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Hanwella

Hanwella, Western

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Colombo DistrictDistrict
HanwellaCity
About 30 km from Colombo, on the Colombo-Ratnapura main roadApprox. location
Padukka, Pugoda, KosgamaNearby major areas

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About the neighbourhood

  • On the Colombo-Ratnapura main road, about 30 km from Colombo
  • Site of Hanwella Fort, built by Sitawaka, rebuilt by the Portuguese (1597) and the Dutch (1684)
  • Fort ruins, moat and a rest house stand on the old river-crossing site
  • Set among rubber plantations, hills and waterfalls, with the Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs nearby
  • Padukka, Pugoda, Kosgama and Nawagamuwa each about 8 km away

Hanwella is a Kelani River town on the Colombo-Ratnapura main road, set among rubber plantations, green hills and paddy fields. The name is traditionally read as meaning skin sands, after an old ferry crossing on the river. It was once part of the Sitawaka kingdom and later a strategic point for the Portuguese, Dutch and British, whose fort stood by the water. Today the fort survives as ruins beside a…

Hanwella is a Kelani River town on the Colombo-Ratnapura main road, set among rubber plantations, green hills and paddy fields. The name is traditionally read as meaning skin sands, after an old ferry crossing on the river. It was once part of the Sitawaka kingdom and later a strategic point for the Portuguese, Dutch and British, whose fort stood by the water. Today the fort survives as ruins beside a rest house, and the Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs lie in the surrounding countryside.

Header photo: Nisal Senanayaka, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Known Landmarks

Kalatuwawa reservoir and its forested shore; Kalatuwawa is one of the two reservoirs in the countryside around Hanwella
Kalatuwawa reservoir and its forested shore; Kalatuwawa is one of the two reservoirs in the countryside around HanwellaPhoto: Nisal Senanayaka, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Frequently Asked Questions

What new homes are available in Hanwella?

No new projects are listed in Hanwella on LankaNewHomes yet. Browse the nearby areas below, or check back as new developments are added.

What is Hanwella known for?

Hanwella is known for its historic fort beside the Kelani River, which guarded an old ferry crossing. The Portuguese rebuilt it in 1597 and the Dutch completed a star-shaped laterite fort in 1684; ruins and a moat remain today. The town also sits in a green landscape of rubber plantations, hills and waterfalls.

Is Hanwella close to Colombo?

Hanwella is roughly 30 km from Colombo on the Colombo-Ratnapura main road, which was historically the main access route towards Kandy and the interior. The sources consulted give no rail or expressway details for the town.

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