Diyatalawa

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Diyatalawa is a town in Sri Lanka’s central highlands, in Badulla District, Uva Province. It sits about 1,250 meters above sea level, giving it a cool climate with an average temperature around 20°C. The town has long been a military training center, home to the Sri Lanka Military Academy and the Sri Lanka Air Force Combat Training School. The British developed Diyatalawa as a military area in the late 1800s, and it was used as a prisoner camp during the Second Boer War in 1900 and to intern enemy aliens during the World Wars. After independence, more training facilities were established, including the Air Force Combat Training School in 1952 at Stable Hill, and a Navy Recruit Training Centre started in 1951 at Rangalla before moving in 1963. Diyatalawa is also known for the Fox Hill Supercross motor racing event; the track is near Fox Hill and is linked to the Military Academy as a fundraising project. The town lies in the Sri Lanka Standard Time zone (UTC+5:30).