North Central Province (Sinhala: උතුරු මැද පළාත Uturumæda Paḷāta, Tamil: வட மத்திய மாகாணம் Wada Maththiya Mākāṇam) is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the country. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils.[2][3] The province is the largest by size, and second least populated in the country.[1] The province consists of the districts of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, both of which were important ancient Sri Lankan kingdoms. The climate is semi-arid, and the forests are dry evergreen forests.

North Central Province උතුරු මැද පළාත வட மத்திய மாகாணம்
Province
Flag
Location within Sri Lanka
Country	Sri Lanka
Created	1873
Admitted	14 November 1987
Capital	Anuradhapura
Largest City	Anuradhapura
Government
• Governor	Maheepala Herath
Area
• Total	10,472 km2 (4,043 sq mi)
• Rank	1st (16.31% of total area)
Population  (2011 census)
• Total	1,259,567
• Rank	8th (5.91% of total pop.)
• Density	120/km2 (310/sq mi)
Gross Regional Product  (2010)[1]
• Total	Rs 232 billion
• Rank	7th (4.8% of total)
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka)
ISO 3166 code	LK-7
Vehicle registration	NC
Official Languages	Sinhalese, Tamil
Website	www.nc.gov.lk

History

The centralised system of Sri Lanka, which is a unitary state, failed to satisfy the aspirations of the people. There was growing insistence on decentralisation of administrative processes to achieve rapid economic and social development of the country.

In the Sri Lankan context, devolution means the transferring of political and administrative decision-making authority from the central government to elected bodies at the lower levels.

Demographics

Employment

Provincial council

The provincial council is the main administrative and control body in the North Central Province, which is the largest province in the country covering 16% of the country's total land area. It consists two districts, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapure; Anuradhapure is the largest district in the country.

The province is also called Wew Bendi Rajje because there are more than 3000 medium and large scale tanks situated in the province. More than 65% of the province’s people depend on basic agriculture and agricultural based industries.

North Central Province has numerous potential for investors to start their businesses, specially agriculture, agricultural based industries and livestock sectors.

Administrative divisions

The North Central Province is divided into two districts and 29 divisional secretariats.

Districts

Divisional secretariats

Municipal Councils

Towns

• Aralaganwila
• Bakamuna
• Eppawala
• Giritale
• Habarana
• Hingurakgoda
• Horowpothana
• Kahatagasdigiliya
• Kebithigollewa
• Kekirawa
• Mahailuppallama
• Manampitiya
• Maradankadawala
• Medawachchiya
• Mihintale
• Minneriya
• Nochchiyagama
• Padaviya
• Polonnaruwa-Kaduruwela
• Rambewa
• Thalawa
• Thambuttegama
• Welikanda

Education

Anuradhapura

• Anuradhapura Central College
• Niwaththaka Chethiya National School. Anuradhapura
• Anuradhapura Technical College
• Buddhsravaka Bhiksu University
• K. B. Rathnayake MW
• Open University of Sri Lanka
• Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education
• St. Joseph's College
• Teachers Training School
• University College of Anuradhapura (University of Vocational Technology)

Polonnaruwa

• Polonnaruwa Royal Central College
• Pulathisipura National College of Education
• Technical College-Polonnaruwa

See also

• Provinces of Sri Lanka
• Districts of Sri Lanka
• List of schools in North Central Province, Sri Lanka

References

External links

• North Central Province Provincial Council
• Cities in North Central province

На других языках

[de] Nord-Zentralprovinz (Sri Lanka)

[ru] Северо-Центральная провинция (Шри-Ланка)