What this is all aboutIt should be noted that race or ethnicity , as understood today was of little consequence in ancient times, when it was the caste that was most important. The Brahma was believed to have created "castes" and not ethnicities. Thus kings always married other "Kshatriyas", irrespective of ethnicity. The pre-Buddhist people of Lanka may have been even Kirats-Yakkas, or other unknown groups. Asokan Brahmi (Sinhala Prakrit) script has been found in the 3rd century BCE stone inscriptions of Sri Lanka. The study of toponyms also shows the cultural closeness of these two language groups, immensely influenced by Sanskrit (in this document we use the name 'Sanskrit' to include all proto-forms related to the language of the Rig Veda, and not just the systematized form). The North and East of Sri Lanka were populated by people who were largely Sinhala-speaking Buddhists till about the 12th century. The place names in the whole country were mostly Sinhala names. South Indian invasions led to a gradual modification of the original place names which acquired a Tamil garb, as stated by many scholars like Paul E. Peries, Horsburg, J. P. Lewis, S. Paranavitana, Dr. K. Inthirapala, Ven. E. Medhananda and others. K. Velu Pillai in Yalpana Vaibhava Kaumudi devotes a whole chapter to Sinhala place names in Jaffna. Buddhism flourished in South India during the time of Buddhagosha (author of Visuddhi-magga); and Lanka too had Buddhist Tamils as a small but important minority, with many of them resident in Anuradhapura. Read also Tamil Buddhists in Ancient Jaffna? Here we focus on the old Sinhala names of the tamilized Place names in the North and East. The existence of multiple place-names for a given location testifies to the rich cultural tapestry of the nation. This centralized list and maps would make it convenient for Sinhala writers, artists, scientists, engineers, politicians - anyone- to use the Sinhala names when ever this is appropriate, in an entirely voluntary manner, thus helping to maintain and revive the cultural heritage of the country. Read more details. Brahmi and Sinhala scripts, click below Early Brahmi: 3rd cen BCE to 1st cent CE/ Later Brahmi: 2nd cent BCE to 4th cent CE/ Transitional Brahmi: 5th cent to 7th cent/ Medieval Sinhala: 8th cent to 13th cent/ Modern Sinhala: 14th cent and after | |||||
THESE HISTORICAL AND ETYMOLOGICAL ANALYSES NEED FURTHER SUPPORT BY MORE RESEARCH
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| Achchankulam (Mannarama [Mannar} district ) ATTANAVAEVA, ⚓name Meaning: There is no "achchan" listed in the usual Tamil dictionaries and Lexicons; however, close forms like 'accan' may be listed. 'Achchan' means "brother", (also father etc.) in Malayalam, and may be the source of the sinhala slang word "machang". However, there is no contextually useful meaning in it for a place-name. On the other hand, the sinhala word "Attana" refers to a plant species (Latin Dathura Alba, or Datura metal, Tamil "Umaththai"). Its occurrence in Sinhala place names is well established. The plant and seeds contain the alkaloids Hyoscine, hyoscyamine, norhyoscyanine and atropine. The plant as a whole is a narcotic, and the Tamil name "Ummaththai" is probably derived from the Sanskrit/Pali word which means (causing) "madness", or "ummmada" in Sinhala. It is poisonous. Its use in Ayurveda is well established. Map LTTE-ARMY flash point | අත්තනවැව | |
