Matale is a town in the hill country of Sri Lanka. The Knuckles Mountain Range is a special landmark of Matale. Matale is 142 kilometres (90 miles) from Colombo and 26 kilometres (17 miles) from Kandy.  The Matale administrative district also contains the historic Sigiriya rock , Aluwihara rock cave temple and Dambulla Cave Temple. Surrounding the town are the Knuckles foothills called Wiltshire. It is a mainly agricultural area, where tea, rubber, vegetable and spice cultivation dominate.

 Special Places in Matale

  • Sigiriya Rock
  • Dambulla Cave Temple
  • Aluwihara rock cave temple

It is an area steeped in history and village living. The Aluvihara Temple, on the North side of the town, is the historic location where the Pali Canon was first written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves. Situated near Aluvihara are numerous monastery caves, some of which exhibit fine frescoes.

History of Matale

Matale was a site of a major battle in 1948 when the Matale Rebellion started and the British garrison in the Fort Macdowall in Matale was placed under siege by the rebels.Christ Church, Matale was consecrated by Bishop James Chapman on 30 December 1860. The Church site chosen was Fort McDowall, commanding a view of the entrance to Matale via Trincomalee. The Church having been erected and furnished, the Revd William Frederick Kelly, Minister and Chaplain in Matale, and 36 others sent their petition to the Rt Revd James Chapman, D.D., to dedicate and consecrate Christ Church. The Parsonage was opened on 16 August 1862. The 75th Anniversary was celebrated in 1935. The centenary was celebrated on 28 and 29 January 1961. The 125th Anniversary was celebrated on 6 September 1986. Lands for sale in Matale, The church was gutted by fire in 1985 and was completely restored. Services were held in the Baptist Church in the interim period.

Matale is a name given by the "Hela" people ; "Hela" is how the Sinhalese were known in ancient times. In Pali, Matale has been referred to as "Maathula" and means " Uncle". In the Hela language, it means a large group of people, a very large plain and a large fountain. The history of Matale could be traced back to King Pandukabhaya. We find the word "Maatuka" in one of the cave inscriptions written in the Brahmi script. That is the oldest word used for Matale.

Historians are of the view that Matale was a settlement established by "Shiva" , a minister and an uncle of King Pandukabhaya . It was established at the same time other settlements like Upatissa, Uruwela , Anuradha etc were established in Sri Lanka.
 
Matale News
» Matale-Colombo express bus service re-launched
The Lake house sponsored Matale-Colombo express bus service was re-launched yesterday morning. The inaugural bus departed for Colombo from Matale around 11.30 am yesterday amidst pirith chanting by the Maha Sangha.
» Dinamina Colombo-Matale Express bus service
The Dinamina Express bus service will be inaugurated by Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Dissanayake at a ceremony to be held today at 9.30 a.m. at the Matale Bus Stand.
» HANGARAPITIYA - WIJERATHNA BANDARA
retired Chief Clerk served at Gampola, Nuwara Eliya, Hatton, Kegalle, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Matale and Dambulla A.S.P. Offices expired. Burial at on Thursday, the 2nd of September at 2.00 p.m. Beloved wife Mrs. Miyuriyal Kothalawala Hangarapitiya, daughter, sons and relatives.
» Special investigation launched in Central Province
Officers attached to the Central Province Senior DIGs office have launched a special investigation to nab an organized gang responsible for robbing cash, jewellery and mobile phones from commuters in long distance buses after enticing them with soft drinks and toffees laced with drugs and preying on them once they get into a hallucination.
» Police look on as gang abducts arrestees and vehicles
Seventeen suspects arrested by Police with nine tractors for mining sand illegally in the Mahaweli river at Wigamuwa, Dunawilapitiya were later abducted by an organized gang from the same place.
» Juju and premier linked to waste deal
Businessmen linked to Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale and Julius Malema have emerged as beneficiaries of the medical waste management industry.
» Matale's cashew cultivation bears fruit
The Cashew cultivation program launched by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation has achieved good progress in Matale district within the last few years. According to the officials, about 10,000 acres have been used to cultivate Cashew while bare land can also be used for Cashew cultivation.
» United Way breakfast to award volunteer, kick off campaign - From the Poughkeepsie Journal
A breakfast celebration of community giving will honor a longtime volunteer and kick off a fundraising campaign.
» Ganja dealer in tourist guide’s guise arrested
A ganja dealer posing as a tourist guide in the Moragahamula area of the Sigiriya archaeological site was arrested by Sigiriya Police. Police found 900 grams of ganja in his possession.
» Poor packing destroys 30 percent vegetables
Over 30 percent of vegetables transported to the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre get destroyed daily due to the poor packing system, sources said. Nearly 5,000 metric tons of vegetable are transported here daily. It exceeds 65 percent of the country’s entire vegetable harvest.