(1799), by
James Welsh. Once an important spice-trading centre, the town's name is derived from the
Kalu Ganga ('Black River' in native Sinhala). In the 11th century, the town was temporarily made a capital on the orders of a South Indian Prince. The region was later planted with
coconut trees, whose by-products are used for both internal and external trade. The location also boast fortifications (
Kalutara fort) dating back from the times when Portuguese, Dutch and British vied for control of the area. The long Kalutara Bridge was built at the mouth of the
Kalu Ganga River and serves as a major link between the country's western and southern border. The other occasion was when the village of Yodunpahe or Pasyodune was cultivated by King Maha Parakumba between Kalutara and Bentara. Kalutara is mentioned again during the journey of King Parakumba II, who came to worship at Benthota Galapata temple during the Dambadeni period, when the Rajarata kingdoms began to expand to the southwest. During the Gampaha period, the Arya Chakravarthi kings of the Tamil kingdom of Jaffna passed Panadura and took the people to Kalutara. (Rajavaliya). Gampala And in the epic poems written during the Kotte eras, there are precious comments about Kalutara and the temple located there (Gangathilaka Viharaya-Kalutara Bodhi). In each of these epic poems, it is mentioned that the location of Kalutara is right in the middle of Pothupitiya and Kalamulla villages. A lot of information is heard about Kalutara during the Kotte era. It is said that Prince Tinthadu Muditta Perumal Thennakone was brought from Soly country to become the king after King Parakumba VI. (Rajawaliya) Because that prince did not own the kingdom of Lanka, he was allowed to enjoy his life as long as the sun and moon lasted, so that his descendants could enjoy it as long as the sun and moon lasted. It was after the Portuguese era that the fierce caste wars that commemorated Kalutara city in history began. During the Portuguese period, a large group of Salagama people landed from Madampe(Amabaangoda) and settled in Waskaduwa, Pothupitiya, Deshastra and Kalamulla. Therefore, Karawa and Salagama conflicts occurred regularly around Kalutara town. To the north of Kalutara, Vaskaduwa Salagama was a powerful territory and after attacking the Kalutara Karawa people, the Karawa caste started a silent cold war when they saw that the exit doors to the Karawa people were blocked from Kalamulla and Waskaduwa. By the Salagama community of "Susewhewa", a very violent community group In 1621 AD, Pratigalun broke down the temple of Kalutara Gangathilaka and started the construction of Kalutara Fort. Baby Jesus Cathedral After the construction of Domingo Cathedral Waskaduwa(After the baptism of the Salagama group of "Susevhewage", a fierce group) the entire Kalutara area became Catholic. The use of Catholic surnames became popular because of baptism. It is said that he was adopted (Tombu of Susevhewa descendants) At this time, Kalutara port emerged as a headquarters of the cinnamon trade, and Susevhewa's(The mother part of Waskaduwe Sri Subhuthi Thero) descendants and the Seram (Saram Mudali) descendants were like flag giants who took the initiative in all activities of Kalutara society. (Wolfendahl Street) Catholic and Protestant Christians. Conflicts were a common sight in Kalutara during the Dutch period and it developed into a sub-caste conflict of the same caste (conflicts between the upper sub-castes of Salagama caste and Hinna). At the Kalutara Report Office. When the English captured the Dutch Fort in 1797, they established a
Kachcheri there. Since that time, Kalutara has become the head office of the Kalutara district. ==Administration==