Beliatta Divisional Secretariat Division

Beliatta divisional secretariat division can be named as a region of extra ordinary importance in the inherently dry, semi desert Hambantota district in southern Sri Lanka. Surrounded by divisional secretariat Okewela from the north, divisional secretariat Tangalle from the east, divisional secretariat Dickwella of Matara district from the south and Kirinda and Hakmana divisional secretariats of the same district from the west, this region is located between 60-01 & 60-00 N and 800-44 &89 – 99 E latitude and longitude coordinates. Due to the fortunate location in an intermediate climatic zone, moderately and relatively temperate, humid climatic condition can be observed almost everywhere in the district except for a few Grama Niladari divisions. Located 10 – 180m above the sea level, fortunate value of 1500mm is recorded as the average annual rainfall while the average temperature does not exceed 280c. Defying overwhelming low plains of the district Beliatta divisional secretariat is among the few divisions with both mountainous and plain, geographic characteristics. Among the mountain ranges with a considerable height, Bodarakanda, located on the south western border, Rilagala yaya range on the western border and the range from Tharaperiya to Maligathenna are recognized as the most important. Among the mountain ranges mentioned above Rilagala yaya bears an importance as a catchment area for a numerous water springs and streams. It is 784m in height and it serves as a wind resistance and a peripheral area of Mahayaya forest of Matara district.
The Story behind the name Beliatta is a way complicated. What does it derive from? What does it mean? Various answers may come from different different sources. But Mr Ranjith Athalegama gives a clear cut answer to this question in his distinguished work “Gamata Namak Labunu Hati”. According to him, the term Beliatta has derived from the words “branches of slim apple Tree”. Long ago, Before the colonial era and in the early post independent era, Beliatta remained a popular trade hub in the district. Almost all the excess agricultural products from distant peripheral areas such as Middeniya, Gonadeniya, and Weeraketiya flowed in to Beliatta where these products were traded and transported to distant populated areas. As it says, because scales and measuring equipments had been hung over a branch of a slim apple tree this place was referred to as “Beliatta Kade” (the market of slim apple tree). Later for the convenience of pronunciation “Beliatta Kade” was abbreviated in to Beliatta. Until recent widely and at present occasionally, some elders call Beliatta as Beliatta kade. The place some half a kilometer away from Beliatta central bus stand, where Kirinda and Dickwella roads linked together is called “Lunu kade Handiya” (The junction of salt market). As Mr. Wijesinghe Beligalla has written in his distinguished work “ Lenard Wolf Samaga Gamanak” (A Journey with Leonard Wolf) which is full of live experiences of a journey with sir Leonard Wolf, a kind man who served as the deputy agent of government in Hambantota in colonial era, the “Lunu Kade Handiya” described above is the market place where salt, transported from distant Hambantota was traded. Transporters and traders who come from bullock carts, over Tavalama (a mean of transportation over back of bulls or buffalos in heard) and with Kath ( with a couple of baskets hung over both side of a pole on shoulders of a man) met together in this location.
This region considered to be one of the highly populated and developed areas of historical Ruhunu kingdom, being a constituent part of well-known triple administrative units or regional kingdoms Ruhunu, Maya, Pihiti. Many centuries ago, before European invasions of the island, according to folklores, a prince named “Chudamani Verman” from Java island which is a part of Republic of Indonesia at present, sailed here and moved to Maligathenna area to settle in. There he named himself with a Sinhalese name as “Minikirula” with the view of being a part of the local society. It is believed that the place where the prince Minikirula built his palace was called “Maligathenna” and some archaeological remnants are also visible at present days too that considered to be of the palace of the prince Minikirula. According to folklores passed to generations to generations, lake area where the prince mounted down from his sedan or palanquin and mounted on his majestic tusker was begun to be called as “Pallaththara”. The history of the ancient Galkema purana vihara in Nihiluwa run to the days of king Saddhathissa and the area where numerous venerable Bhikkus lived in large groups was called “Kahawatta” which mean saffron colored land. The place where venerable Bhikkus were served with meals (Dhana) became “Dan Mulla” and later it was conjuncted as “Dammulla” in day today usage. It is believed that prince “Manabharana”, the husband of queen Sugala lived in Sitinamaluwa area.
Most venerable Watarakgoda Dhammapala thero, most venerable Sitinamaluve Dammajothi thero, and Beligalle Siddhartha thero are renowned Buddhist clergy members that contributed the best to re-establish and spread Bhuddism in the island back again. Bharana Ganithacharya, and Sri Chandrarathna Manawasinghe are famous intellectuals who born in Sitinamaluwa and Puwakdandawa areas respectively.
Taken general statistical details of the division total land area including all the waterways has been calculated as 20102 acres and only 4200 acres of which fall under the divisional secretary. The rest is private lands. Total population of the division is 62793 in number of which 32038 are women. While the overwhelming majority of the population is Singhalese Buddhist, the rest is either Catholics, Christians, Islamic or Hindus. The density of population is as high 102.46 per square kilo meters.