| Achchelu, Achelu(Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ATHURUELIYA ⚓name This is a common sinhala place name. "Athuru" mean "nearby" in the present context (also, it may in other contexts mean "supplementary", or "inter-mediating"). "Eliya" implies an "open place", a "cleared place", or a region held as a "common". In other contexts it may mean "a source of light". hist: Ancient Buddhist shrine and Dagoba, referred to by de Queyroz Map map | අතුරුඑලිය | |
| Achchuveli, Achuvely (Yapanaya) ATHURUVAELLA ⚓name The etymology of this place-name is similar to that given in preceding discussions. "Vaella" means "shore", or a "sandy place". This name is often found in southern maritime areas in SL. This is a location of ancient Buddhist ruins; de Queyroz, discussing the fall of Jaffna says "It remained under the Portugezen sway for upwards of 40 years, wrested from the Emperor by Philippo d'Olivero when he defeated the Cingalezen forces near Achiavelli (Achuvely) by the great pagoda". Map map typical news | අතුරුවැල්ල | |
| Adaichakal (madakalapuwa[Batticaloa]) HADUGALA ⚓name 'Adai, Adicha, or related stubs do not occur in the Tamil Lexicons. There is a small Tank here; Map | හඩුගල | |
| Adaikkalamoddai, Adaikkalmottai, Adukkalmoddai (Mannarama [Mannar]) HADUGALMOTTE ⚓name 'Motte ← Modde ← Made' signifies a muddy, swampy place. The Latin word for 'marsh' is 'madeo', while Skrt. 'manda' means slime. In Tamil, Ala, Alaru Alakkar, Ceru etc., are used for mud. See MAP | හඩුගල්- මොටේ | |
| Adampan, Adampanai, அடம்பன் (Mannarama [Mannar]) AADAMPANA, AETTAMPANA ⚓name, RAAMAPAENNA, Meaning. Tamil "Pan" by itself seems to have no immediate meaning, however, "pampan", and the sinhala "paalama" (පාලම) both means 'bridge'. On the Indian side, a very long bridge connects to a small island known as Pamban. This bridge has a part that can be raised for tall marine vessels to pass through. Pamban-India bridge The place name Adampan may have been inspired by "Adam's bridge" (Irama cetu, or Rama cetu, Hindu name of the ridge of rocks crossing the Palk's Straits (Gajaba mooduyaava, මූදු යාව see discussion under Palk ...) and connecting Dhanuskodi (India) to Talaimannar (Lanka). However, the name Adampan is found in several places which are far away from "Adam's bridge", e.g., in the North Vanni, and in the Trincomalee district (near Gomarankadavala), and hence it cannot be positively connected with Adam's bridge. Note that the old names "Rama bridge" (irāma;-cētu; இராமசேது in Tamil consistent with the Tolkkappiamrules), or Ramasethu රාමසේතුව , was replaced by "Adam's bridge" in 1804 by the British surveyor James Rennel. He was the first Surveyor General of British India. 'Siripada', (or 'Adams peak'), known also as 'Vishnupada' in the Mahabharata was also renamed "Adam's peak" by Rennel. "Setu" means bridge in Sanskrit and other source languages. It has sometimes been claimed in some Internet blogs, without much foundation, that the Tamil word "Adampu" has been used for "bin-thambura", a creeper which grows by the sea shore, and found almost every where in the costal regions of SL. The well-known Tamil name for "bin thambura" is "attukkal". The placename "adampana" is not found in any early records, but came in during the British era. All these suggest that the place-name is unlikely to have originated from the construed name "Adampu". We believe that the old name is "aettampana". "Aettanpana', or "Aththampana" where "attana" or "Aththana" (Bot: Datura alaba)is well known. The word "aththana" occurs in plant names like Rukattana (bot: Alstonia scholaris), "Kaulaththana etc., and are well recognized plant species. See also Kok-attana-kulam, Kokattanakulam or Kokkachchankulam Rama Sethu Another Discussion on Ramasetu See reg. kobbekaduwa Map1 map2 UTHR report : Map of Army action in 2008 near Mannar Rebuilding and demining after the war, 2010 | ආදම්පන, ඇටිටංපන රාම පැන්න රාමසේතු | |
