Polwaththa is also called Polwagajanapaya. This is a peaceful village situated in Ampara district, on Ampara – Inginiyagala road about 15 kilometers off Ampara town. This village was established under the Galoya Development Project launched by then Prime Minister Hon. D. S. Senanayake. This village was mainly meant for coconut cultivation and hence got the name Polwaththa.
Polwaththa is an agricultural village and majority of the villagers are farmers whose main source of living is paddy cultivation. The village is surrounded by far-stretched paddy lands which are irrigated from the water of Inginiyagala recervoir. It is about two kilometers from polwaththa to Inginiyagala dam. Over the recervoir is the Galoya Nationa Park in which large variety of wildlife is found.
The Ali-Oluwa tank, one of the storage tanks of the tank system is in the vicinity of Polwaththa Maha vidyalaya. The ancient ruins of a vihara called Ovagiri built by king Saddhathissa in Digamadulla era brings Historic grandour to the village.