# Matara District, Southern Province – DS divisions, Population & Map > Source: https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/ District · Southern Province # Matara District Matara District is a district of Sri Lanka in Southern Province. It had an estimated **869,001 people** in 2023 on 1,306 km² (about 665 per km²). It is divided into 16 DS divisions. 703 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,580 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 869,001people (2023) - 1,306km² - 16DS divisions - 1,580mapped services ## How many people live in Matara District? Matara District had an estimated **869,001 people** in 2023 — 32.3% of Southern Province, 11th of 25 districts. There are 1,089 women for every 1,000 men (above the Southern Province figure of 1,074). Spread over 1,306 km², that is about **665 people per km²**, 6th of 25 districts. 24.9% of people are children under 15 and 10.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 32 years (it is 31 across Southern Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 54 children and older people. 0–4 ****73,366** 5–9 ****73,959** 10–14 ****69,292** 15–19 ****69,726** 20–24 ****63,387** 25–29 ****61,580** 30–34 ****62,569** 35–39 ****56,944** 40–44 ****55,456** 45–49 ****53,284** 50–54 ****52,985** 55–59 ****48,240** 60–64 ****41,209** 65–69 ****30,846** 70–74 ****20,180** 75–79 ****16,826** 80+ ****19,152** 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 Matara District? Matara District lies in [Southern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/), [Sri Lanka](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/). It borders 3 other districts: [Galle District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/galle/), [Hambantota District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/hambantota/) and [Ratnapura District](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/sabaragamuwa/ratnapura/). By area it is the 23rd largest of 25 districts in Sri Lanka. It covers 23.6% of [Southern Province](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/). The centre of Matara District is about 114 km in a straight line from Colombo, the commercial capital. It is about 36 km from Galle, the main town of Southern Province. The centre point is at 6.1582° N, 80.5194° E. Local names: මාතර දිස්ත්‍රික්ක · மாத்தறை 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 Matara District Divisional Secretariat division Area km² GN divisions Services [Akuressa DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/akuressa/) 150 46 33 [Athuraliya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/athuraliya/) 63 28 5 [Devinuwara DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/devinuwara/) 38 41 66 [Dikwella DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/dikwella/) 51 48 147 [Hakmana DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/hakmana/) 50 34 18 [Kaburupitiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/kaburupitiya/) 58 39 58 [Kirinda Puhulwella DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/kirinda-puhulwella/) 42 25 0 [Kotapola DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/kotapola/) 179 37 74 [Malimbada DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/malimbada/) 43 29 17 [Matara Four Gravets DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/matara-four-gravets/) 57 66 360 [Mulatiyana DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/mulatiyana/) 120 48 16 [Pasgoda DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/pasgoda/) 154 43 21 [Pitabaddara DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/pitabaddara/) 137 40 16 [Thihagoda DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/thihagoda/) 53 40 17 [Weligama DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/weligama/) 43 48 717 [Welipitiya DS Division](https://wherepedia.org/sri-lanka/southern/matara/welipitiya/) 69 38 15 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 Matara District - Matara76,254 - Devinuwara45,000 - Weligama22,179 - Mirissa city4,695 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 Matara District Named natural and historic features inside Matara District, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 17 rivers and streams; 7 reservoirs and tanks. - Badulla Oya - Batuwita Oya - Borala Wewa - Denagama Wewa - Digili Ela - Ellewela Wewa - Gal Oya - Galtota Ela - Haliela Tank - Hulandawa Ganga - Kanduweda Ela - Kekanadure Tank - Kirama Aru - Maha Dola - Maha Ela - Makawita Tank - Maramba Wewa - Millawa Ela - Nagaba Dola - Polwatta Ganga - Siyambalagoda Oya - Uda Aparekka Oya - Urubokka Ganga - Weliwe Ela ### Coast and islands 6 headlands; 2 lagoons; 1 bay. - Atalahua Point - Dondra Head - Dondra Kalapuwa - Gandura Bay - Gandura Point - Garanduwa Kalapuwa - Kola Point - Kottagoda Point - Weligama Point ### Hills and mountains 11 mountains; 7 hills. - Kurulugala Old · 1,076 m - Rammale · 806 m - Aninkanda · 780 m - Deniyakanda · 736 m - Dotalawakanda · 727 m - Morawaka · 700 m - Ketapola · 427 m - Uramutta · 427 m - Karawila · 397 m - Adarakanda · 356 m - Inigalgoda · 270 m - Kotihena · 160 m - Kahagala Hill · 138 m - Waidugala · 137 m - Amangalakanda · 78 m - Walliwelakalukanda · 35 m - Akuressa · 20 m - Brown’s Hill · 11 m ### Forests and nature 13 forest reserves; 3 forests. - Dandeniya Aparekka Forest Reserve - Dediyagala Forest Reserve - Diyadawa Forest Reserve - Eppaladeniya - Katanwila - Kekanadure Kele Forest Reserve - Kirinda Mahayaya Forest Reserve - Kudagalkanda Forest Reserve - Kurunduwatta - Masmulla Kele Forest Reserve - Mulatiyana Forest Reserve - Oliyagankele Forest Reserve - Panilkanda Forest Reserve - Rammalekanda Forest Reserve - Viharekele Forest Reserve - Welihena Forest Reserve ### History 1 ancient site. - Kustarajagala Archaeological Site ### Estates 78 estates; 73 estates; 38 tea estates; 27 rubber estates; 10 oil-palm estates. - Abbey Rock - Adikariwatta - Akuressa - Akurugoda - Allen Valley - Alutwatte - Amangiliya - Amunekuttiya - Andapana - Andaradeniya - Andoled Uwa - Anningkande - Aparakka - Atu-Ela - Balakanda - Batagoda - Batalakanattegoda Denipitiya - Batattawala - Belligalena - Belmont - Beragama - Beraliya - Beraliyatura - Berubeula …and 202 more. ### Getting around 1 railway halt; 1 lighthouse. - Dondra Head Lighthouse - Henewela Rail Motor Halt 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 Matara District and the best time to visit In Matara District, the warmest month is Apr (average 28 °C) and the coolest is Jan (26 °C). About 1,837 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Nov (285 mm) and the driest Feb (79 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 26 95 Feb 27 79 Mar 28 107 Apr 28 182 May 28 194 Jun 27 106 Jul 27 89 Aug 27 115 Sep 27 161 Oct 27 231 Nov 27 285 Dec 26 193 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Matara District Places mapped inside Matara District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals40 - Banks93 - ATMs8 - Petrol pumps25 - Hotels837 - Shopping malls15 - Schools122 - Colleges and universities42 - Cinemas4 - Pharmacies13 - Restaurants359 - Police stations17 - 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. ## Quick answers - Where is Matara District?In Southern Province, Sri Lanka - What is the population of Matara District?869,001 (2023 estimate) - What is the median age in Matara District?About 32 years (2023 estimate) - What is the population density of Matara District?About 665 people per km² - What borders Matara District?Galle District, Hambantota District and Ratnapura District - What is the largest town in Matara District?Matara - How many reservoirs and tanks are in Matara District?7 named in GeoNames - What is the highest point in Matara District?Kurulugala Old (1,076 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Matara District?January to March and June to August - How many hospitals are in Matara District?40 mapped - How many banks are in Matara District?93 mapped - How many ATMs are in Matara District?8 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Matara District?25 mapped - What is the P-code of Matara District?LK32 (OCHA common operational dataset)