Central Province, Sri Lanka
Central Province
මධ්යම පළාත மத்திய மாகாணம் | |
|---|---|
Kandy (capital city of the province) | |
Location within Sri Lanka | |
| Coordinates: 7°20′N 80°45′E / 7.333°N 80.750°E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Created | 1833 |
| Admitted | 14 November 1987 |
| Capital | Kandy |
| Largest city | Kandy |
| Major cities | List |
| Districts | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Provincial Council |
| • Body | Central Provincial Council |
| • Governor | Sarath Abeykoon |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,674 km2 (2,191 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 6th (8.63% of total area) |
| Population (2011 census) | |
• Total | 2,558,716 |
| • Rank | 2nd (12.97% of total pop.) |
| • Density | 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
| Gross Regional Product (2021) | |
| • Total | Rs. 1787 billion |
| • Rank | 3rd (10.1% of total) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka) |
| ISO 3166 code | LK-2 |
| Vehicle registration | CP |
| Official languages | Sinhalese Tamil |
| Flower | Rhododendron arboreum |
| Website | www |
The Central Province (Sinhala: මධ්යම පළාත Madhyama Paḷāta, Tamil: மத்திய மாகாணம் Maddiya Mākāṇam) is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka. The province has an area of 5,674 km2 and a population of 2,421,148, making it the 2nd most populated province. The city of Kandy has been its capital since 1469.
The Central Province is located primarily in the central mountainous terrain of Sri Lanka. It is bordered by the North Central Province to the north, the Uva Province to the east, the North Western Province to the west and the Sabaragamuwa Province to the south and west.
The province is famous for its production of Ceylon tea, the cultivation of which was initiated by the British in the 1860s after a devastating disease killed all coffee plantations in the province. The province attracts many tourists, with hill station towns such as Gampola, Hatton and Nuwara Eliya. The province is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.