North Central Province

North Central Province preserves Sri Lanka's ancient glory—Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were successive capitals of Sinhalese kingdoms spanning over 1,500 years, their ruined dagobas, monasteries, and irrigation tanks demonstrating sophisticated pre-colonial civilization. The province's ancient irrigation systems (tank cascades) created agricultural productivity that supported urbanization before European arrival. These UNESCO World Heritage sites anchor cultural tourism, though agricultural activities still dominate provincial economy. Rice cultivation benefits from the restoration of ancient irrigation infrastructure, demonstrating how pre-colonial investment creates lasting path dependencies. The province remains primarily rural, with poverty higher than Western Province but below Northern and Eastern levels. By 2026, North Central Province's development trajectory depends on balancing heritage preservation with agricultural modernization and tourism infrastructure investment.