Kegalle District

Kegalle is a district in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. It is one of 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary (previously known as a Government Agent) appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. It was a former Dissavani of Sri Lanka.

It covers an area of 1,693 km2. The district has a population of 837,179 according to 2012 Census, which is approximately 4.0% of the total population of Sri Lanka.

Physical information
The District of Kegalle is situated in between the central highlands and western southern plains and has an enchanting environment. The height of the western region is 50 m above sea level while the eastern region exceeds 1,800 m. Rubber cultivation has stretched over most of the area of the District and minor export crops from the district include coffee, cocoa, pepper, clove and nutmeg. Sri Lanka's best graphite mine is situated at Bogala in Kegalle District. The extent of the District is 1692.8 km2.

Major cities

 * Kegalle (Municipal Council)

Other towns

 * Ambepussa
 * Aranayaka
 * Bulathkohupitiya
 * Dehiovita
 * Deraniyagala
 * Galigamuwa
 * Hemmathagama
 * Karawanella
 * Kitulgala
 * Kotiyakumbura
 * Mawanella
 * Rambukkana
 * Ruwanwella
 * Thalgaspitiya
 * Warakapola
 * Yatiyanthota
 * Ganthuna

Ethnic distribution (2001 census)
Most of the population are Sinhalese. Indian Tamils brought by the British as indentured labourers to work in tea states makes a significant minority.

Notable places
Situated between coastal lowlands and central highlands district has a contrasting landscape.

Elephant Orphanage of Pinnawala
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage of Pinnawala attracts thousands of tourists daily.