Puttalam
{{About|the town in Sri Lanka}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name =
| native_name =
| image_skyline = Sri Lanka, Puttalam street scene (5).jpg
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Sri Lanka
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = North Western
| leader_title = Chairman
| leader_name = Vacant since May 2021{{Cite web|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_21A/May23_1621793658CH.php| title = The Chairman of puttalam urban council died following a road accident}}
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 25.6
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_km2 = 119.0
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_km2 = 327
| area_water_sq_mi =
| population_as_of = 2012
| population_total = 45,511 (Urban Council)
| population_metro = 82,443 (Puttalam Division)
| population_density_km2 = 400
| timezone = Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone
| utc_offset = +05:30
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{coord|08|02|03|N|79|50|07|E|region:LK|display=inline,title}}
| website =
| footnotes =
| name = Puttalam
{{lang|si|පුත්තලම}}
{{lang|ta|புத்தளம்}}
| settlement_type = Town
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Puttalam District
| subdivision_type3 = Divisional Secretariat
| subdivision_name3 = Puttalam Division
| translit_lang1 =
| government_type = Puttalam Urban Council
| leader_party =
| population_urban =
| area_urban_km2 =
| population_density_urban_km2 = 1,778
| population_density_metro_km2 = 471.1
| population_footnotes = {{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/srilanka/|title=Sri Lanka: Provinces, Districts, Divisional Secretariats, Cities - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts }}
| area_footnotes =
| government_footnotes =
}}
Puttalam ({{langx|si|පුත්තලම|translit=Puttalama}}; {{langx|ta|புத்தளம்|translit=Puttaḷam}}) is the largest town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Puttalam is the administrative capital of the Puttalam District and governed by an urban council.
Climate
Under the Köppen climate classification, Pattalam has a tropical savanna climate (As) with a short dry season from June to September and a second dry season from January to March. The wet season is mainly from October to December. Temperatures remain steady throughout the year with little variations in between.
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| collapsed = yes
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Puttalam (1991–2020)
| Jan record high C = 34.4
| Feb record high C = 36.4
| Mar record high C = 38.5
| Apr record high C = 38.5
| May record high C = 36.2
| Jun record high C = 35.4
| Jul record high C = 34.9
| Aug record high C = 35.5
| Sep record high C = 35.7
| Oct record high C = 35.5
| Nov record high C = 34.5
| Dec record high C = 33.1
| year record high C =
| Jan high C = 30.7
| Feb high C = 32.3
| Mar high C = 33.5
| Apr high C = 33.2
| May high C = 32.5
| Jun high C = 31.7
| Jul high C = 31.5
| Aug high C = 31.7
| Sep high C = 31.8
| Oct high C = 31.3
| Nov high C = 30.7
| Dec high C = 30.0
| year high C = 31.8
| Jan mean C = 26.2
| Feb mean C = 27.0
| Mar mean C = 28.6
| Apr mean C = 28.9
| May mean C = 29.5
| Jun mean C = 29.2
| Jul mean C = 28.9
