Provinces
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon until 1972) is located in the Indian Ocean between the Laccadive Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east, separated by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar from Tamil Nadu, an Indian state on the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent.
Provinces
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon until 1972) is located in the Indian Ocean between the Laccadive Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east, separated by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar from Tamil Nadu, an Indian state on the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent.
Provinces
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon until 1972) is located in the Indian Ocean between the Laccadive Sea in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the east, separated by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar from Tamil Nadu, an Indian state on the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent.
州
スリランカでは、州が第一級の行政区分として位置づけられており、国家の統治構造において重要な役割を果たしています。これらの州は、セイロンの植民地時代である1833年に、イギリス統治下で最初に設立されました。しかし、その後の約1世紀にわたり、行政権限の大部分は徐々に地区へと移され、地区が第二級の行政区分となりました。20世紀半ばまでに、州は行政上の重要性をほぼ失い、儀礼的な存在にとどまるようになりました。
この状況は、分権化を求める声の高まりを受けて、1978年憲法の第13次改正が制定された1987年に大きく変化しました。この改正により、州議会が設置され、州は国家の政治体制における重要な構成要素として再確立されました。これらの州議会は、民族的緊張を緩和し、特に北部州や東部州などの地域において、より大きな地方自治を与えることを目的として、インド・スリランカ協定の一環として導入されました。その結果、現在では各州が独自の議会を持ち、教育、保健、インフラなどの主要分野に関する権限を有しています。
現在、スリランカは、西部州、中部州、南部州、東部州、北部州、北西部州、北中部州、サバラガムワ州、ウバ州の9つの州に分かれています。商業首都コロンボを含む都市化の進んだ西部州から、北中部州やウバ州の農村部および農業地帯に至るまで、各州はそれぞれ独自の形で国の経済と文化に貢献しています。これらの州は、スリランカの地理的多様性を反映するだけでなく、地方分権型統治の枠組みとして機能し、国の統一を維持しながら地域開発を促進しています。
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Western ProvinceThe most densely populated province of Sri Lanka, the Western Province which is 3,593 km2 in extent is home to the country’s legislative capital Sri Jayewardenepura. It is also home to the country’s commercial hub, Colombo.
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Central ProvinceThe Central Province is located in the central hills of Sri Lanka comprising of three administrative districts: Kandy, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya. The land area of the province is 5,575 km2 which is 8.6% of the total land area of Sri Lanka.
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Southern ProvinceThe Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of three districts: Galle, Matara and Hambantota. Farming and fishing are the main sources of income for the vast majority of the people in this region.
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Uva ProvinceThe Uva Province consists of two districts: Badulla and Moneragala while the capital of the province is Badulla. Uva is bordered by the Eastern, Southern and Central provinces.
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Sabaragamuwa ProvinceSabaragamuwa is yet another province of Sri Lanka, located in the south-central region of the island and is comprised of two administrative districts: Ratnapura and Kegalle.
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North Western ProvinceNorth Western Province is comprised of two administrative districts viz. Kurunegala and Puttalam. The provincial capital is Kurunegala that has a population of 28,571. The province is well known for its coconut plantations.
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North Central ProvinceThe largest province of Sri Lanka, located in the dry zone being 10,714 km2 in extent, the North Central Province that consists of two administrative districts viz. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa,
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Northern ProvinceThe Northern Province is located in the north of Sri Lanka just 35 km from India. It has a land area of 8,884 km’. The province is surrounded by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay to the west, Palk Strait to the north west, the Bay of Bengal to the north and east and the Eastern, North Central and North Western provinces to the south.
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Eastern ProvinceAnother province of Sri Lanka mostly known for its golden beaches and the natural harbour, the Eastern Province which is 9,996 km2 in extent consists of three administrative districts namely Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.