{{more footnotes|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Sainthamaruthu | official_name = | native_name = {{lang|ta|சாய்ந்தமருது}}<br>{{lang|si|සායින්දමරුදු}} | native_name_lang = Tamil | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Sainthamaruthu, Sri Lanka - panoramio (2).jpg | imagesize = 275px | image_caption = | pushpin_map = Sri Lanka | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Sri Lanka | pushpin_label_position = left | coordinates = {{coord|7|23|38|N|81|50|2|E|region:LK|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Sri Lanka | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Eastern Province | subdivision_type2 = Administrative District | subdivision_name2 = Ampara District | subdivision_type3 = D.S Division | subdivision_name3 = Sainthamarathu Divisional Secretariat | subdivision_type4 = Divisional Secretary | subdivision_name4 = A. L. M. Saleem | leader_title = Electoral District | leader_name = Ampara | leader_title1 = Polling Division | leader_name1 = Kalmunai | governing_body = Kalmunai Municipal Council (Local Authority) | leader_title2 = Member of parliament | leader_name2 = H. M. M. Harees (SLMC) | leader_title3 = Member of Provincial Council | leader_title4 = Mayor | area_total_km2 = 9 | population_as_of = 2011<ref name=census2011>{{cite web|title=A6 : Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary's Division, 2012|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop32&gp=Activities&tpl=3|work=Census of Population & Housing, 2011|publisher=Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka|access-date=2014-10-03|archive-date=2016-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101151718/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop32&gp=Activities&tpl=3|url-status=dead}}</ref> | population_total = 29,873 | population_density_km2 = 3000 | timezone = SLST | utc_offset = +05:30 | elevation_m = 1 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 32280 | area_code = 067 | website = {{URL|www.sainthamaruthu.ds.gov.lk/}} }}
'''Sainthamaruthu''' ({{langx|ta|சாய்ந்தமருது|translit=Cāyntamarutu}}; {{langx|si|සායින්දමරුදු|translit=Sāyindamarudu}}) is a coastal town in Sri Lanka, with a population of 29,873.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sainthamarathu (Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/srilanka/ampara/admin/5225__sainthamarathu/ |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> It is located on the east coast of Ampara District of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Muslims are the majority population, according to the Department of Census and Statistics October 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/Preliminary%2520Reports%2520Special%2520Enumeration%25202007/Basic%2520Population%2520Information%2520on%2520Ampara%2520District%25202007.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwii1LO4q5DdAhXKL48KHUOHDDUQFjABegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw2EtZdAwxbMLbi7ixxwtGp3&cshid=1535479858101%20Preliminary%20Report%20Based%20on%20Special%20Enumeration%20–%202007|title=the Preliminary Report Based on Special Enumeration – 2007}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Sainthamaruthu is located in the middle of other municipalities such as Sammanthurai on the west, Kalmunai on the North, Karativu on the south, and the eastern border with the Bay of Bengal.
==Divisions== {{unreferenced section|date=October 2018}} Sainthamaruthu DS division has 16 Grama Niladhari Divisions.<ref>Department of Census and Statistics. [http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/Preliminary%20Reports%20Special%20Enumeration%202007/Basic%20Population%20Information%20on%20Ampara%20District%202007.pdf "BASIC POPULATION INFORMATION ON AMPARA DISTRICT – 2007"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120925/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/Preliminary%20Reports%20Special%20Enumeration%202007/Basic%20Population%20Information%20on%20Ampara%20District%202007.pdf |date=2015-09-24 }}, Sri Lanka, October 2007. Retrieved 8 Nov 2018.</ref> It is bordered by Kalmunai DS division to the north, the sea on the east, Karaitivu DS division to the south and Sammanthurai to the west. As of the 2024 census, 47% of the population are men and 53% are women. 27.8% of the population is between 0-14 years old, 63.8% of the population is between the age of 15-64 and 8.4% of the population is above 65 years of age. The population density of the division is 8,893/sq km.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sainthamarathu (Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/srilanka/ampara/admin/5225__sainthamarathu/ |access-date=2026-03-01 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> ==Economy== Sainthamaruthu is highly urbanised and congested due to increasing commercial activities in the main urban areas of the town. The eastern site is potential for fishing and western site is fully engaged with paddy cultivation.
== Resources and livelihood activities == {{unreferenced section|date=October 2018}} Sainthamaruthu is well endowed with many natural resources. Fisheries, agriculture, and services contribute significantly to the local economy; and trade also plays an important role. It started with petty trade in the early history of the division and nowadays, has expanded to large-scale trading. In early times, fishery activities took place using traditional craft (Katumarang) and ordinary seines and now activity has expanded to deep sea fishing.
Many people living here are engaged in agriculture, fisheries and various other sectors. About 13% of the population is unemployed and many of the workers are poorly paid.
The main agricultural crop is paddy. Around 1132 acres of land are cultivated annually within the division and most of the farmers’ paddy land is situated in the outside of the Sainthamaruthu.
The main sources of income in the local economy of Sainthamaruthu:
* Agriculture (e.g. paddy, coconut, other field crops and horticulture) * Deep sea and aquatic fisheries. * Livestock rearing * Trade * Micro and small industries
== References ==
{{Reflist}} * http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop33&gp=Activities&tpl=3 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215104015/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop33&gp=Activities&tpl=3 |date=2013-02-15 }}
== External links == * http://wikimapia.org/2543545/Sainthamaruthu * http://www.sainthamaruthu.ds.gov.lk/ * https://web.archive.org/web/20101201030126/http://www.kalmunaimc.com/ * http://www.sainthamaruth.com/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sainthamaruthu}} Category:Towns in Ampara District Category:Sainthamaruthu DS Division