Matara, Sri Lanka

Matara
මාතර மாத்தறை
Matara Foreshore
Matara
Coordinates: 5°57′N 80°32′E / 5.950°N 80.533°E / 5.950; 80.533
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceSouthern
Government
  TypeMunicipal Council
  MayorRanjith Yasarathna
Area
  Urban
13 km2 (5 sq mi)
Elevation
2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (2011)
  City
74,193
  Density5,841/km2 (15,130/sq mi)
DemonymMatarites
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone)
Postal code
81xxx
Area codes041

Matara (Sinhala: මාතර, romanized: Māthara; Tamil: மாத்தறை) is a major city in Sri Lanka, on the southern coast of Southern Province. It is the second largest city in Southern Province. It is 160 km (99 mi) from Colombo. It is a major commercial hub, the administrative capital and largest city of Matara District.

Ethnic composition in Matara DS Division according to 2012 census data is Sinhalese 111,039-95.88%, Muslims 4,296-3.71%, Tamils 326-0.28%, Others 144-0.12%.

Religion in Matara DS Division (2012)
  1. Buddhist (95.3%)
  2. Hindu (0.2%)
  3. Muslim (3.8%)
  4. Roman Catholic (0.4%)
  5. Other Christian (0.3%)
  6. Other (0%)