Bulathsinghala Pradeshiya Sabha

History in relation to Bulathsinghala

Name of Bulathsinghala

The administrative area of Ayagama Pradeshiya Sabha in the District of  Rathnapura to the East, the administrative area of Horona Pradeshiya Sabha to the North and the administrative area of Agalawatte Pradeshiya Sabha to the South are the boundaries of the Bulathsinghala Pradeshiya Sabha situated in the District of Kalutara of Western Province. While the extent of land of the said area is 212.2 square kilometres, there are also a few mountain tops each exceeding 1000 feet in this area and bodies of water such as rivers, canals including the Kalu Ganga river feed the paddy lands and the highlands of the area so as for them to be prosperous in soil.

While this area receives a rainfall exceeding 3000 millimetre during Southwest Monsoon in the Low-Country wet zone, during the period of months of May-June too, there are plentiful occurrences of heavy shower of rain, floodings, minor landslides and so on in this area. People belonging to various races are living in harmony with much cordiality in this area and also around estates there people embracing various religions among whom Tamils are in abundance. While the livelihood of a considerable number of people living around estates is centred round agriculture, cultivation of tea, rubber and minor export crops and so on, there is also a number of people who are employed in government institutions and private sector.

According to historical details, Prince Veediya Bandara, who was on bad terms with King Mayadunne the Ruler of Seethawaka Kingdom and the Portuguese Rulers, launched attacks against Portuguese Rulers from time to time taking refuge at the area of Pelanda adjacent to Bulathsinghala and after the passing of Samudra Devi the Consort, Veediya Bandara got married Tikiri Bandara’s younger sister (Mayadunne’s daughter) who was cruelly treated by the former after which Tikiri Bandara launched attacks against Veediya Bandara. It was at the area of Diwalakada where the war between Prince Tikiri and Prince Veediya Bandara occurred. There are legend centred round Bulathsinghala and Veediya Bandara which goes in this manner. Prince Veediya Bandara who came from Kotte had to go via Molka from Pelanda he had seen the people Chew betel. Then he had questioned them in this manner. “Bolath Sinhalada?” which is translated into English “Are you too Sinhalese?” and later on the said area was known as “Bulathsinghala” which existed in folklore.

Legend has it that Pahiyangala Cave Temple is the largest ever natural rock cave presently existing in South Asia and it is also said that the Reverend Bikkhu (Buddhist Priest) Pahiyan has arrived at this country in the fifth century as an explorer and it is said that this Reverend Bikkhu had occupied the said rock cave as a residence and it is also said that this Pahiyangala Cave Temple is the only place from where archaic signs and proofs can be found that the human beings who are advanced in existence had lived about 40,000 years back now.

The environmental reservation areas of  Walawwatte and Vathurana are also situated within the administrative area limits of the Bulathsinghala Pradeshiya Sabha. Attention of the entire world is incessantly attracted towards the area of Bulathsinghala due to the Hora Creeper which is in extinction and the varieties of plants which emanate a pleasant smell which are existing only in Walawwatte.

While the city of Bulathsinghala, consisting of a historical background such as this, is stepping towards development gradually, the rural areas are further stepping into development. The manner in which the said administrative area was led to development in the year 2016 and the services provided with to the area presented as follows.

Abolition of the Gangabada Paththu Village Council and the establishment of Village Councils anew.

As per the Order imposed by the Hon. Minister of Local Government & Housing Affairs under Section 5 (1) of the Chapter 257 of the Village Councils’ Act as amended by the Village Councils’ Act bearing No. 60 of 1961 and under the Section 84 of the Pradeshiya Bala Mandala (Regional Committees) Election Ordinance of the Chapter 262, Divisional Revenue Officer’s area of the Pasdun Korale East in the District of Kalutara was divided into two Village Councils so as to be effective and valid with effect from first day of July 1964 as an announcement published in the Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka bearing No. 13608 dated 19th of April, 1963. By means of the said divisional process, while the Gangabada Paththuwa Bala Pradeshaya was divided into two parts, viz. as Gangabada Paththuwa East consisting of nine (09) Grama Niladhari areas (vig. Mahagama North, Mahagama South, Bulathsinghala, Delmella, Bothale, Halwathura, Yatagampitiya, Upper Welgama and Molkawa) and Gangabada Paththuwa West consisting also of nine (09) Grama Niladhari areas (viz. Upper Karannagoda, Devamulla, Upper Naragala, Govinna, Nahalle, Warakagoda, Kudaligama, Veyangalla and Diyakaduwa). Then the old Gangabada Paththuwa Village Council was abolished.

