Kotmale
Kotmale
කොත්මලේ கொத்மலை | |
|---|---|
Village | |
Interactive map of Kotmale | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Central Province |
| District | Nuwara Eliya District |
| Area | |
• Total | 225 km2 (87 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 107,523 |
| • Density | 478/km2 (1,240/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time) |
Kotmale (Sinhala: කොත්මලේ, romanized: Kotmalē; Tamil: கொத்மலை, romanized: Kotmalai) is a village in Sri Lanka in Central Province. Kotmale forms part of a mountainous region that the Sinhalese kings left forested to generate sufficient rainfall for rice cultivation in the valleys below.
The Sinhalese prince Dutugamunu is said to have taken refuge in Kotmale to escape the wrath of his father, King Kavantissa. Kotmale is also where the Kandyan Kings hid the sacred tooth relic during periods of political instability, the last occasion being during the British occupation in 1815.