North Western Province ( Wayamba Paḷāta, Vada Mael Mākāṇam) is a province of Sri Lanka. It is the fourth-largest province by land area, covering , and the fourth-most populated province with a population of over 2,592,000 people. The majority of the population is concentrated in the urban centres of Kurunegala, and Puttalam, the provincial capital. Kurunegala is the larger city in the province and serves as a commercial hub. Puttalam, located on the western coast, is known for its lagoon, and being a centre for salt production.

The region has numerous archaeological sites, including the ancient rock fortress of Yapahuwa and the Panduwasnuwara ruins. European colonization began with the Portuguese Empire in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch Empire and the British Empire. The province was established in its current form in 1833 during British Ceylon era.

North Western Province had nineteen seats in the Sri Lankan Parliament in last General elections. The provincial council consists of the Chief Minister, the Provincial Council, and the Governor. As of the most recent General elections, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna is the dominant political party in the province. The Governor of North Western Province, the representative of the President of Sri Lanka, is currently Tissa Kumarasiri Warnasuriya.

The economy of North Western Province is primarily based on Agriculture, Manufacturing, Fishing, Salt, and small-scale industries. Major agricultural products include coconut, rice, and spices, while the coastal areas are known for their fishing industry, the urban areas such as Kurunegala, Kuliyapitiya, Nikaweratiya and Mawathagama is famous for their Industries. The northern part of puttalam has significant mineral resources, including limestone and ilmenite.

Puttalam district in the North Western Province is especially known for its cultural heritage, with numerous festivals, traditional dances, and local crafts. It is home to several important religious sites, including the Munneswaram temple and the St. Anne's Church in Thalawila, which attract pilgrims from across the country. The province's natural attractions, such as the Wilpattu National Park and the Puttalam Lagoon, are popular with tourists.

Geography

North Western Province is bordered by the North Central Province to the north, Central Province to the east, Sabaragamuwa Province to the southeast, Western Province to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the west.

The province is characterised by a variety of topographical and climatic conditions, ranging from coastal regions with a tropical climate to inland areas that experience a more varied climate. The region features several prominent water bodies, including the Puttalam Lagoon, Mundal Lagoon, and the Deduru Oya. Other significant rivers in the province include the Mee Oya and the Kala Oya rivers. The province also contains a portion of the Wilpattu National Park, one of the largest and oldest national parks in Sri Lanka, known for its diverse wildlife and natural beauty.

The region's highest point is the Dolukanda range, which is part of the central hills that gently slope towards the coastal plains. The plains are predominantly used for agriculture, with key crops including paddy, coconut, and various spices. The province also has significant limestone deposits, which contribute to the local cement industry.

The province is ecologically diverse, with coastal ecosystems, dry monsoon forests, and wetlands. Significant ecological areas include the Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary, recognised as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, and the Mangrove forests along the coastline. These areas support a variety of flora and fauna, including several Endangered species.

Climate The climate of Wayamba is tropical, with a marked dry season, and temperatures averaging between in January to in March. The south of the province is wetter, with almost of rainfall per year, but the north of the province is one of the driest regions in Sri Lanka, averaging under of rain in parts.

Demographic details

The population of North Western Province in the year 2021 was 2,592,000. The majority of the population belongs to the Sinhalese majority. Sri Lankan Moors community represent a large portion in population. There is a smaller Sri Lankan Tamils community and they are scattered all over the Province but a larger population reside in the North of Puttalam District. The following Table summarises the population of the province according to their ethnicity:

Ethnicity Percentage Sinhalese 85% Sri Lankan Moors 12% Sri Lankan Tamil 3%

Religion

Buddhism is the main and the most widely practiced religion in North Western Province. It is also home to a wide range of other religious faiths and sects including Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism. Even among them almost all Muslim population follows Sunni Islam and the preponderance of Christians follow Catholicism, predomantly in Puttalam District.

Religion Population (2012) Buddhism 1,761,337 Christianity 305,951 Islam 268,709Hinduism 43,532

Districts

Wayamba is divided into 2 districts: Kurunegala District Puttalam District

Cities Kurunegala (Municipal Council)

Large towns Puttalam (Urban Council) Kuliyapitiya (Urban Council) Chilaw (Urban Council)

Other towns Alawwa Anamaduwa Bingiriya Bolawatta Dankotuwa Galgamuwa Giriulla Hettipola Hiripitiya Kalpitiya Kumarakattuwa Madampe Maho Marawila Mawathagama Narammala Nattandiya Nikaweratiya Pannala Polpithigama Madurankuli Wariyapola Wennappuwa Pallama

Polgahawela Udappu

Villages North Western Province contains six villages with the same name, Galagedara.

Politics The 2020 parliament election was the most recent general election.

