Akurana (Sinhala: අකුරණ, Tamil: அக்குரணை) is a suburb of the city of Kandy in Kandy District, Central Province, Sri Lanka. The town is situated 125 km (78 mi) from Colombo and 10 km (6.2 mi) from the centre of Kandy, on the Kandy—Matale road. Akurana lies along the A9 highway from Kandy to Matale, north of Katugastota. Geographically the town is surrounded by hills and rivers. The Balapitiya Oya, a tributary of Pinga Oya river, runs through Akurana.[1]

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Akurana
Town
Akurana Grand Mosque on top of the surrounding hills.
Akurana
Coordinates: 7°21′54″N 80°37′02″E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Central Province
District	Kandy District
Divisional Secretariat	Akurana Divisional Secretariat
Akurana Pradeshiya Sabhawa	1980s
Government
• Type	Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha
• Chairman	I. M. Isthihar
Area
• Town	31.0 km2 (12.0 sq mi)
Population  (2012)
• Town	63,397
• Density	790/km2 (2,045/sq mi)
• Metro	63,397
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (SLST)
Postal code	20850
Area code	081
Official Languages	Sinhala / Tamil
Recognised languages	English

Akurana belongs to the Harispattuwa Electorate and was represented in Parliament by a former Foreign Minister, Abdul Cader Shahul Hameed, for more than 33 years without interruption. Akurana area came under the local government authority of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabhawa in the late 1980s and included the villages of Alawathugoda, Dunuwila, Bulugohathenna, Waragashinna, Kurundugaha ela, Uggala, Netherlands, Kurugoda, Thelumbgahawaththa, Malgamandeniya and Dippitiya.

History

Local folklore has it that during the reign of a certain "Raja Sinha", three Arabs travelled inland to Kandy. The king allowed them to take three native wives, and the three Arabs settled Akurana. They would be the ancestors of the Moors of Akurana.[2]

The village had a bad reputation in the late 19th century for highway robbers and thieves, and police were stationed there in 1878 before withdrawing in 1881 or 1882. Its inhabitants lived through trade and were comparatively rich. A small Islamic school operated in 1886.[2]

Demographics

Akurana is predominantly Muslim; there is also a sizable Sinhalese minority with small Tamil and Burgher communities. The majority of the local population speak Tamil, as well as Sinhala. English is widely understood and can be spoken by the local population.

Population by religion (2012)

The majority of the population identify as Moors (Muslims). There is a sizable Sinhalese minority and a small numbers of Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Tamils. Other communities includes Burghers, Malays, Chetties, Bharatha.

Population by ethnicity (2012)

Climate

It has a relatively cool climate because of its location in the central hills. Average day time temperature is 25 °C (77 °F) and the night is 19 °C (66 °F). In December the temperature drops to an average 19 °C (66 °F) with heavy mist cover during dawn.

Education

There are two national schools in Akurana, Azhar College and Akurana Zahira College.[4] Akurana Muslim Balika College is the only government Muslim girls college in Akurana.

In addition to the above schools there are primary feeding schools in the region which include

• Azhar Model Primary School
• Luqmaniya Maha Vidyalaya - Pangollamada
• Kurundugahaela Muslim Vidyalaya
• Thelumbugahawatte Muslim Vidyalaya
• Neerella Muslim Vidyalaya
• Kasawatte Muslim Vidyalaya
• Kurugoda boys muslim vidyalaya

Hospital

Zia Hospital is the only government hospital operating in Akurana providing free health care to the public which was opened by the Pakistani President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, during the government of President J. R. Jayewardene.[5]

Transport

Akurana is located on the A9 highway which makes it an easily accessible town. The nearest railway station is in Katugastota, which is 4.5 km (2.8 mi) away.

References