town, southern Sri Lanka. It lies at the mouth of the Nilwala River on the island's southern coast. Its name, meaning Great Ford, arose from its location at a river crossing. The Portuguese held the town in the 17th century, and the Dutch in the 18th. Under both countries it was an important commercial centre, and Dutch fortifications can still be seen. Matara is now the trade centre of a productive agricultural region. It is linked by rail with Colombo and is a road junction. Pop. (2001 prelim.) 42,756.