[4][need quotation to verify] Today, the Nilwala River runs through Matara and it is said that there was a wide area where ferries used to cross.

Ancient kings also built the temple in the middle of the town, and now it is a very popular sacred place among the Buddhists in the area.

In 1756, the Dutch captured the Maritime Province and divided it into four administrative areas — Sabaragamuwa, Sath Korle, Sathara Korele and Matara.

Out of these, Matara District covered the largest area (essentially the whole of the Southern Province up to the Kalu River).

In the deed given by King Dharmapala to the Dutch, it mentioned that the area of Matara District extended from Kotte to the Walawe River.

The ethnic majority of Matara is Sinhalese; during the 16th and 17th centuries Moors arrived in the area as traders from Arabia.

Matara's main attractions are its ramparts, Dutch architecture, a well-preserved fort and its street life.