[2] Sammanthurai is the birthplace of M. H. M. Ashraff, known as "The Kingmaker"[3] and the founder of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress political party.

[6] Source:statistics.gov.lk Being close to the equator, Sammanthurai enjoys a tropical wet and dry climate.

[9] The town is also home to two Arabic colleges:[10] Sammanthurai Thableekul Islam and Markaz Darul Iman.

[citation needed] The Adhan for early morning prayer well before sunrise acts as a wake-up alarm.

Sammanthurai houses two religious institutions: the Thablighul Islam Arabic College, Hifz Madrasa and a Markaz Darul Iman (Arabic College) This town is well connected via road with major towns and cities in Sri Lanka.

Government establishments like the post office, magistrates' court,[14] Pradeshiya Shaba, Ceylon Electricity Board, Sri Lanka Transport Board Bus Depot, Rice Research Station[15] and Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka are based in the town.

In addition, Group Action For Social Order (GAFSO) and Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) Sri Lanka are the national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) headquartered in Sammanthurai.

The post-tsunami and post-war development activities and subsequent resettlement programs have contributed to air pollution in this area.

In addition, solid waste generation, contaminated water and mosquito breeding, have caused much damage to peoples’ health.

The dusty air with bad odour has become a major threat to the daily lives of inhabitants of Sammanthurai.