Dharga Town
Place in Western Province, Sri Lanka
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Dharga Town (Sinhala: ධර්ගා නගරය; Tamil: தர்கா நகர்) is a town located in Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka.[1] It is governed by the Beruwala Urban Council under the Government of Sri Lanka, and is close to Aluthgama and the tourist town Bentota.
Dharga Town
ධර්ගා නගරය தர்கா நகர் | |
|---|---|
Sheik Hasan Bin Osman Magdoomy (Rah) Dharga Mosque | |
  Dharga Town Location in Sri Lanka | |
| Coordinates: 6°26′45″N 80°00′09″E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Western Province |
| District | Kalutara District |
| Population (2012) | |
• Total | 20,540 |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (SLST) |
| Postal code | 12090 |
| Area code | 034 |
Dharga Town received its name from the shrine of Sheik Hassan Bin Osman Magodoomy (Rali). The Shrine was established around 1866 when the sheik was enshrined in his home town.[2]
History
The first Sri Lankan Muslim settlement was established at Berbereen (Beruwala), which was named in honour of Abu Yusuf al-Barbari, the Berber traveller who founded the city. The second Muslim settlement was established at Alutgamaweedia, which was subsequently renamed Dharga Town in the 1940's by its Muslim inhabitants.[3]
2014 Anti-Muslim Riots
After a speech from Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, leader of the Bodu Bala Sena, a local mosque was stoned by a mob.[4] Subsequently, a two-day period of unrest occurred, resulting in widespread destruction of mosques, homes, and businesses and a total of four fatalities and eighty reported injuries.[5][6] Local police then imposed a curfew in the affected areas, restoring control.[4][7]
Education
Dharga Town hosts several educational institutions including three government Muslim schools: Zahira College, Al Hambra Maha Vidyalaya, and Aluthgamveediya Muslims Ladies National School. Zahira College stands as one of the oldest schools in the area.[8] Additionally, the town has two other government schools: KL-Pathirajagoda Preliminary School and Sri Gnanissara Maha Vidyalaya.[9] Among the private schools are Alif International School and Bambridge International School.[10]
Dharga Town is also home to Ilharul Islam Arabic College. An orphanage known as Isha Athul Islam Child Development Centre also operates in the area.[11]
Dharga Town is the location of one of the government's teacher-training colleges, named Dharga Nagar National College of Education.[12]
Population
Dharga Town has a population of 20,540, with the majority being Sri Lankan Moors.[13] Sinhalese and Tamils make up the rest (including Seenawatha 765-A and Welipitiya 768-A)[14][further explanation needed]
Infrastructure
The B157 Aluthgama – Mathugama road provides a key transportation route to and from the town. The town has a well-developed public transport system centered around buses, managed by both private operators and the government-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). The Aluthgama Bus Stand serves as the primary bus stand of the town. It is located along the B157 Aluthgama – Mathugama road .[15]
The Aluthgama Railway Station is located on the Coastal Line, connecting Colombo to Matara and Beliatta.[citation needed]
