegala District Kurunegala District is a district of Sri Lanka in North Western Province. It had an estimated **1,727,000 people** in 2023 on 4,906 km² (about 352 per km²). Its main town is Kurunegala. It is divided into 30 DS divisions. 2,829 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 961 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 1,727,000people (2023) - 4,906km² - 30DS divisions - 961mapped services ## How many people live in Kurunegala District? Kurunegala District had an estimated **1,727,000 people** in 2023 — 67.1% of North Western Province, 3rd of 25 districts. There are 1,083 women for every 1,000 men (close to the North Western Province figure of 1,078). Spread over 4,906 km², that is about **352 people per km²**, 11th of 25 districts. 24.4% of people are children under 15 and 8.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 31 across North Western Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 48 children and older people. 0–4 ****146,954** 5–9 ****143,661** 10–14 ****131,108** 15–19 ****130,053** 20–24 ****115,415** 25–29 ****125,962** 30–34 ****137,466** 35–39 ****122,494** 40–44 ****119,130** 45–49 ****115,580** 50–54 ****112,563** 55–59 ****101,927** 60–64 ****86,977** 65–69 ****52,332** 70–74 ****36,614** 75–79 ****24,724** 80+ ****24,040** 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 Kurunegala District? Kurunegala District lies in [North Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 6 other districts: [Anuradhapura District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/), [Gampaha District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/gampaha/), [Kandy District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/kandy/), [Kegalle District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/kegalle/), [Matale District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/matale/) and [Puttalam District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/). By area it is the 3rd largest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 60.8% of [North Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/). The centre of Kurunegala District is about 99 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 7.7279° N, 80.2574° E. Local names: කුරුණෑගල දිස්ත්‍ර · குருநாகல் மாவட்டம . 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 Kurunegala District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Alawwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/alawwa/) 130 66 38 [Ambanpola DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/ambanpola/) 140 28 15 [Bamunakotuwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/bamunakotuwa/) 111 36 13 [Bingiriya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/bingiriya/) 194 52 26 [Ehetuwewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/ehetuwewa/) 172 35 18 [Galgamuwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/galgamuwa/) 273 62 57 [Ganewatta DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/ganewatta/) 150 42 11 [Giribawa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/giribawa/) 205 35 12 [Ibbagamuwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/ibbagamuwa/) 217 74 41 [Kobeigane DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/kobeigane/) 130 35 7 [Kotawehera DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/kotawehera/) 190 31 5 [Kuliyapitiya East DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/kuliyapitiya-east/) 114 45 15 [Kuliyapitiya West DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/kuliyapitiya-west/) 165 68 50 [Kurunegala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/kurunegala/) 98 54 208 [Maho DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/maho/) 261 68 28 [Mallawapitiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/mallawapitiya/) 79 45 32 [Maspotha DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/maspotha/) 66 33 26 [Mawathagama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/mawathagama/) 108 71 35 [Narammala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/narammala/) 109 54 53 [Nikaweratiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/nikaweratiya/) 151 42 29 [Panduwasnuwara East DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/panduwasnuwara-east/) 102 36 4 [Panduwasnuwara West DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/panduwasnuwara-west/) 181 67 15 [Pannala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/pannala/) 282 87 59 [Polgahawela DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/polgahawela/) 97 84 49 [Polpitigama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/polpitigama/) 416 82 22 [Rasnayakapura DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/rasnayakapura/) 125 28 4 [Rideegama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/rideegama/) 225 113 23 [Udubaddawa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/udubaddawa/) 120 43 19 [Wariyapola DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/wariyapola/) 202 56 36 [Weerabugedara DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/weerabugedara/) 92 38 11 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 Kurunegala District - Kurunegala28,571 - Kuliyapitiya6,877 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 Kurunegala District Named natural and historic features inside Kurunegala District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 1,517 reservoirs and tanks; 117 rivers and streams; 1 lake. - Abokkagama Wewa - Achairigama Wewa - Achari Wewa - Achchariyagama Wewa - Achirigama Wewa - Achiyagama Wewa - Adampane Wewa - Addiyakaluwa Wewa - Adikarigama Wewa - Adiriyagoda Wewa - Agare Wewa - Akarawatta Wewa - Akarawatta Wewa - Akurana Wewa - Alakola Wewa - Alawatte Wewa - Aliyawetuna Wewa - Allaw Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa …and 1,611 more. ### Hills and mountains 49 hills; 21 mountains. - Ambokka · 1,069 m - Ingurugala · 805 m - Butawella · 737 m - Bisogala · 663 m - Kallumadura · 608 m - Moratenna · 600 m - Kauwel · 561 m - Mipitiyakanda · 554 m - Ambokka New · 524 m - Galgiriya · 476 m - Heginairkanda · 444 m - Kalugahatenna · 418 m - Kandalawa · 379 m - Galpawe · 367 m - Madurugodapitakanda · 336 m - Rilagala · 332 m - Mattawa · 323 m - Yagama · 310 m - Umbuwewa · 307 m - Viharakele · 290 m - Pudukulama · 282 m - Yakdessagala · 275 m - Wattegala · 274 m - Angurukandeyaya · 250 m …and 46 more. ### Forests and nature 36 gardens; 21 forests; 10 forest reserves. - Aluthwewa - Alutwewa - Ambagaswewa - Andarawewa - Andiyagala - Badagama Forest Reserve - Bakmeewewa - Balasooriyagama - Boagolla - Dalupothawewa - Dikkele Forest Reserve - Dumbuluwawa - Eluapola - Galatabeniwewa - Galatenpokuna - Galewalpola - Galthihenewewa - Hambayayawewa - Hangaulla - Harthigamuwa - Hathagama - Heedagama - Horouwewa - Ihala Meegaswewa …and 43 more. ### History 2 ruins. - Sesseruwa - Viharehinna ### Estates 406 estates; 326 estates; 202 oil-palm estates; 15 rubber estates; 2 tea estates. - Aagare - Abakolawewa - Acharigama - Achirigama - Adelaide - Agara - Agarawatta - Agare - Agare - Agarewatte - Ahahendra - Akurawa Group - Akurumulla - Alahinnegama - Alakoladeniya - Alawwa - Aliwalathena - Aliyawala - Aludeniya - Alutgama - Alutgama - Ambagahakotuwa - Ambagahamulawatta - Ambahera …and 927 more. 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 Kurunegala District and the best time to visit In Kurunegala District, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jan (25 °C). About 1,599 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (270 mm) and the driest Feb (55 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to February and June to September**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 25 61 Feb 26 55 Mar 28 94 Apr 28 182 May 28 162 Jun 27 93 Jul 27 65 Aug 27 76 Sep 27 118 Oct 27 258 Nov 26 270 Dec 26 165 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Kurunegala District Places mapped inside Kurunegala District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals90 - Banks98 - ATMs7 - Petrol pumps48 - Hotels167 - Shopping malls33 - Schools224 - Colleges and universities65 - Cinemas10 - Pharmacies37 - Restaurants154 - Police stations26 - 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. ## Kurunegala in history The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Kurunegala as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed. > KURUNEGALA, the chief town in the north-western province of Ceylon. Pop. of the town, 6483; of the district, 249,429. It was the residence of the kings of Ceylon from A.D. 1319 to 1347, and is romantically situated under the shade of Adagalla (the rock of the Tusked Elephant), which is 600 ft. high. It was in 1902 the terminus of the Northern railway (59 m. from Colombo), which has since been extended 200 m. farther, to the northernmost coast of the Jaffna Peninsula. Kurunegala is the centre of rice, coco-nut, tea, coffee and cocoa cultivation. 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 Kurunegala District?In North Western Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Kurunegala District?1,727,000 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Kurunegala District?About 33 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Kurunegala District?About 352 people per km² - What borders Kurunegala District?Anuradhapura District, Gampaha District, Kandy District, Kegalle District, Matale District and Puttalam District - What is the largest town in Kurunegala District?Kurunegala - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Kurunegala District?1,517 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Kurunegala District?Ambokka (1,069 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Kurunegala District?January to February and June to September - How many hospitals are in Kurunegala District?90 mapped - How many banks are in Kurunegala District?98 mapped - How many ATMs are in Kurunegala District?7 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Kurunegala District?48 mapped - What is the P-code of Kurunegala District?LK61 (OCHA common operational dataset)