Establishment of new Village Council Offices

Two (2) offices were created both in the Athura Town and the Warakagoda area having prepared the buildings suitable for the two (02) new Village Council offices. These Institutions were vested with functional powers as the Institutions of replacement to the old Village Council. The amount of money, which had been credited to the Public Funds of the old Gangabada Paththuwa Village Council, was equally divided among the said two Institutions together with the movable properties and all administrative functions being equally assigned to these two (02) Institutions. At the same time, the movable properties belonged to the Diyakaduwa East Village Council together with its administrative functions were equally divided between these two (02) Institutions. Then the number of functional areas of Diyakaduwa East Village Council became ten (10) in number. In the process of administration the two (02) new offices are to be in operation separately as two (02) Institutions.

Change of the names of the Provincial Village Councils and establishment of the same anew as Local Government Institutions

As per the Gazette Notification bearing No. 14529 dated 05-10-1965, names of both of these Paththu were changed by the Village Councils Ordinance. Accordingly, on behalf of the name of the Gangabada Paththuwa East while the name of Welgama Province was substituted, on behalf of the name of the Gangabada Paththuwa West, the name of Warakagoda was substituted. In the meantime, as per the Gazette Notification bearing No. 1483517 dated 09-01-1969, fourteen (14) Divisions have been allocated to the Welgama Province whose boundaries too have been partitioned. As per the Extraordinary Gazette Notification bearing No. 28/4 dated 09-10-1972, the Divisions known as Egaloya, Lower Welgama, Kalwellawa, Delpawatte, Polegoda and Udatiyawala were also conjoined to this administrative area. As per the Gazette Notification bearing No. 13608 dated 19-04-1963, these two (02) Institutions have been established anew as Welgama Local Government Institution and Warakagoda Local Government Institution. During that process, details of correct boundaries of the relevant Local Government Institution also have been published in the Gazette Paper.

 

Apportioning of the relevant Division at electorate level.

The Institutions which existed as Village Councils in the year 1947, as of now, are in operation. Such Institutions have been partitioned as Local Government Institutions so as to suit the delimitations at Parliamentary Electorates Level and Local Administrative Divisions Level. The administrative area of each Local Government Institution is prescribed so as for the electorates to be included in the said relevant administrative areas which come under the administration of a Local Government Officer. Accordingly, in addition to the offices of Welgama and Warakagoda which had been attached to the Bulathsinhala electorate, administrative area of the Eastern office also was attached to the Bulathsinghala Local Government Institution and then the relevant three (03) offices came under the administration of three (03) Local Government Officers separately.

 

What does mean by a Pradeshiya Sabha?

According to the structure of Local Government Institutions in Sri Lanka which have been spread throughout the country, there are three (03) categories of Local Government Institutions which are as follows.

  1. Municipal Councils.
  2. Urban Councils.
  3. Pradeshiya Sabhas.

From among the above Local Government Institutions, Municipal Councils and Urban Councils fall into the category of urban administration and Pradeshiya Sabhas fall into the category of Rural Local Government Institutions. The prime objective, regarding the establishment of these Institutions by the Act bearing No. 15 of 1987 through which Pradeshiya Sabhas were established, has been more clearly indicated in the Preamble itself of the said Act which reads as follows. “With a view to providing with much of opportunities to the general public for participating effectively at provincial level in the process of arriving at decisions relevant to administrative and development activities”.

Accordingly, it seems to be that what is expected through the Local Government Structure is to obtain the public participation in arriving at decisions relevant to administrative and development activities. A Pradeshiya Sabha is an Institution having its responsibility regarding provision of facilities necessary for the comfortable existence and the wellbeing of the general public residing within the administrative limits of the relevant Pradeshiya Sabha and for the said objective to be a success, following functions and duties have to be attended to,  satisfactorily, viz.-

  1. Public Health.
  1. Public Utility Services and
  1. Public Roads.

With a view to getting fulfilled the said responsibilities, sources from which revenue can be generated have been allocated to Local Government Institutions by the Central Government. The said sources of revenue are as follows.

