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Hambantota
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Hambantota, the main city of
Hambantota District is located near the 148th mile (238-km) post along the
Colombo-Galle-Matara-Tissamaharama highway.
Legend has it the archaic name of Hambantota appears to have been Sampanthurai.
This word Sampan is said to have been derived from the Malay word meaning
navigators, as the Malays, in the olden days were sea-farers who had come in
their sailing vessels for barter trade. The word 'Thurai' means a port - a Tamil
derivation. Another version, In the legends, ‘Hamban’ is popularly known as an
ethnic group called ‘Malay’ or ‘Muslims’ and ‘thota’ means where those groups
were landed. During British rule, Hambantota became an important district. The
colonial rulers had left their indelible marks on Hambantota.
In the past, Hambantota was a
sleepy old sea-side village reminiscent of those grand old days of Leonard
Woolf, who was the Assistant Government Agent-Hambantota (1908-11). He was a
literary scholar being the author of the fascinating novel – ‘The Village in the
Jungle', that gives a vivid description of old Hambantota district which was
plagued then with Malaria, poverty, and how British used the jungles of
Hambantota as their famous hunting grounds. His printed diaries (1908-11), are
filled with authentic records of the life and times of the hardships of those
starving but grief stricken chena (slash and burn agriculture) cultivators.
Hambantota also from time
immemorial has been a thriving fishing centre. Today, Hambantota is an
enchanting seaside resort where there is a network of tourist hotels, Inns,
restaurants lined along the seashore and it’s interior. Also, the district has
many salterns, national parks, bird sanctuaries, historical, cultural, and
archaeological sites.
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