Colombo District - Ratmalana
Ratmalana is situated along the coast between Mount Lavinia ( Galkissa in Sinhala) and Moratuwa on the Galle Road . Ratmalana was the main airport of the country for a long time up to 1960s until Katunayaka International Airport was built. Since Ratmalana is a thickly populated area with a large number of houses around the air port, it was not possible expand the airport when the jet engines were introduced for air crafts. Therefore Katunayake International Airport (about 22 miles from Colombo) was built and thereafter Ratmalana became the Colombo?s Domestic Airport. Ratmalana also became very famous for Kandawla Walawwa ( Walawwa is a residence of a noblemen or an aristocrat of the Sinhala community) of Kotelawala Family. Out of the Kotelawalas, John Kotelawala, an Inspector of Police during the Colonial Times is remembered for his bravery as well as patriotism His son Sir John Kotelawala was a well known politician from 1940s who later became a Minister, a Leader of the House and ultimately Prime Minister of Sri Lanka ( then Ceylon ) in 1954. He was a colonel in the army He was a bachelor and donated his Residence and the Estate to establish a Defense Academy. Accordingly Sri Lanka's Defense Academy is located at Kandawala. Ratmalana is an industrial town . A large number of garment factories and others like Maliban Biscuit Factory, Singer Company Head Quarters, Uswatte Confecttioneries Factory Sidhdhalepa Factory are located at Ratmalana. The notable Government establishments at Ratmalana are National Water Supply and Drainage Board, State Development and Construction Corporation and , Railway Workshop. Sri Lanka?s premier School for the Deaf and Blind is also at Ratmalana. Ratmalana is connected by road to Moratuwa?Panadura and Dehiwala /Wellawatte on the Galle Road and by separate roads to Maharagama and Nugegoda. And Piliyandala. Ratmalana can be reached by railway along the Coastal Railway. Ratmalana has a Railway Station
