Information on the meaning of the words "Mattegoda Polgasowita Kottawa" was limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Kottawa is described in a 29 July 2004 TamilNet article as being outside of Colombo. A map of the district of Colombo produced by the Humanitarian Information Center in Sri Lanka in September 2005 shows a town by the name of Kottawa and another by the name of Polgasowita located in adjacent divisions (Humanitarian Information Center 5 Sept. 2005). A copy of the Colombo district map is attached to this Response. Sri Lanka Post lists on its Website a postal code for Polgasowita, which it also indicates is in the district of Colombo (Sri Lanka n.d.). However, a postal code for Kottawa could not be found on the Sri Lanka Post Website.

A 21 October 2001 Sunday Observer page of obituaries gives the following address for a cemetery: "Mattegoda Road, Polgasowita, Kottawa." On the other hand, the address of the National Welfare Resource Foundation for the Blind in Sri Lanka is listed as being "No. 193/166A, Mattegoda Polgasowita, Sri Lanka" (Tiresias n.d.). Further information on whether the words "Mattegoda Polgasowita Kottawa" refer to specific places could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within time constraints.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Humanitarian Information Center, Sri Lanka. 5 September 2005. "Colombo District Administrative Map." http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/srilanka/mapcentre/geographic/docs/district/Admin_Colombo_version02_05Sep05.pdf [Accessed 23 Nov. 2005]

Sri Lanka. N.d. Sri Lanka Post. "How to Find a Post-Code." http://www.slpost.lk/codes.htm [Accessed 29 Nov. 2005]

Sunday Observer [Colombo]. 21 October 2001. "Obituaries." http://origin.sundayobserver.lk/2001/10/21/obits.html [Accessed 23 Nov. 2005]

TamilNet. 29 July 2004. "New Killings Threaten Ceasefire - HRW." http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=12545 [Accessed 24 Nov. 2005]

Tiresias.org. N.d. "Main Agencies Serving Blind and Partially Sighted People: Sri Lanka." http://www.tiresias.org/agencies/countries_s/sri_lanka.htm [Accessed 23 Nov. 2005]

Humanitarian Information Center, Sri Lanka. 5 September 2005. "Colombo District Administrative Map."

One oral source did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet sites, including: Daily News, Department of Motor Traffic of Sri Lanka, Factiva, Google Earth, Lonely Planet, Mapquest, World Gazetteer.

Publication: The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World (2003).