  1. Assessment Tax.
  1. Acreage Tax.
  • Licence fees.
  1. Entertainment Tax.
  1. Stamp Duty.
  1. Court Fines etc.

In addition to the above, Local Government Institutions have been empowered to draft rules and regulations for the purpose of earning Provincial Councils and government financial assistance as major sources of revenue.

At the same time, for the sound functioning of a Pradeshiye Sabha, the services of the Chairman, the Secretary, the Council and the relevant Staff are compulsorily required factors. Hence, the Council of a Pradeshiya Sabha means the combination of its Chairman and the Members of the Council. According to the democratic administration of Sri Lanka, the said combination is a formation consisting of public representatives from accepted political parties and independent groups.

The chairman is the Chief Executive Officer. The Secretary is the Head of the Staff of a Local Government Institution. Hence, the Secretory is the Chief Administrative Officer and the Staff headed by the Duty Officers is the active organization of the Institute.

Common details of the administrative area:

Extent of the land of the administrative area212 Km2
Population of the area71,457
Number of Grama Niladhari Divisions54
Communities in residenceSinhala, Tammi and Muslim.
Main ReligionsBuddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam
Major CultivationsTea, Coconut, Rubber, Paddy Cultivation, vegetable, Fruits and Minor Export Crops.
Mineral ResourcesGem Mining, Mineral Mining and Metal Crushing, Sand Mining and wickerwork. People are engaged in these industries since the distant past.
Historical DescriptionsPahiyangala Rock Cave Temple
Wetland DescriptionsWetlands are abundantly existing in the areas such as Walawwatte wathurana, Rathambale Wathurana, Paragoda areas where there is also the marshy jungle.
Annual RainfallAbove areas receive a rainfall exceeding 3000 millimetre during the months of April, May, October and November.
  1. Navodaya Pre-School, Bulathsinghala
  2. Navodaya Pre-School, Govinna
  3. Navodaya Pre-School, Kobawaka
  4. Navodaya Pre-School, Botalegama
  1. Bulathsinghala Library
  2. Mahagama Library
  3. Egaloya Library
  4. Govinna Library
  5. Amaragedara Branch Library
  • Bulathsinghala Ayurvedic Centre.
  1. Name of the Land – Athurahena Land
  2. Location – The Ayurvedic Centre is situated at the premises of the Head Office
  3. Govinna Ayurvedic Centre
  4. Name of the Land – Manana Pita Kattiya Land.
  5. Location – The Ayurvedic Centre is situated at the Govinna  Library
  1. Dehigahawela Crematorium
  2. Polegoda Crematorium
  1. Burial Ground at Pussellewathurana, Pathiriyaya, Godella – Opalla
  2. Burial Ground at Rukwalmullakanda Mukalana – Kobawaka
  3. Burial Ground at Alikahena – Retiyala
  4. Burial Ground at Kaluwalagodella – Diyakaduwa
  5. Burial Ground at Kabaragalakanda Jungle – Diyakaduwa
  6. Burial Ground at – Mahayaya – Govinna
  7. Burial Ground at Thibbottawa Jungle – Bulathsinghala
  8. Burial Ground at Diyapora Ella Kanda – Pahala Naragala
  9. Burial Ground at Tennapitahena – Kudaligama
  10. Burial Ground at Iththegalakanda – Ihala Naragala
  11. Burial Ground at Lunugotukanda – Mahagama North
  12. Burial Ground at Lunugasdeniya Jungle – Mahagama South
  13. Burial Ground at Dummalahena – Halwathura
  14. Burial Ground at Walahendimulla – Mahagama South
  1. Thibbottawa Compost yard
  1. Bulathsinghala Auditorium
  1. Meegahakumbura workplace
  1. Bulathsinghala Public playground
  1. Bulathsinghala Children’s Park
  1. Bulathsinghala Public market complex
  1. Egaloya Weekly Fair
  2. Bulathsinghala Weekly Fair
  3. Mahagama Weekly Fair
  1. Mirishena Sands Ferry