Dharga Town

Dharga Town (Sinhala:දර්ගා නගරය Tamil: தர்கா நகரம் ) is a town located in Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka.[1] Governed by the Beruwala Urban council under the Government of Sri Lanka. Dharga Town is close to Aluthgama and the tourist town Bentota.

Dharga Town
දර්ගා නගරය
தர்கா நகரம்
Sheik Hassan Bin Osman Magdoomy (Rali) Dharga Mosque
Sheik Hassan Bin Osman Magdoomy (Rali) 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]

Demographics

Dharga Town is a Muslim majority town. 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),[4] 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.[5]

Government Schools

Private Schools
  • Alif International School
  • Bambridge International School

Arabic College
  • Ilharul Islam Arabic College

Orphanage
  • Isha Athul Islam Child Development Centre[11]

Government Teachers-training College
  • Dharga Nagar National College of Education [12]

Population

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)[13]

Buddhist temples
  1. Kurundhuwaththa Buddhist Temple
  2. Pathirajagoda Temple

Masjids
  1. Sheik Hassan Bin Osman Magdoomy (Rali) Dharga Mosque [2]
  2. Mohideen Jumma Masjid (Also known as the Grand Mosque, Periya Palli)
  3. Meera Masjid (Also known as the Theruwu Palli)[14]
  4. Darul Huda (Thowheed Masjid)
  5. Mihiripenna Jummah Masjid
  6. Welipitiya Jummah Masjid
  7. Masjid al Noor (Marikkar Street)
  8. Masjid al Rahman Jummah Masjid (Marikkar Street)
  9. Siyad Marikkar Masjid (Mihiripenna road)
  10. Masjid al Muslimeen
  11. Sheikh Madar Masjid
  12. Adhikaragoda Masjid
  13. Mokaladi Masjid
  14. Haji lane masjid

Sports

Soccer and cricket clubs
  • Young Men's Sports Club (YMSC) (Estd. 1969)[15]
  • Zaviya Sports Club (Founded 1973)[15]
  • Red Star FC
  • Dharga Youth Sports Club
  • Red Caps Cricket Club
  • Golden Rise Sports Club
  • Pentagon Cricket Club
  • Liverpool Sports Club
  • Sorbus Cricket Club (1st ranked)
  • Royal Kings Cricket Club
  • Red Alert Cricket Sport Club (2nd ranked)
  • Dharga Town United SC (1989)
  • Victorians Cricket Club

Public ground
  • Bakeer Markar Stadium

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.[16]

Auto rickshaws

Auto rickshaws also known as Three wheelers are entirely operated by individuals and hardly regulated whilst some are metered.

Private Taxi

There are many private taxi's operated by individuals which includes Van's and Car's mostly parked in the Taxi stands in the town.

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
  3. "Brihist".
  4. https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20130616/283618167690404
  5. Trainee Teacher Program at Dharga Nagar National College of Education (Vidya Peeta) – Sati Pasala
  6. "DSIS".
  7. "DSIS".
  8. "DSIS".
  9. "DSIS".
  10. "DSIS".
  11. Child Development Centers – Probation Department WP
  12. Trainee Teacher Program at Dharga Nagar National College of Education (Vidya Peeta) – Sati Pasala
  13. DS Web Manager. "Beruwala Divisional Secretariat – Statistical Information – Page 2". ds.gov.lk. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  14. "Meera Jumma Masjid in Dharga Town, Western Province – salatomatic.com: your guide to mosques & Islamic schools". salatomatic.com. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  15. "YMSC Veterans win Kalutara sports". sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  16. "Aluthgama Bus Stand - Bus station in Aluthgama".
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