Embilipitiya

About Embilipitiya

Embilipitya, a backward little village a couple of decades ago, today has become a town on a development high gear. Embilipitiya's location in the Southern Province has been instrumental in its swift strides into the modernity too: it has become a southern transportation hub to the destinations of Matara, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Wellawaya, Monaragala and Haputale. More over, Embilipitya's proximity to popular Udawalwe National Park too has contributed significantly to the rise of its popularity as a transportation hub.


About Ratnapura District

Ratnapura is the provincial capital of Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka and the Ratnapura District in which the town is situated. Located some 101 km south east of Colombo, it is the centre of a long-established industry of precious stone mining including rubies, sapphires, and other gems. Apart from gem mining, the town is known for rice and fruit cultivations. Large plantations of tea and rubber surround the town. Tea grown in this region is called low-country tea. There is a well-established tourism industry in Ratnapura. Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Udawalawe National Park, Kitulgala, and Sri pada are especially popular among tourists.

Most of the large-scale gem businessmen of Sri Lanka operate from Ratnapura. The Rattnapura town depends on the gem trade. The town's agricultural industry is also well developed. Large plantations of tea and rubber surround the town. Although rice fields also used to be a common sight around the town, rice cultivation presently faces an uncertain future in Ratnapura because many farmers are giving up their rice cultivation and switching to gem mining which is a more productive way of earning money.


About Sabaragamuwa Province

The Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka contains two main cities called Ratnapura and Kegalle. At an elevation of approximately 500 feet above sea level, Ratnapura is the provincial capital of Sabargamuwa. It is 60 miles (100 km) from the main coastal city of Colombo. Province of Sabaragamuwa The gem-mining centre of Sri Lanka is also a major crossroad between southern plains and the hill country to the east.

In Sabaragamuwa province there is a route to Sri Pada from Ratnapura direction. Excursions include Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Udawalawe National Park. The route towards hill country is beautiful. The surrounding area is a popular trekking destination and a good place for bird watching.


【LK94009426: Embilipitiya. Text by Lakpura™. Images by Google, copyright(s) reserved by original authors.】
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