small towns - common settlement pattern of Sri Lanka
Haputale in the Uva Hills
The majority of Sri Lankans live in small towns, most of which would be considered as villages in other countries, because it's pretty normal that only several hundred families dwell in a Sri Lankan town. Almost 75% of the population of Sri Lanka settle in so-called Pradeshiya Sabhas (Divisional Secretariats), which consist of groups of small towns and villages in rural areas, whereas only only 12,5% live in municipalities, which are 24 major cities, 10 of which have less than 50,000 inhabitants and therefore can actually be considered to be small towns. The remaining population lives in 41 so-called urban councils, of which only five (all five being suburbs of Colombo) are inhabited by more than 50,000 people.
Some of Sri Lanka's small towns are of touristic interest and have a large choice of hotels. Habarana is situated in the center of the Cultural Triangle and is therefore often chosen as the advance base of day excursions to the heritage sites and national parks of the region. The small town of Mihintale is a major attraction in itself.
Most of Sri Lanka's beach resorts are small towns, for example Bentota and Mariwila on the western and Pasikuda and Pottuvil on the eastern coast.
In the highlands, all four major tourist hubs outside Kandy are small towns, namely Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Bandarawela, and Haputale.
Some of Sri Lanka's small towns are of touristic interest and have a large choice of hotels. Habarana is situated in the center of the Cultural Triangle and is therefore often chosen as the advance base of day excursions to the heritage sites and national parks of the region. The small town of Mihintale is a major attraction in itself.
Most of Sri Lanka's beach resorts are small towns, for example Bentota and Mariwila on the western and Pasikuda and Pottuvil on the eastern coast.
In the highlands, all four major tourist hubs outside Kandy are small towns, namely Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Bandarawela, and Haputale.
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