Neluwa Divisional Secretariat

History

The regional administration of Neluwa was established as Regional Revenue Office, Hinidum Pattu (North) on 03.02.1975. Up to the said period, the Neluwa area had also been administered by the Assistant Government Agent’s Office, Hinidumpattuwa located in Thawalama whereas the Hinidum Pattu Division was divided into 02 Divisions namely: Hinidum Pattu (North) and Hinidum Pattu (South) (Thawalama) in 1975. At first, this office premises had been located at Batuwangala, Neluwa. Thereafter, within a short period of time this Regional Revenue Office was upgraded as an Assistant Government Agent’s Office.

Accordingly, the office which had been located at Batuwangala was relocated to the present place on 19.04.1985. Subsequently, the Assistant Government Agent Office was converted as the Divisional Secretariat, Neluwa since 1992.

Mr. G.L. Piyadasa, the Assistant District Secretary who had been serving attached to Hinidum Pattu South (Thawalama) was appointed as the first Regional Revenue Controller of the Division in 1975 and since then several Regional Revenue Officers, Assistant Government Agents, Assistant District Secretaries, and 19 Divisional Secretaries have led the regional and public administration.

Key Information

Divisional Secretariat, Neluwa located on the North East Boundary of the Galle District, which is also called Hinidum Pattuwa lies between 6-17-6-25.5 of Northern latitudes and between 80-19 & 89-29.5 of Eastern longitudes. This Division is bounded by North: Kalutara and Ratnapura Districts, by the East: Matara District, by the South: Matara District and by the West: Divisional Secretariat Division, Thawalama.

The Divisional Secretariat, Neluwa has extended within an area of 15,384 hectares alias 153 Square Kilometers. 9.25% of the entire land mass of the Galle District belongs to the Neluwa Divisional Secretariat which occupies the 4th place out of 19 Divisional Secretariat Divisions of the District.

This Divisional Secretariat exists on the North East boundary of the Galle District, 120-140 kilometers away by the North and 145-170 kilometers by the East.

In addition, Pahala Maddegama Grama Niladhari Division is the smallest out of 34 divisions while Lankagama Grama Niladhari Division is the largest. This area, Neluwa consists of a variety of rocks belonging to the Precambrian era and especially of the Charnockitic and Metapelitic rocks under the Vijayan Series.

When the geographical aspect of this division is considered, it has 03 major geographic zones namely: Grasslands, precipices with medium height and lands containing mountains taller than 500 feet. This division is located at a general elevation which exceeds 300 feet. The remaining high elevation as per the geographical aspect has resulted as this division consists of a mountain range extended to North West and South East located closely by the Hill Country.

This division is usually identified through two major rainfall zones such as: between 5000mm-4000mm and 4000mm-5000mm classified in accordance with the rainfall pattern. Therefore, this division is called an area belonging to the low country wet zone receiving an average rainfall which exceeds 3000mm without having very hot temperatures or strong winds followed by the rainy season.

Further, the Divisional Secretariat, Neluwa belongs to the South West lowlands as per the geographical aspect. The average elevation of this division exceeds 120 meters. There is a range of mountains beyond the contour line in accordance with the geographical aspect whereas this mountain range is extended to North West and South East. This Divisional Secretariat exists in the maximum elevation range out of the other Divisional Secretariats since it is located below the Rakwana mountain range under the South Hill Country.

The northern portion of this institution is bounded by the Sinharaja Forest while the western portion of the North boundary exceeds an elevation of 450 meters. Further, Dothalu mountain located to the East lies in the elevation range of 757.6 m, Paththinigala Mountain area lies in the elevation range of 602 m while Kolontotuwa area’s elevation is 546 m and in Lankagama area this exceeds 570 m while the Eastern boundary exceeds 775 m. Furthermore, the elevation of Dellawa area is 600 m and the elevation of Dangala area is 701.1 m.

The elevation values are depicted as 510 m by the South Portion of Millawa, 579.6 m by Miyanawathura, Kalubowitiyana by 732 m and Kabaragala by 519 m.

Further, the elevation of Danawala, Embalegedara, Mawanana, Gingummaduwa are nearly 150 m.

Menikawita area and Happitiya area located in the inner part of the Neluwa Division have an elevation of 413.4 m and 238.8 m respectively.

The Gin River which arrives at the Neluwa Division from the South East begins from Gongala Mountain of the Rakwana Mountain Range. The Gin River is the main drainage source in Galle District. It enters the area from the South East and flows to the west through the south boundary of the Lankagama and Madugeta Grama Niladhari Divisions, then to the North through Batuwangala Madugeta boundaries and to the west through the Maddegama, Neluwa and Mawanana South boundary and enters the South Portion (Divisional Secretariat, Thawalama). A tributary enters from the North, East and South of the Gin River.

Divisional Secretaries Who Served Under the Divisional Secretariat, Neluwa Since 1991