[1][2] The town came into official recognition when Governor Sir Thomas Maitland used the postal address Mt.

The area's name arose when the second Governor of Ceylon, Sir Thomas Maitland, acquired land at "Galkissa" (Mount Lavinia) and decided in 1806 to construct a personal residence there.

Maitland fell in love with Lovina Aponsuwa, a local mestiço dancer, and continued a romantic affair with her until he was recalled to England in 1811.

In 2023, a song based on this story titled "Loveena" was released by Chitral Somapala and Kanchana Anuradhi.

The local name for the town today is Galkissa - "kissa" (කිස්ස) being a somewhat obsolete Sinhala word for rock.