Physical Characteristics

The Uva Province (UP) is located in the South - Eastern part of Sri Lanka. It consists of two districts - Badulla and Monaragala - covering an area of 8,405.1 Sq.Km, about 15 percent of the total area of Sri Lanka. Uva is bordered by Eastern, Southern and Central provinces. It is a major tea growing region and is famed for its fragrant, high grown tea large plantations cover over 40000 hectares. The higher elevations of Uva-Haputale, Bandarawela, Diyatalawa and Welimada are among Sri Lanka's top health resorts due to their cool,mild climate where temperatures average between 12-15 C and their scenic locations. The province's rich farmlands, fields, orchards, gradens, rivers and lakes yield an abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables, fresh water fish, dairy and other produce to delight visitors. The province also grows and processes large quantities of cane sugar notably around Pelwatte in lower Uva. Rich gem deposits especially blue sapphires and granets occur in the downland areas of Lunugala and Okkampitiya. The population of the province comprises of 79.7 percent Sinhalese and 14.9 percent Tamils along with 4.4 percent other ethnic minorities.

Administrative Structures

Uva Province has 2 Administrative Districts: Badulla and Monaragala. The next layer is comprised of 26 Divisional Secretary Divisions (DSD): Badulla District - 15 Divisions, Monaragala District - 11 Divisions. District Administration and Divisional Administration are de-concentrated structures and directly managed by the Central Government represented by the District Secretary. The Divisional Secretaries function under the District Secretary.

Local Government Structures

Under the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987—and the resulting 13th amendment to the constitution—the Government of Sri Lanka agreed to devolve some authority to the provinces. Provincial Councils are directly elected for 5-year terms. The leader of the council majority serves as the province's Chief Minister with a board of five ministers; a Provincial Governor is appointed by the President. The Provincial Councils have full statute making power with respect to the Provincial Council List, and shared statute making power respect to the Concurrent List. Whilst all matters set out in the Reserved List are fall under the responsibility of the central government.

At local level there are 27 Local Government institutions in the Uva Province: 17 in Badulla, and 10 in Monaragala; among these Local Government Institutions there are Municipal Council, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas. The head of the Local Authority in case of a Municipal Council is the Mayor, the Chairman in an Urban Council and in a Pradeshiya Sabha. The local authorities are elected for a 5 years term. People’s representatives to the Provincial council are elected at a provincial council election. The Chief Secretary’s Office handles the Administration of the Council. This office administers the subjects coming under the purview of the Provincial Council and provides the funds for the development activities. The Provincial Council and the Central Government are linked by the Chief Secretary, who is the head of the provincial administration. The Ministry Secretaries report to the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary is appointed by the President.

Economy

The main livelihood of the people living in this community is agriculture farming and tea plantation. The majority of the people in the area fall in the low and middle income groups.The economy in the UP, in comparison to the other provinces is relatively poor. In 2007, the Uva Province contributed less than 5 per cent to the national economy (census 2007).