Matara
Matara, located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, is the second largest city in the Southern Province and serves as a major commercial hub and administrative capital. Its name is thought to come from the mispronunciation of the word 'Matora' by the Portuguese who called it 'Mature' or Maturai in 1672. The city has a rich history and was ruled by the Portuguese and the Dutch in the 16th and 18th centuries, respectively. The Dutch and English culture and architecture can still be seen throughout the area, including the Matara fort and the Star fort, which were built by the Dutch.
Matara historically belonged to the area that was called the Kingdom of Ruhuna, one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka. The town's temple is built by ancient kings and is a popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area. The city is now predominantly Sinhalese, but during the 16th and 17th centuries, traders from Arabia arrived in the area and their descendants now coexist peacefully with the Sinhales...
Matara historically belonged to the area that was called the Kingdom of Ruhuna, one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka. The town's temple is built by ancient kings and is a popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area. The city is now predominantly Sinhalese, but during the 16th and 17th centuries, traders from Arabia arrived in the area and their descendants now coexist peacefully with the Sinhales...
