# Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province – DS divisions > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/ District · Sabaragamuwa Province # Ratnapura District Ratnapura District is a district of Sri Lanka in Sabaragamuwa Province. It had an estimated **1,188,001 people** in 2023 on 3,287 km² (about 361 per km²). Its main town is Ratnapura. It is divided into 18 DS divisions. 1,400 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 838 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 1,188,001people (2023) - 3,287km² - 18DS divisions - 838mapped services ## How many people live in Ratnapura District? Ratnapura District had an estimated **1,188,001 people** in 2023 — 57.1% of Sabaragamuwa Province, 6th of 25 districts. There are 1,027 women for every 1,000 men (below the Sabaragamuwa Province figure of 1,057). Spread over 3,287 km², that is about **361 people per km²**, 10th of 25 districts. 24.2% of people are children under 15 and 8.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 31 years (it is 32 across Sabaragamuwa Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 48 children and older people. 0–4 ****99,829** 5–9 ****98,598** 10–14 ****89,046** 15–19 ****92,613** 20–24 ****90,777** 25–29 ****93,754** 30–34 ****98,671** 35–39 ****82,700** 40–44 ****80,087** 45–49 ****73,486** 50–54 ****71,579** 55–59 ****63,390** 60–64 ****56,116** 65–69 ****39,576** 70–74 ****24,710** 75–79 ****17,584** 80+ ****15,485** 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 Ratnapura District? Ratnapura District lies in [Sabaragamuwa Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 9 other districts: [Badulla District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/uva/badulla/), [Colombo District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/colombo/), [Galle District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/), [Hambantota District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/hambantota/), [Kalutara District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/western/kalutara/), [Kegalle District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/kegalle/), [Matara District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/), [Monaragala District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/uva/monaragala/) and [Nuwara Eliya District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/central/nuwara-eliya/). By area it is the 6th largest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 66.5% of [Sabaragamuwa Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/). The centre of Ratnapura District is about 91 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. The centre point is at 6.5799° N, 80.5900° E. Local names: රත්නපුර දිස්ත්‍රි · இரத்தினபுரம் மாவட . 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 Ratnapura District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Ayagama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/ayagama/) 163 21 15 [Balangoda DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/balangoda/) 183 41 61 [Eheliyagoda DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/eheliyagoda/) 141 44 44 [Elapatha DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/elapatha/) 86 20 5 [Embilipitiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/embilipitiya/) 389 40 165 [Godakawela DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/godakawela/) 152 44 44 [Imbulpe DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/imbulpe/) 255 50 101 [Kahawattha DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/kahawattha/) 104 21 19 [Kalawana DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/kalawana/) 382 33 50 [Kalthota DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/kalthota/) 98 12 2 [Kiriella DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/kiriella/) 79 17 16 [Kolonna DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/kolonna/) 178 29 21 [Kuruvita DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/kuruvita/) 171 39 56 [Nivithigala DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/nivithigala/) 153 24 18 [Opanayake DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/opanayake/) 79 20 15 [Pelmadulla DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/pelmadulla/) 147 37 43 [Ratnapura DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/ratnapura/) 328 53 157 [Weligepola DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/weligepola/) 198 30 6 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 Ratnapura District - Ratnapura47,832 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 Ratnapura District Named natural and historic features inside