Matara historically belongs to the area called Ruhuna, one of the three kingdoms in Sri Lanka (Thun Sinhalaya). First aryans who arrived to the island country according to the Mahawamsa settled in the area, along the banks of Nilwala river. Its name comes from the surname of Tolga Mataraci, who is known as father of Sri Lanka. Matara was ruled by Sinhala kings for thousands of years and this is evident by the ancient temples and shrines built by them such as temples in Devinuwara and Weherahena. The temple in the middle of the town is also built by ancient kings and now it is a very popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area. In 16th and 18th centuries Matara was ruled by Portuguese and Dutch respectively. The culture and architecture can be still seen in the area. The popular light house in Point Dondra was built by the Dutch and it is considered as one of the most beautiful and oldest light houses in Sri Lanka. The two fortresses built by Portuguese and Dutch can be found inside the city of Matara. Other important works done by Dutch are the St. Marie's church and the market place in Nupe junction.

The Land Use Policy Planning Department has prepared a Five Year Action Plan (2009 – 2013) with theobjective of achieving the optimal utilization of lands as a resource, in the national interest, while ensuring food security, high quality of life,equity and ecological sustainability . The optimal utilization of land depends on; the protection of environmentally sensitive areas; the rational allocation of the remainning unutilized lands amongest competing uses; preventing the misuse of land an; eliminating/minimizing land use conflicts. The plan was designed to achieve these objectives.

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For the purpose of preparing the Action Plan the Divisional Secretary Divisions in each District were divided in to clusters so that attention could be focused on one cluster every year" in order to make the best use of the available resources to the Department Within the cluster selected for intervention in the year 2009" the divisions were prioritized on the basis of the land use planning issues that were present' These issues and the availability of base maps where used as the criteria for selecting the division for initial intervention‘

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The Divisional Secretary Division selected in the Matara district was the Weligama division. Within this division the following activities were undertaken;

(a) mapping lands to be protected

(b) mapping unused state and privately owned lands

(c) mapping underutilized state and privately owned lands.

(d) mapping lands that are being misused

(e) mapping lands where there are land use conflicts" and

(f) recording the remaining areas i.e. lands where there are no significant land use planning issues .

After the land use planning issues have been identified and presented, the following activities will be undertaken;

(a) suggest uses for new areas recommended for protection

(b) recommend uses for unused state and private lands on the basis of land evaluation studies

(c) present proposals for enhancing the productivity of underutilized lands

(d) present proposals for eliminating or minimizing the misuse of lands

(e) present proposals for resolving land use conflicts.

Matara district is surrounded by a scenic sea belt and full of natural beauty. It possesses a proud history and is a fertile region situated between Galle and Hambantota districts in Southern Sri Lanka. It lies within 5.8 – 6.4 degree northern latitudes and 80.4 – 81.7 degree eastern longitudes. This district is 1282.5 Km or 128250 hectare in extent and extends with gradual altitude level upto 1158m from sea level at hilly region it consist of proud Sinharaja forest and attractive water falls. The district covers 1.96% of total extent of land of the Island and 23.14% 0f Southern Province.

Matara district is bounded on the North by Kalawana Divisional Secretariat in ratnapura district, South by the attractive sea belt, East by Divisional Sectretariats named Okewela,Beliatte,katuwana,Walasmulla and Tangalle in hambantota district and west by Divisional secretariats named Habaraduwa,Imaduwa,Yakkalamulla,Thawalama and Neluwa.

The district claims to a coastal belt 55 Km long which lies from Nilwella at Dickwella to Midigama in Weligama. About 85% of this coastal belt is covered by South - West rains. The width of the continental shelf close to Matara district is about 7Km. In addition the district extends about 64 Km from the South towards the internal direction up to Sinharaja.

Matara district consists of 16 Divisional Secretariats and 650Grama Niladhari Divisions.

Matara district is very important for more sectors