HJ - Bathkalapuwa to Cotiar

Bathkalapuwa to Cotiar

The Names of all the places from Bathkalapuwa to Cotiar, are found detailed on a Dutch map from 1695. This amazing map is found in Beeldbank National Archives, the Netherlands.

• Collection / Archief-Kaartcollectie Buitenland Leupe
• Description-Kaart van de Hooft-Fortificatien van Colombo, Jaffanapatnam, Gale en Batacalo, alsmede van de subalterne of mindere forten, onder voorgenoemde plaasten behorende, en die aan Zee gelegen zyn.
• Date-1695
• Opmerkingen-Atlas Amsterdam van Isaac de Graaff.

We have done our utmost to work out where necessary the Dutch written words but obviously we can manage so much. There are some with question marks, that were very difficult to workout. If anyone manages to work out, what they are. Please inform us!

We must admit though, we were very surprised to see this many Malabar place names in the East, even though they seem to be all within the coastal regions, which do suggest that they may have been fishing villages. Batacalo, it was expected as much due the Immigration policy adopted by the Dutch in the mid 1600's!

We have left the Malabar names intact. The ones that cannot be worked out bare question marks next to them.

Bathkalapuwa+-Sinhala
Chitandekoede Exipoe
Chatarauwa-Sinhala
Apponawella-Sinhala
Nalakattena-Sinhala
Bandaremolla-Sinhala
Chulam
Deweramolla-Sinhala
Manganawa-Sinhala
Kokawilwella-Sinhala/Malabar
Wanni Kanda-Sinhala
Yodhaela Kanduwa-Sinhala
Genatiangara??
Paz van Ratmos??
Dekkatta-Sinhala
Sakatta-Sinhala
Eppa Ela-Sinhala
Atpoely??
Nakakoelan
Caduwella-Sinhala
Wien Gama-Sinhala
Arenotive
Soute(South) Springe(Spring)
Weeragal Dagaba-Sinhala
Topuwa-Sinhala
Calepaztmaan??
Jala Kanda-Sinhala
Alancolan
Kuvetiya Oya-Sinhala
Joeretive
Oedren??
Coe??
Modo Oya-Sinhala
Kelewitty-Sinhala
Erkelenche(Not sure, as this written is as Erkelen hena, on another map of the same period).
Wiengama-Sinhala
Maligadiva*-Sinhala
Ratmola-Sinhala
Pali Oya-Sinhala
Periyawella-Sinhala/Malabar
Cotiar/Kotiarama-Today Koddiyar++

*Dive or Diva is Sinhala for Island..

+According to 18th Century French sources, Batecalo is derived from the Sinhala word for Rice..'Bath'. The French were present in the East for 3 years.

++In 1786, Van Sanden, the head representative of the Dutch at Trincomalee, gives names of the headman of these regions;

Cotiar....Wanniya Irroemarooewentoega Ideewirasinha Nallemapane

Tamblegama....Don Fransisco Kannegerandge Kannegeritna

Kattukolompatuwa....Wanniya Don Joan Sandere Seegere Mapane

These names seem very much, to be Sinhalese. These are the area's that make up, what is today the majority of Trincomalee district.

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                    Taken from www.jaffnahistory.com without any alteration. Thanks.