| Adampan (Giranikke[Killinochchi]) AETTAMPANA See previous discussion under "adampana" in mannar. Regional map | ඇටිටංපන | |
| Adampantalavu, (Mannarama) AETTAMPANTALA ⚓name, AADAMPANTHALAVA, RAAMANTALAVA Read the discussion under "Adampan". Map | ඇටිටංපන්තල ආදම්පන්තලාව රාමන්තලාව | |
| Adampanmodddai (Giranikke [Killinochchi]) ATHTHANAMADE; ⚓name Read the discussion under "Adampan", regarding the plant "aththana", and the etymology of the word "mada", "moddei" and the english "mud" under the entry "Athimottai". | අත්තනමඩ | |
| Addalaichenai, Addalachenai, ApdalacChena (Ampare) ADDARAHENA ⚓name, ATTAALAHENA? Meaning: In Tamil "Addalai" has no immediate contextual meaning; it may have originated from the sinhala "addara" = "near by" , or "attaala" = "scaffolding". The sinhala, word ``attaala'' is related to the Sanskrit and Pali words for "scaffolding". It may mean a raised hut usually made of wooden beams, bamboo etc. But the common tamil usage for the latter is `Paran', and "addalai" may be a form which is not current. However, the word order is incorrect as "attaala" or "addala" is not used as an adjective. Thus "Addarahena", a common place name, is the most judicious choice for the origin of this name, while "attaalahena" is not prevalent and etymologically unlikely. The remaining part of the name contains 'Chennai'. It is from the Sinhala "hena", i.e., 'slash-burn' cultivation plots. In Tamil 'Chenai' may mean 'army' and does not fit into the context here. Map UNICEF-tsunami FYI-war | අද්දරහේන | |
| Adappankulum (Mannaram [Mannar]) AETAAPAENNAVEVA ⚓name This literarily means, in Sinhala,"The Tank into which the elephant jumped". "Aetapan" is may also be a type of grass or reed (but not identified). map | ඇතා පැන්නවැව | |
| Addaippallam,Addapalam (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) HADIPAALAMA ⚓name This may mean "old bridge", or "strong bridge", "wide location" etc. Map | හැඩිපාලම | |
| Adiyakulam (mannaram [Mannar]) AADIYAVEVA ⚓name, Aadiyakulama "Aadiya" (vaeva) refers to "ancient", or "original" water reservoir. Map | ආදියවැව ආදියව | |
| Aiyakerni, Aiyankerni (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) Aiyankernitalawai AADIKAENNA ⚓name, AADIYAKURANA AADI-KANI-TALAVA "Aiya" in Sinhala and Tamil means "elder brother". The "Ai" sound has descended from the Sanskrit "Aadi", which means "earlier" or "elder". The "ai" form is found in Tamil, with the advent of the chankam literature, and thus both Sinhala and Tamil have Sanskrit as the source language for this word. The word is also used for local village gods, as in "Aiyanayaka deviyo". "Aiyanaar" ஐயனார் in Tamil, a usage found only after the 8th century CE. The remaining part of the place name contains "Kerni"; it is from "Kaenna", i.e, the sinhala "kaeneema" or "digging". A possible, but less favoured analysis is that "aadi" in "Aadi-Kaeni-talava could also refer to mendicant beggars known as "Anndi". | ආදිකැන්න, ආදිය කුරන | |
