 In 1805, Alaungpaya's fourth son King Bodawpaya appointed Htaw Lay as the governor ("myoza") of Dala (modern Dala and Twante).In colonial era, Dalla was the site of the major shipyard of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company.Despite its strategic location near Yangon, the township is still largely rural and undeveloped mainly because it still lacks a bridge across the Yangon river, with connections between the township and the city being by ferry only.