# North Central Province, Sri Lanka

North Central Province (Sinhala: උතුරු මැද පළාත Uturumæda Paḷāta, Tamil: வட மத்திய மாகாணம் Vada Mattiya Mākāṇam) is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka. The province has an area of 10,472 km$^2$, making it the largest province by area, and a population of 1,266,663, making it the 3rd least populated province. The city of Anuradhapura is the capital of the province.

## History

The North Central province is home to the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, both of which were historical capitals of Sri Lanka during ancient times. The two cities were the capitals of the Anuradhapura kingdom (437 BCE–1017 CE) and the Polonnaruwa kingdom (1070–1232) respectively.
The provinces of Sri Lanka were established by the British in 1833. In independent Sri Lanka, provinces did not have any legal status or power until 1987, when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils.
The centralised system of Sri Lanka, which is a unitary state, failed to satisfy the aspirations of the people. There was growing insistence on decentralisation of administrative processes to achieve rapid economic and social development of the country.
The North Central Provincial Council is the main administrative and control body in the North Central Province.

## Geography

The province has an area of 10,472 km$^2$ and a population of 1,266,663. It is the largest province by area, covering 16% of the total land area of Sri Lanka. The province consists two districts, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura; the Anuradhapura district is the largest district in Sri Lanka by area.
The province has a semi-arid climate and most forests situated in the province are Sri Lankan dry-zone dry evergreen forests.
The province is also referred to as Wew Bendi Rajje due to the sheer amount of medium and large scale tanks situated in the province, with more than 3000. More than 65% of the province’s population depend on basic agriculture and agricultural based industries.
The North Central province has innumerable potential for investors to start their businesses, specially agriculture, agricultural based industries and livestock sectors.

## Demographics
### Ethnicity

Ethnic groups in North Central province (2012 census)
| Ethnic group | Population | % |
| Sinhalese | 1,151,005 | 90.87% |
| Sri Lankan Moors | 100,869 | 7.96% |
| Tamils$^1$ | 12,667 | 1.0% |
| Others | 2,122 | 0.17% |
| Total | 1,266,663 | 100.00% |
$^1$ Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.

### Religion

Religion in North Central province (2012 census)
Religion in North Central Province (2012 Census) :
| Religion | Census 2012 | Census 2012 |
| Religion | Population | % |
| Buddhism | 1,139,595 | 89.97% |
| Islam | 101,958 | 8.05% |
| Christianity | 14,875 | 1.17% |
| Hinduism | 10,117 | 0.80% |
| Others/None | 118 | 0.009% |
| Total | 1,266,663 | 100% |

### Employment

Percentages of employed population (aged 15 years and above) by sector of employment and sex :
| Employed Population | Total | Percentage Male | Percentage Female |
| Government employee | 100,045 | 76.1 | 23.9 |
| Semi government employee | 9,737 | 69.4 | 30.6 |
| Private sector employee | 84,916 | 72.7 | 27.3 |
| Employer | 7,176 | 83.9 | 16.1 |
| Own account worker | 231,848 | 80.4 | 19.6 |
| Unpaid family worker | 50,975 | 28.9 | 71.1 |
| Total | 484,697 | 72.6 | 27.4 |

## Administrative divisions

The North Central Province is divided into two districts and 29 divisional secretariats.

### Major population centres

* Aralaganwila
* Bakamuna
* Eppawala
* Giritale
* Habarana
* Hingurakgoda
* Horowpothana
* Kahatagasdigiliya
* Kebithigollewa
* Kekirawa
* Mahailuppallama
* Manampitiya
* Maradankadawala
* Medawachchiya
* Mihintale
* Minneriya
* Nochchiyagama
* Padaviya
* Polonnaruwa-Kaduruwela
* Rambewa
* Thalawa
* Thambuttegama
* Welikanda

## Education
### Anuradhapura

* Anuradhapura Central College
* Niwaththaka Chethiya National School. Anuradhapura
* Anuradhapura Technical College
* Buddhsravaka Bhiksu University
* K. B. Rathnayake MW
* Open University of Sri Lanka
* Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
* Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education
* St. Joseph's College
* Teachers Training School
* University College of Anuradhapura (University of Vocational Technology)

### Polonnaruwa

* Polonnaruwa Royal Central College
* Pulathisipura National College of Education
* Technical College-Polonnaruwa