| Aiyamperumal, Sinna Aiyamperumal (Giranikke [Killinochchi]) AADIYAMPIRUMA ⚓name, AADIYEPIRUVALA Hist. : Although one has no definite evidence, there is a possibility that this was named after the Chola Perumal, from Chitambaram. He had a tiger inscribed on the flag which is called Puliyan; his place in Tamil Nadu was called Pulyannur. If the place name was after the Chola Perumal, normally inscriptional evidence would exist. Read also, the write up on "Aiyakerni". It could also mean the the "bog" (vala) filled in olden times". The existence of a "sinna" Aiyamperumal, i.e., the smaller bog ("kudaavala") suggests that this probably has little to do with the Chola from Chitambaram. | ආදියපිරුම ආදියෙපිරුවල | |
| Aiyanatidali,Aiyan-kuda (Sri Gonakanda[Trincomalee]) AADYANTHUDA ⚓name Read also, the write up on "Aiyakerni" Map | ආදිය තුඩාව | |
| Ayittiyamalai, Aithamalai (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) ADIHITIKANDA ⚓name Read also, the write up on "Aiyakerni". There is an Army encampment here. Map | අදිතිය කන්ද | |
| Akattikkulam (Mannaram [Mannar]) AGASTHIVAEVA ⚓name 'Agasthi' is an agate-like stone. 'Agasthiya' is also an Indian mythical sage, mentioned in the Rig Veda. map | අගස්තිවැව | |
| Akattimurippu(Mannaram [Mannar]) AGASTIKANDIYA, AGASTHIMURAYA ⚓name Etymology The word "Agasthi" was discussed in previous place names. The remaining part, "murippu" is common in place names and needs discussion. Thus "murus" in Latin, meaning "wall", "fortification", or 'defensive rampart', is found in many indo-European languages (cf., "mur" in Fr.). However, "murippu" or a related form is not found in Dravidian sources or in south Indian place names. Hence "murippu" may be from the sinhala "muraya", "muraparva", for "defensive wall". The sinhala and Tamil forms may also have come from a pre-Sanskrit (e.g., Etruscan) language of the Persian Gulf, via the ancient sea routes which touched in Mannarama (Mannar). The Etruscan word for 'wall', mor, mur, mvr was also used for the dam (sinhala 'Kandiya' or Vella', වේල්ල) used in irrigation works. These dam sites were also used as locations for guard houses or watch stations (murapala). See Mel Copeland on Proto-Indo-European languages. There is an ancient tank here at Agasthimuraya. Read Kamalika Pieris, on water management in Ancient lanka The name "Musalipattuva", or "Muhalapattuva" has also " been suggested as an old placename, perhaps applicable to this area. Musala refers to "crocodiles" in Sanskrit, and may have given the name. See also, the entry under "Musali", or Muhala. Map | අගස්තිමුරේ | |
| Akkaraipattu (Ampare) AKKARAPATTUWA ⚓name , EGODAPATTUWA Meaning: Tamil "Akkarai" may mean 'that side', Opp. ikkkara or 'this side'. The Sinhalese 'ekara'=egoda and 'mekara'=megoda, have similar meanings. 'Egodapattuwa' would be good sinhala usage. The 'Deegavapi' chaitya, usually attributed to Saddhatissa (137-119 BC) is claimed to be this dagaba. There are ancient ruins, a medicine trough and ruins of an ancient hospital. This area is part of the old 'Digamadulla' region. See the entry under DIGHAVAPI (Theekavapi). The Dutch initiated irrigation projects here (and in Urubokke, Pollonnaruwa). map UNHCR-tsunami | අක්කරපත්තුව, එගොඩපත්තුව | |
| Akkarativu(Ampare) EDODADOOVA ⚓name This is close to Thoppigala and has been an LTTE camp. | එගොඩදූව | |
| Akkarayankulam (Mooladoova [Mullaitivu]) IKIRIYAN VAEVA ⚓name This small tank is at the border of Mooladoova and Giranika districts. | ඉකිරියන්වැව | |
