The area took its name from the Sinhalised form of the Portuguese word milagre (miracle).

The writer Frederick Mendis observed: "In 1656, after the capitulation to the Dutch, the Milagiriya church gave way to a Sinhalese school where instruction was made available in the religion of the Reformists.

Joseph Thurstan was chiefly responsible for superintending the construction of the new church which was dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle.

St. Paul's Milagiriya School is now run by the Government of Sri Lanka.

This Western Province, Sri Lanka location article is a stub.