Dharga Town

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
Sheik Hasan Bin Osman Magdoomy (Rah) Dharga Mosque
Dharga Town is located in Sri Lanka
Dharga Town
Dharga Town
Location in Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 6°26′45″N 80°00′09″E
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceWestern Province
DistrictKalutara District
Population
 (2012)
 • Total20,540
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (SLST)
Postal code
12090
Area code034

Etymology

The name Dharga Town was derived after the Dharga of Sheik Hassan Bin Osman Magodoomy (Rali)'s shrine, which traces its origin to around 1866 AD, when he was enshrined in his home town.[2] The town was named Dharga Town by the Muslims in the 1940s.[3]

History

While the first Sri Lankan Muslim settlement was considered Beruwala also known as Berbereen which was founded by Abu Yusuf al-Barbari, a Berber Traveler, the Second Muslim settlement was in the town called Dharga town which was then called as Alutgamaweedia.[3]

2014 Aluthgama and Dharga Town riots
Main article: 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka

In June of 2014, after a Buddhist monk and his driver was allegedly attacked by a Muslim, the leader of the Bodu Bala Sena, a radical Sri Lankan Buddhist group, is reported to have reportedly made "inciteful remarks" during a speech to a crowd who proceeded to stone a mosque.[4][5] Many mosques, homes, and businesses were damaged, with four fatalities and eighty injuries reported in a two day spate of violence.[6] Police were able to regain control after imposing a curfew.[4]

Demographics

Dharga Town is a Muslim majority town.[7] Sinhalese are sizable minority. There is also small numbers of Tamils.

Education

Dharga Town has three Government Muslim Schools such as Zahira College Dharga Town (One of the oldest schools in Dharga Town),[8] Al Hambra Maha Vidyalaya and Aluthgamveediya Muslims Ladies National School along with other Government Preliminary Schools and Private Schools. One of the Teacher-training College of the Government is also situated in Dharga Town named, Dharga Nagar National College of Education.[9]

Government Schools

Private Schools
  • Alif International School
  • Bambridge International School

Arabic College
  • Ilharul Islam Arabic College

Orphanage
  • Isha Athul Islam Child Development Centre[15]

Government Teachers-training College
  • Dharga Nagar National College of Education[9]

Population

The majority of the population are Sri Lankan Muslims, while Sinhalese and Tamils make up the rest of 20540 (including Seenawatha 765-A and Welipitiya 768-A)[16]

Infrastructure

Railway

The Aluthgama Railway Station is located on the Coastal Line, connecting Colombo to Matara and Beliatta.

Road

Dharga Town is served by the B157 Aluthgama – Mathugama road in Sri Lanka.

Bus

Dharga Town has an extensive public transport system based on buses operated both by private operators and the government-owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) along the B157 Aluthgama – Mathugama road and the closest main bus stand is Aluthgama Bus Stand situated in the A2 highway.[17]

References
  1. "Mycities.co – Dharga Town (Sri Lanka – Western) – Visit the city, map and weather". mycities.co. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  2. "Online edition of Daily News - Features". archives.dailynews.lk.
  3. "Brihist".
  4. "Media Blackout On Aluthgama Situation: Police To Cover Mosques Island-Wide". Columbo Telegraph. 15 June 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  5. Campbell, Charlie (8 August 2014). "How an Extremist Buddhist Network Is Sowing Hatred Across Asia". Time. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  6. Colombage, Dinouk (18 June 2014). "In Pictures: Sri Lanka hit by religious riots". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  7. Handunnetti, Dilrukshi (15 June 2016). "Sri Lanka: Muslims remember Buddhist hardliner attacks". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  8. "Aluthgama Zahira College has great potential". 16 June 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023 – via PressReader.
  9. Trainee Teacher Program at Dharga Nagar National College of Education (Vidya Peeta) – Sati Pasala
  10. "DSIS".
  11. "DSIS".
  12. "DSIS".
  13. "DSIS".
  14. "DSIS".
  15. Child Development Centers – Probation Department WP
  16. DS Web Manager. "Beruwala Divisional Secretariat – Statistical Information – Page 2". ds.gov.lk. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  17. "Aluthgama Bus Stand - Bus station in Aluthgama".
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