Mapalana
Mapalana | |
|---|---|
Mapalana | |
| Coordinates: 6°03′N 80°34′E / 6.050°N 80.567°E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Southern Province |
| District | Matara District |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,107 |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+6 (Summer time) |
| Postal code | 81100 |
Mapalana (Sinhala: මාපලාන) is a village in Matara District, Sri Lanka,[3][4] 175 km (109 mi) from Colombo. It is approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) from Kamburupitiya where the University of Ruhuna's Faculty of Agriculture is located.
The village is located at the junction of the Thihagoda-Kotapola (B415) highway and Mapalana-Boraluketiya Road.[5]
Etymology
The name of the village was originally "Maha Pala Ana", which historically means "the great garden with fruits".
Notable attractions
It is also the site of the Mapalana falls (Mapalana Ella), a 141 m (463 ft) three-tier waterfall, the fourth tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka.[6][7] According to local folklore the waterfall derives its name from a local nobleman (maapaa) who used to bathe at waterfall, hence maapaa-nana (place where the nobleman bathed) which became mapanana and later mapalana.[8]
References
- ^ "Ratnapura (Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka)". Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location. 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Department of Census and Statistics. 2024. p. 220.
- ^ "MATARA DISTRICT (maps)" (PDF).
- ^ "ප්රාදේශීය දේකම් දකොට්ඨාවය තුෂ පිහිටා ඇති විවිධ බ ප්රදේ - 2018 -- Different Administrative Divisions by D.S. Division - 2018" (PDF).
- ^ "Mapalana - geoview.info". 3 November 2023.
- ^ Kautzsch, E. (2003). A Guide to the Waterfalls of Sri Lanka (2nd ed.). Tisara Prakasakayo.
- ^ "Mapalana Ella". lakpura.com.
- ^ Weerasooriya, Nishan, Mapalana Ella Falls (Mapanana Ella), retrieved 2026-01-16