| Aug mean C = 28.9
| Sep mean C = 28.9
| Oct mean C = 28.1
| Nov mean C = 27.1
| Dec mean C = 26.4
| year mean C = 28.1
| Jan low C = 21.4
| Feb low C = 21.7
| Mar low C = 23.4
| Apr low C = 24.7
| May low C = 26.5
| Jun low C = 26.7
| Jul low C = 26.3
| Aug low C = 26.2
| Sep low C = 25.9
| Oct low C = 24.7
| Nov low C = 23.5
| Dec low C = 22.6
| year low C = 24.5
| Jan record low C = 15.6
| Feb record low C = 16.2
| Mar record low C = 17.0
| Apr record low C = 20.5
| May record low C = 19.7
| Jun record low C = 22.7
| Jul record low C = 22.0
| Aug record low C = 22.5
| Sep record low C = 21.4
| Oct record low C = 21.3
| Nov record low C = 17.4
| Dec record low C = 15.7
| year record low C =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 50.5
| Feb precipitation mm = 42.1
| Mar precipitation mm = 56.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 154.4
| May precipitation mm = 101.8
| Jun precipitation mm = 32.1
| Jul precipitation mm = 23.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 23.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 69.2
| Oct precipitation mm = 230.6
| Nov precipitation mm = 254.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 143.7
| year precipitation mm = 1182.6
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 5.6
| Feb precipitation days = 4.2
| Mar precipitation days = 4.5
| Apr precipitation days = 9.5
| May precipitation days = 6.5
| Jun precipitation days = 4.2
| Jul precipitation days = 2.1
| Aug precipitation days = 3.4
| Sep precipitation days = 5.8
| Oct precipitation days = 12.8
| Nov precipitation days = 15.3
| Dec precipitation days = 10.8
| year precipitation days = 84.7
| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/SriLanka/CSV/Puttalam_43424.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Puttalam
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 20, 2024}}
}}
Points of interest
Energy
Seguwantivu Wind Power (Private) Limited, an Indian firm, invests US$37 million and maintains 25 wind turbines which produce 20 MWs of electricity in Puttalam Seguwantivu region.[https://www.thewindpower.net/windfarm_en_14263_seguwantivu.php]
Education
= National schools =
- St. Mary's National College
- St. Andrew's Central College
- Ananda National School
- Zahira College,Puttalam
- Kalpitiya Nirmala Matha National College.
- President's Science College
- Fathima Muslim Ladies College{{Cite web |title=புத்தளம் பாத்திமாவின் புதிய அதிபராக கல்லூரியின் பழைய மாணவி பதவியேற்பு – Puttalam Online |url=https://puttalamonline.com/%e0%ae%aa%e0%af%81%e0%ae%a4%e0%af%8d%e0%ae%a4%e0%ae%b3%e0%ae%ae%e0%af%8d-%e0%ae%aa%e0%ae%be%e0%ae%a4%e0%af%8d%e0%ae%a4%e0%ae%bf%e0%ae%ae%e0%ae%be%e0%ae%b5%e0%ae%bf%e0%ae%a9%e0%af%8d-%e0%ae%aa%e0%af%81/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |language=en-US}}
- Science High School Puttalam
= Provincial schools =
- Puttalam Hindu Central College
- Thillayadi Muslim Maha Vidhyalaya
- Zahira Primary School
- Manal Kundru Muslim Maha Vidhiyalaya
- Zainab Muslim Girl's Primary
- Assenkudhoos Government Muslim Vidyalayam
= International schools =
- Phoenix International School
- Puttalam Primary school and child care centre
- KEC
- St. Joseph Vaz College
- Ikra International School
- School of Excellence
- Mercy Education Center
Puttalam also has an open university.
