# Puttalam District, North Western Province – DS divisions > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/ District · North Western Province # Puttalam District Puttalam District is a district of Sri Lanka in North Western Province. It had an estimated **845,000 people** in 2023 on 3,160 km² (about 267 per km²). It is divided into 16 DS divisions. 789 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 617 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 845,000people (2023) - 3,160km² - 16DS divisions - 617mapped services ## How many people live in Puttalam District? Puttalam District had an estimated **845,000 people** in 2023 — 32.9% of North Western Province, 12th of 25 districts. There are 1,066 women for every 1,000 men (below the North Western Province figure of 1,078). Spread over 3,160 km², that is about **267 people per km²**, 13th of 25 districts. 27.4% of people are children under 15 and 6.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 29 years (it is 31 across North Western Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 51 children and older people. 0–4 ****78,986** 5–9 ****77,372** 10–14 ****75,572** 15–19 ****73,677** 20–24 ****62,738** 25–29 ****68,932** 30–34 ****70,722** 35–39 ****58,736** 40–44 ****53,704** 45–49 ****50,060** 50–54 ****45,280** 55–59 ****40,997** 60–64 ****35,996** 65–69 ****21,986** 70–74 ****13,489** 75–79 ****8,683** 80+ ****8,070** 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 Puttalam District? Puttalam District lies in [North Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 4 other districts: [Anuradhapura District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-central/anuradhapura/), [Gampaha District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/gampaha/), [Kurunegala District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/kurunegala/) and [Mannar District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/northern/mannar/). By area it is the 7th largest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 39.2% of [North Western Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/). The centre of Puttalam District is about 109 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. It is about 69 km from Kurunegala, the main town of North Western Province. The centre point is at 7.9162° N, 79.9129° E. Local names: පුත්තලම දිස්ත්‍රි · புத்தளம் 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 Puttalam District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Anamaduwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/anamaduwa/) 249 35 17 [Arachchikattuwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/arachchikattuwa/) 158 33 17 [Chilaw DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/chilaw/) 93 49 80 [Dankotuwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/dankotuwa/) 77 47 30 [Kalpitiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/kalpitiya/) 163 31 138 [Karuwalagaswewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/karuwalagaswewa/) 500 26 16 [Madampe DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/madampe/) 93 49 24 [Mahakumbukkadawala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/mahakumbukkadawala/) 185 25 12 [Mahawewa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/mahawewa/) 73 47 48 [Mundel DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/mundel/) 246 31 23 [Nattandiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/nattandiya/) 78 47 45 [Nawagattegama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/nawagattegama/) 172 19 7 [Pallama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/pallama/) 121 18 5 [Puttalam DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/puttalam/) 174 22 59 [Vanathavilluwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/vanathavilluwa/) 737 17 10 [Wennappuwa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/north-western/puttalam/wennappuwa/) 41 52 86 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 Puttalam District - Puttalam45,661 - Chilaw24,712 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 Puttalam District Named natural and historic features inside Puttalam District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 532 reservoirs and tanks; 32 rivers and streams; 5 lakes. - Acharigama Wewa - Adammana Wewa - Adippola Wewa - Agunawila Wewa - Aiyanakatuwa Wewa - Akkarawelliya Wewa - Alankulama Wewa - Alankulama Wewa - Aliyavelikulam - Aliyawetunu Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Alut Wewa - Aluth Wewa - Ambalam Wewa - Amuna Wewa - Amunu Wewa - Anamaduwa Wewa - Anawilundawa Wewa - Andahena Wewa - Andanankattuwa Wewa - Andanankatuwa Wewa - Andara Wewa …and 545 more. ### Coast and islands 8 islands; 2 lagoons; 2 headlands. - Attaditivu - Chilaw Point - Erumativu - Heyativu - Karaditivu - Karamuna - Karukkativu - Mantivu - Mutupantiya Lagoon - Oddakarentivu - Periyativu - Talavillu Odai ### Hills and mountains 5 hills. - Galabendawewa · 83 m - Aruakalu · 66 m - Pitihandeawa · 64 m - Kottakaduwa · 62 m - Tonigala · 51 m ### Forests and nature 15 forests; 7 forest reserves; 3 gardens. - Ambanmukalana Forest Reserve - Anamaduwa Forest Reserve - Angittankulama - Attavillu Forest Reserve - Bangadeniya - Halmillewa - Illandawattan - Kadawatawewa - Kottiyapennapuwila - Kudanaguleliya - Kukulkatupitiya - Kurusadi Kulam - Mahanaguleliya - Manuwangama Forest Reserve - Mondankuliya - Nariyagama Forest Reserve - Panirendawa Forest Reserve - Pattiyakele - Pemaduwa - Periyawelliya - Radavigama - Sandy Scrub - Sellankandal Forest Reserve - Tawalapokuna …and 1 more. ### History 6 ruins; 1 fort. - Galandanayehena Ruins - Manikkankanda Ruins - Rock Cave Temple - Sri Lanka Navy Dutch Fort - Talkote Ruins - Weragala Ruins - Wirandagoda ### Estates 137 estates; 117 oil-palm estates; 112 estates. - Achchithotem - Adapparawatta - Ahalandewatte - Akkaraheta - Akkarapahala - Alamvillu - Alikatuwa - Aluthgama - Amba - Ambakandawila - Ambakele South - Ambalampitiya - Ambalaveli - Ampitiya - Anaiwasal - Ancient Site - Andanankattuwa - Andarakatuwatta - Angunawila - Ankulawila - Annaletchamy - Annaletchemey - Annifield - Antonville …and 342 more. ### Getting around 1 railway station. - Kakkapalliya 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 Puttalam District and the best time to visit In Puttalam District, the warmest month is Apr (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Jan (25 °C). About 1,295 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (247 mm) and the driest Jul (34 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 56 Feb 26 47 Mar 28 76 Apr 29 145 May 28 110 Jun 28 44 Jul 27 34 Aug 27 51 Sep 27 87 Oct 27 227 Nov 26 247 Dec 26 171 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Puttalam District Places mapped inside Puttalam District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals30 - Banks70 - ATMs2 - Petrol pumps35 - Hotels222 - Shopping malls8 - Schools78 - Colleges and universities21 - Cinemas7 - Pharmacies13 - Restaurants111 - Police stations19 - Dental clinics1 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 Puttalam District?In North Western Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Puttalam District?845,000 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Puttalam District?About 29 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Puttalam District?About 267 people per km² - What borders Puttalam District?Anuradhapura District, Gampaha District, Kurunegala District and Mannar District - What is the largest town in Puttalam District?Puttalam - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Puttalam District?532 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Puttalam District?Galabendawewa (83 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Puttalam District?January to February and June to September - How many hospitals are in Puttalam District?30 mapped - How many banks are in Puttalam District?70 mapped - How many ATMs are in Puttalam District?2 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Puttalam District?35 mapped - What is the P-code of Puttalam District?LK62 (OCHA common operational dataset)