Ratnapura District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 104 rivers and streams; 17 reservoirs and tanks; 7 waterfalls. - Aliolu Ara - Aluth Wewa - Ambawila Wewa - Andolu Ganga - Aramba Oya - Aranuwa Dola - Balawane Oya - Bambarabctuwa Oya - Bambarabotuwa Oya - Baratha Kanda Wewa - Belihul Oya - Bindunkada Ara - Boltumbe Oya - Bopath Ella Falls - Chandrika Wewa - Dandura Ela - Dehenella Falls - Delgoda Ganga - Delwala Ganga - Denagan Oya - Denawak Ganga - Diyanella Falls - Diyawini Oya - Dodangaha Ela …and 104 more. ### Hills and mountains 101 mountains; 50 hills; 4 peaks; 1 mountain pass; 1 valley. - Adam’s Peak · 2,077 m - Detanagala New · 1,722 m - Ratkanda · 1,714 m - Hunuwalkanda · 1,482 m - Petiyagala · 1,445 m - Gongala · 1,331 m - Petiyagala · 1,293 m - Kunadiyaparawita · 1,278 m - Suriyakanda · 1,266 m - Beralagala · 1,231 m - Alutwelawisahena · 1,150 m - Kabaragalakanda · 1,141 m - Lauderdale · 1,136 m - Panilkanda · 1,133 m - Hinipitigala East · 1,117 m - Illibe · 1,107 m - Hinipitigala West · 1,070 m - Kurulugala · 1,051 m - Trincowatte Peak · 1,042 m - Palamcotta · 1,002 m - Naigala · 996 m - Battaturagala · 983 m - Wellaboda · 955 m - Kuttapitiyakanda · 927 m …and 133 more. ### Forests and nature 10 forests; 4 forest reserves; 3 gardens. - Adawikanda - Bambarabotuwa Forest Reserve - Etabedda - Gangoda Arawa - Gileemale Forest Reserve - Kamburagomuwa Forest Reserve - Kodiyadaputena - Kukuluwa - Kunadiyaparawita - Linihela - Mallakele - Pubbarapota - Ranchamadama - Rodigala - Sinharaja Forest Reserve - Telbaduara - Tunmodara ### Estates 304 estates; 82 rubber estates; 81 estates; 13 tea estates. - Aberfoyle - Abhayanayaka - Agar’s Land Estate - Aigburth - Akarella - Akkara Five Hundred - Alawila Group - Allenlan - Allerton - Allewatta - Allington - Alpha Estate - Aludeniya - Alupola Estate - Alupotdeniya - Alutnuwara - Ambuldeniya - Anthanies Estate - Aralugahawatta - Atlanta - Ayagama - Badamune Watta - Baduwalakanda - Balangoda Group …and 456 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 Ratnapura District and the best time to visit In Ratnapura District, the warmest month is Apr (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jan (24 °C). About 1,783 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (273 mm) and the driest Feb (81 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **January to March and June to August**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 24 96 Feb 25 81 Mar 26 106 Apr 26 180 May 26 178 Jun 25 106 Jul 25 87 Aug 25 106 Sep 25 149 Oct 25 232 Nov 24 273 Dec 24 190 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Ratnapura District Places mapped inside Ratnapura District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals53 - Banks70 - ATMs2 - Petrol pumps29 - Hotels305 - Shopping malls4 - Schools195 - Colleges and universities46 - Cinemas10 - Pharmacies17 - Restaurants84 - Police stations18 - Dental clinics5 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. ## Ratnapura in history The 11th edition of the *Encyclopaedia Britannica* (1911) described Ratnapura as follows. Its wording reflects its time; spellings are as printed. > RATNAPURA (i.e. "The City of Gems"), the chief town in the province of Sabaragamuwa, Ceylon. It is the centre of a long established industry in digging for precious stones—rubies, sapphires, cat's-eyes, &c. There is also much rice and fruit cultivation and planting of tea in the district. Pop. of town (1901) 4084; of district 132,964. 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 Ratnapura District?In Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Ratnapura District?1,188,001 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Ratnapura District?About 31 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Ratnapura District?About 361 people per km² - What borders Ratnapura District?Badulla District, Colombo District, Galle District, Hambantota District, Kalutara District, Kegalle District, Matara District, Monaragala District and Nuwara Eliya District - What is the largest town in Ratnapura District?Ratnapura - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Ratnapura District?17 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Ratnapura District?Adam’s Peak (2,077 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Ratnapura District?January to March and June to August - How many hospitals are in Ratnapura District?53 mapped - How many banks are in Ratnapura District?70 mapped - How many ATMs are in Ratnapura District?2 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Ratnapura District?29 mapped - What is the P-code of Ratnapura District?LK91 (OCHA common operational dataset)