# Panadura

Panadura (Sinhala: පානදුර, romanized: Pānadura; Tamil: பாணந்துறை, romanized: Pāṇantuṟai) is a main city in Kalutara District, Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 25 km (16 mi) south of Colombo. Panadura was an electoral district in Sri Lanka until 1989 and is surrounded all sides by water through the Indian Ocean and the Bolgoda Lake.Panadura is famed as the location of important events in the Buddhist revival movement of Sri Lanka and Panadura Beach is an attractive destination for locals and foreign tourists.

## Panadura debate

The Panadura Debate, held in 1873, was the climax of the first phase of the Buddhist revivalist movement which began with the establishment of the Society for the Propagation of Buddhism at Kotahena and the establishment of the Lankopakara Press in Galle. The two key persons in the Panadura Debate were Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera and Father David de Silva, and the two key institutions were the Rankoth Viharaya and the Methodist Church of Panadura. It was the success of the Panadura Debate that prompted Colonel Henry Steel Olcott to come to Ceylon.

## Demographics

Panadura is predominantly a Sinhalese city.Buddhism is the largest religion in this city and Others include Sri Lanka Moors, Burgher and Sri Lankan Tamils.

### Ethnicity in Panadura

Ethnicity in Panadura (2012) :
| Population | Population | Percent | Percent |
| Sinhalese | Sinhalese | 71.03% | 71.03% |
| Muslims | Muslims | 28.70% | 28.70% |
| Sri Lankan Tamils | Sri Lankan Tamils | 1.50% | 1.50% |
| Indian Tamils | Indian Tamils | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Others | Others | 0.30% | 0.30% |
Source:statistics.gov.lk.

## Transport
### Road

Pandura is located at the junction of the A2 (Galle Road) and the A8 (Panadura-Ratnapura Road).

### Rail

Panadura railway station is located to the west of the town, and is located on the Coastal line.

### Bus

Due to Panadura being situated along Galle Road, it is serviced by many bus routes terminating at Panadura as well as ones heading further south.

## Health care facilities

"Panadura Kethumathi Hospital" is the fourth largest hospital in the country, dedicated for Obstetrics and Gynecology. It is situated at the centre of Panadura, 10 m (33 ft) from the A2 road. This hospital is a comprehensive with neonatal ICU and has a 300 bed capacity. A grade-1 Base hospital situated near the Panadura police station facing A2 road. Apart from this there are wide range of health care facilities run by the Government. There is an Ayurvedic Treatment Centre in Pallimulla, Panadura.

## Public and private schools

* Sri Sumangala College Panadura
* Sri Sumangala Balika Maha Vidyalaya
* Royal College Panadura
* Agamathi Balika Vidyalaya Panadura
* St. John's College Panadura
* Lyceum International School Panadura
* Leeds International School Panadura
* Walana Mahanama Maha Vidyalaya
* St. John's Girls' School Panadura
* Bauddhaloka Maha Vidyalaya Panadura
* Good Shepherd Convent Pandura
* Panadura Balika Vidyalaya Panadura
* Nalluruwa Siri Seevali Maha Vidyalaya
* St Anthony’s Boys School
* St Anthony’s Girls School
* Pinwatta Maha Vidyalaya
* Jeelan Central College (National School)
* Jeramies Dias Kanishta Vidyalaya
* Kuruppumulla Sri Prakrama Vidyalaya
* Dibbedda Gunawardena Kanishta Vidyalaya
* Upadya Kanishta Vidyalaya
* Bekkegama Kanishta Vidyalaya
* Methodis’t Primary School
* Malamulla Maha Vidyalaya
* Thotawatta Al Fahriya central Muslim madya maha vidyalaya
* Ikra international College
* House Of Scholars
* Ambalanduwa Ilma Muslim Vidyalaya

## Architecture

One of the oldest and most representative buildings in Panadura is the Post Office in Galle Road. The Domingo Dias Memorial Town Hall dating from 1927 is used for concerts and exhibitions.

## Notable individuals

* Celestina Dias – entrepreneur and philanthropist
* Professor Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera – Sri Lankan academic, scholar and diplomat
* Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa – music director, composer
* Arthur V. Dias - a planter by profession, he is known as "Kos Mama"
* Dr. Nalin de Silva – theoretical physicist, philosopher and political analyst
* Professor Ravindra Fernando – forensic pathologist, toxicologist, physician, writer and academic
* Leslie Goonewardene (MP) – one of the founders of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
* Wilmot A. Perera – statesman and diplomat
* Prasanna Vithanage – film director
* Ravindra Pushpakumara – international cricketer
* Charitha Buddhika – international cricketer
* Chamara Silva – international cricketer
* Don Anurasiri – international cricketer
* Dilruwan Perera – international cricketer
* Akila Dananjaya – internationalcCricketer
* Mohomed Dilshad – first-class cricketer
* Anil Bharathi – singer