Akurana

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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 / 7.36500°N 80.61722°E / 7.36500; 80.61722Coordinates: 7°21′54″N 80°37′02″E / 7.36500°N 80.61722°E / 7.36500; 80.61722
Country	Sri Lanka
District	Kandy District
Divisional Secretariat	Akurana Division
Province	Central Province
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(s)	081
Official Languages	Sinhala / Tamil
Recognised languages	English

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

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 late 1980s and included the villages of Alawathugoda, Dunuwila, Bulugohathenna, Kurugoda, Thelumbgahawaththa, Malgamandeniya and Dippitiya.

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.

Demographics[]

Akurana is predominantly Muslim, there is also a sizable Buddhist minority with small Hindu and Christian 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)[]

Source:statistics.gov.lk

The majority of the population identify as Moors (Muslims), who are predominantly of Arab and Persian origins. 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)[]

Source:statistics.gov.lk

Education[]

There are two national schools in Akurana, Azhar College and Akurana Zahira College.^[2] 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.^[3]

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[]