Members of Parliament

+ Name Votes District PartyMahinda Rajapaksa 527,364 KurunegalaSLPPJohnston Fernando 199,203 KurunegalaSLPPGunapala Rathnasekara 141,991 KurunegalaSLPPDayasiri Jayasekara 112,452 KurunegalaSLPPAsanka Nawaratne 82,779 KurunegalaSLPPD. B. Herath 61,954 KurunegalaSLPPJayarathna Herath 54,351 KurunegalaSLPPShantha Bandara 52,086 KurunegalaSLPPSumith Udukumbura 51,134 KurunegalaSLPPNalin Bandara 75,631 KurunegalaSJBJ.C.Alawathuwala 65,956 KurunegalaSJBAshok Abeysinghe 54,512 KurunegalaSJBThushara Indunil 49,364 KurunegalaSJBSanath Nishantha 80,082 PuttalamSLPPPriyankara Fernando74,425 PuttalamSLPPArundika Fernando 70,892 PuttalamSLPPChinthaka Mayadunne46,058 PuttalamSLPPAshoka Priyantha 41,612 PuttalamSLPPHector Appuhamy 34,127 PuttalamSJBNiroshan Perera31,636 PuttalamSJBAli Sabri Raheem 33,509 PuttalamACMC

http://election.adaderana.lk/general-election-2020/district_result.php?dist_id=Kurunegala%7C Ada Derana 2020 election results kurunegala https://election.adaderana.lk/general-election-2020/district_result.php?dist_id=Puttalam | Ada Derana election results 2020 puttalam

Education

Universities

Open University of Sri Lanka, regional centre of Kurunegala Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology - Kurunegala Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education - Kurunegala Wayamba National College of Education, Bingiriya ICBT Campus ESOFT Metro Campus

Schools Maliyadeva College - Kurunegala St. Anne's College, Kurunegala - Kurunegala Athugalpura Prince College - Kurunegala Maliyadeva Girls' College - Kurunegala Holy Family Convent - Kurunegala Sir John Kothalawala College - Kurunegala St. Joseph Vaz College - Wennappuwa Presidential Science College - Puttalam Holy Family Convent - Marawila Saranath College - Kuliyapitiya Central College - Kuliyapitiya Ananda College - Chilaw Mawatagama Central College - Mawathagama Dhammissara College - Nattandiya Wayamba Royal College - Kurunegala Senanayake Central College - Madampe Mayurapada College - Narammala Sri Sumangala College - Wariyapola S.W.R.D. Bandaranayaka Central College - Panduwasnuwara Zahira National College - Puttalam St. Andrew's Central College - Puttlam Anuruddha Central College - Lunuwila National School Sri Saranankara National College - Bingiriya Mahindodaya National Collage - Hettipola

Transportation

Roads Some major roads include,

A3: Puttalam – Chilaw – Negombo - Colombo (162 km) A6: Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Dambulla – Trincomalee (192 km) A10: Katugastota – Kurunegala – Puttalam (125 km) A12: Puttalam – Anuradhapura – Trincomalee (179 km)

Buses The Road and Passenger Transport Authority – North Western Province provides bus services in the province. As of 2026, it operated 1,419 buses and had an average daily patronage of approximately 363,000 passengers.

Railway lines The Northern line travels through the eastern part of the province, serving Kurunegala and nearby towns. The 133 km long Puttalam line was completed in 1926. It follows the coast and connects Colombo with Chilaw and Puttalam via Negombo.

Industries

This region's economy is driven by agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and service industries.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the cornerstone of the North Western Province's economy, employing a significant portion of the population. With over 150,000 hectares dedicated to paddy fields, the region produces around 700,000 metric tonnes of rice annually, or 18% of the national total. The province is one of the largest coconut-producing regions, accounting for about 1 billion coconuts per year, which is 25% of the national coconut output. Approximately are used for growing spices like pepper and cardamom, producing around 12,000 metric tonnes annually.http://www.statistics.gov.lk/Agriculture/StaticalInformation/new#gsc.tab=0| Ministry of Agriculture - Publications There are two main cultivation seasons. The Maha Season (October–January) or the wet season, and the Yala Season (April–August) the dry season.

Other crops grown in the province include:

Cereals – Kurakkan, maize, green gram, cowpea Root Crops – sweet potatoes, red onions Fruits – Pineapples, Mangoes, Papaya, Banana, Avocado Vegetables – Gherkin, Asparagus Cashew Nut is also cultivated on a large scale. The northernmost dry region is ideally suited for Cashew cultivation. Fisheries Industry and Prawn Farming - The major varieties found in abundance off the coast are tuna, prawns, lobsters and cuttlefish. The country's export-oriented commercial prawn farming industry is concentrated in the coastal areas of the Puttalam district.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing in the North Western Province is diverse, playing a crucial role in the region's economic growth. The textile and garment industry employs over 50,000 workers. The region hosts several factories, contributing to around 20% of Sri Lanka's total garment exports.The province is home to multiple food processing plants. The food and beverage sector contributes approximately LKR 20 billion to the provincial GDP annually.http://www.statistics.gov.lk/Industry/StaticalInformation/OngoingSurveyDocuments/QSURVEY#gsc.tab=0| Department of Census and Statistics - Industrial Production Puttalam has the second largest cement factory in Sri Lanka, producing about 1.3 million tonnes of cement each year.

Mining

The North Western Province's limestone deposits are crucial for the cement industry. Annually, around 3 million tonnes of limestone are mined in Puttalam. The province is a significant source of silica sand, essential for the glass industry, with annual production reaching approximately 200,000 tonnes. Other minerals mined include clay, ilmenite, beach mineral sands, mica and graphite.

Service Industry