Religion
Puttalam is a multi-cultural and multi-religious town. Islam is the major religion in Puttalam town while Buddhists and Christians are significant minorities; there is also a small Hindu population.http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2012Visualization/htdocs/index.php?usecase=indicator&action=DSMap&indId=10&district=Puttalam&Legend=3# statistics.gov.lk
{{bar box| title = Religion in Puttalam town (2012)| titlebar = #ddd| left1 = Population| right1 = Percent| float = right| bars = {{bar percent|Islam|#009000|86.02}}{{bar percent|Buddhist|#FFFF00|12.27}}{{bar percent|Christian|Blue|7.60}}{{bar percent|Hindu|red|1.27}}{{bar percent|Others|#0080FF|0.01}}}}
= Religious places =
- Mohideen Jumma Mosque
- Buddhist Centre
- Muthu Maariamman Temple
- Mother of Refuge Catholic Church
{{Weather box
| location = Puttalam (1961–1990)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 35.0
| Feb record high C = 37.9
| Mar record high C = 38.5
| Apr record high C = 38.5
| May record high C = 36.2
| Jun record high C = 36.1
| Jul record high C = 36.7
| Aug record high C = 35.5
| Sep record high C = 35.7
| Oct record high C = 35.5
| Nov record high C = 36.1
| Dec record high C = 34.6
| year record high C =
| Jan high C = 30.5
| Feb high C = 32.1
| Mar high C = 33.2
| Apr high C = 33.1
| May high C = 32.3
| Jun high C = 31.5
| Jul high C = 31.4
| Aug high C = 31.5
| Sep high C = 31.7
| Oct high C = 31.1
| Nov high C = 30.5
| Dec high C = 29.9
| year high C = 31.6
| Jan mean C = 25.8
| Feb mean C = 26.8
| Mar mean C = 28.1
| Apr mean C = 28.8
| May mean C = 29.0
| Jun mean C = 28.8
| Jul mean C = 28.5
| Aug mean C = 28.5
| Sep mean C = 28.5
| Oct mean C = 27.6
| Nov mean C = 26.7
| Dec mean C = 26.0
| year mean C = 27.8
| Jan low C = 21.0
| Feb low C = 21.4
| Mar low C = 23.1
| Apr low C = 24.5
| May low C = 25.8
| Jun low C = 26.2
| Jul low C = 25.6
| Aug low C = 25.5
| Sep low C = 25.3
| Oct low C = 24.1
| Nov low C = 22.9
| Dec low C = 22.1
| year low C = 24.0
| Jan record low C = 15.2
| Feb record low C = 13.5
| Mar record low C = 14.9
| Apr record low C = 19.9
| May record low C = 19.7
| Jun record low C = 20.4
| Jul record low C = 21.0
| Aug record low C = 20.2
| Sep record low C = 20.4
| Oct record low C = 19.4
| Nov record low C = 16.7
| Dec record low C = 16.7
| year record low C =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 55
| Feb precipitation mm = 40
| Mar precipitation mm = 66
| Apr precipitation mm = 176
| May precipitation mm = 95
| Jun precipitation mm = 42
| Jul precipitation mm = 16
| Aug precipitation mm = 16
| Sep precipitation mm = 64
| Oct precipitation mm = 238
| Nov precipitation mm = 249
| Dec precipitation mm = 138
| year precipitation mm = 1195
| time day = Daytime
| Jan humidity = 70
| Feb humidity = 66
| Mar humidity = 67
| Apr humidity = 71
| May humidity = 74
| Jun humidity = 73
| Jul humidity = 73
| Aug humidity = 73
| Sep humidity = 72
| Oct humidity = 75
| Nov humidity = 76
| Dec humidity = 75
| year humidity = 72
| source 1 = NOAA {{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/S3/43424.TXT
| title = Puttalam Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = November 18, 2016}}
| source 2 = Department of Meteorology (records up to 2007)
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091229081618/http://www.meteo.gov.lk/Up_Date/weather/Extreme%20Values.pdf
| archive-date = December 29, 2009
| url = http://www.meteo.gov.lk/Up_Date/weather/Extreme%20Values.pdf
| title = Ever Recorded Daily Extreme Values
| publisher = Department of Meteorology
| access-date = December 8, 2016}}
{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/station-1919-2007-2021.php
| title = Puttalam records from 2007 to 2021
| publisher = Meteo Climat
|language = fr
| access-date = 25 August 2021}}
| source =
| width =
| collapsed = Y
}}
Notable people
- Sahan Adeesha - cricketer born in Puttalam
- Hector Appuhamy - politician, Member of Parliament
- Tariq Hisny - composer, born in Puttalam
- H. S. Ismail - 5th Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
- Abdul Baiz Kamardeen - politician, former Chairman of Puttalam Urban Council
- M. H. M. Naina Marikar - first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka as member for Puttalam
- M. H. M. Navavi - politician, former Member of Parliament
- Ali Sabri Raheem - politician, Member of Parliament
References
{{Reflist}}