Ratnapura

Province

Ratnapura ( Sinhala: "city of jewels" ) is the capital of the Province of Sabaragamuwa in Sri Lanka. It lies between the southern plains and the mountains in the east on the banks of the river Kalu. From here, one of the pilgrimage routes to Sri Pada. In the area of Sinharaja Forest, the last remaining rainforest on the island. Ratnapura is the main center for gems in Sri Lanka. There are degraded mainly rubies, sapphires and cat's eyes ( a variance of chrysoberyl ). In the area of Ratnapura rice, fruits and tea are cultivated.

Near the town is the Udawalawe National Park.

In 1901 a population of 4,084, in 1981 by 37 497 and 2001 was reported by 46 309 inhabitants.

Climate

In Ratnapura, there is a tropical rainforest climate with high temperatures and high humidity. There are year-round abundant rainfall (always above 100 mm, which is as much as the rainiest month in Germany ), the precipitation maxima in May and October. The temperature throughout the year at about 31 ° C-35 ° C during the day and 22 ° C-25 ° C at night. However, due to the high humidity (almost always over 80%) is the wind chill temperature much higher.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Vimukthi Jayasundara, film director and screenwriter