| Akkuranai (madakalapuwa [batticaloa]) AKURANA ⚓name Similar place names found in the South. No equivalent forms in Tamil. Clashes between LTTE and Karuna group during the civil war. Map | අකුරන | |
| Aladikattaikatu,Aladikaddaikadu (Mannarama [Mannar]) AERATI-GAETA-KADUVA ⚓name, AERATKATUKALÉ Disc. 'Kaddai' has no meaning in T., 'Kaddu'and 'Kadu' taken as Kaatu, i.e., T., காட்ட€; , implies 'forest' as in Sinhala 'Kaele' කැලේ or 'kaduva' or 'katuva'. 'Gaeta' in S. is the 'bitter' young stage of a fruit, may signify 'Kashta' in Sanskrit. Then T. 'kattaikatu' and S. 'gatakaduva' have similar meanings. Map | ඇරටිගැටකඩුව | |
| Aladikulam(Mannarama [Mannar]) AERATIVAEVA ⚓name | ඇරටිවැව | |
| Aladiwembu, Aladivembu, Alayadi Vempu, Aliadi vempu (Ampare) AERATIKOHOMBE; ⚓name Discussion: Kohomba in S., Vembu in T., and known in India as the Neem tree (Azadirachta Indica ) is a hardy tree with extensive medicinal and phyto-chemical significance, currently an object of 'bio-piracy' by interested western pharmaceutical companies. See neem revolution Map | ඇරටිකොහොඹෙ | |
Allagalla(Vannimava[Vavuniya]) (vanni128 ⚓name) No Tamil form available; listed here as an ancient Buddhist site. Remnants of a 120 ft circular stupa on a large stone hill. There is a stone inscription, old bricks and other artifacts strewn all over. Labeled #128 in Vanni Buddhist sites map | අල්ලගල | |
| Alaikallupoddakulam(Mooladoova[Mullaitivu]) ALAGALPOHODDAVAEVA ⚓name map | අලිගල්පොත් වැව | |
| Alankeni, Alankerney, Alankemi (Giranikke [Killinochchi]) ERANKURANA ⚓name Regional map | එරන්කැන්න, එරන්කුරන | |
| Alankulam (Giranikke[Killinochchi]) ERANVAEVA ⚓name Map | එරන්වැව | |
Alankulam (Sri Gonakanda [Trincomalee]) ERANVAEVA (vanni144 ⚓name) There are two such 'Eranvaeva' sites in the same region. This an ancient Buddhist site included in the list by Archaeo. Dept., Somasiri, 1982. Labeled #142, 145 inVanni Buddhist sites map The site named as "near the 5th mile post" in the Archaeological dept list is labeled #144 in Vanni Buddhist sites map | එරන්වැව | |
| Alamapia, Alampil (Mooladoova [Mullaitivu]) VAELLAMPILA ⚓name, VAELLAMPIHILLA Meaning: Tamil "Alama" has no immediate contextual meaning, 'Pil' and 'Pila' are not in the tamil lexicon. The Sinhalese version has a clearer meaning. This location is said to be an important LTTE training encampment. map Asiatribune | වැල්ලම්පිල | |
| ALavakka(mannarama [Mannar]) ALAVAKA ⚓name The name is associated with an intermittent stream. The canal of the 'Giants tank' (Yodaveva) at 'Thekkama' is 'Alavaka'. Yodaveva construction is ascribed to king Dhatusena, and Parakramabahu I. Reg. pre-Buddhist links, See write up below for 'Alavakkaisirukkulam' | ආලවක | |
| Alavakkaisirukkulam (mannarama [Mannar]) ALAVAK-AASEERAVAEVA ⚓name Meaning: 'Alavaka-Aaseerva' is 'salutation' to Alavaka, a 'Yakka' king. 'Alavakka' and `Kasaputta' are place names of the Bulis and Kalaamas ( of the Kalaama sutta). Discussion. Alavaka is a 'Yakkha' mentioned in the Sutta Nipata, Samyutta Nikaya (Alavaka sutta). It is possible that one branch of the "Pre-Aryan" 'Kirat' people of Nepal possibly migrated to Lanka and were known as the Yakkha. (see 'Kirat Vansavali. The Political History of India', H. C. Ray Chawdhary). The Buddhist Lichchavis were probably Kirat people. The Kirat king Jatidasti ruled in parts of Modern Nepal during Buddha's time. Map | ආලවක් ආසිරි වැව | |
| Allai (SriGonakanda [Trincomalee]) SERUVILA-ALLA ⚓name Seruvila is the historical name; part of Kavantissa's domain Meaning: Place where the yam 'Katuala' is found c.f. 'Alla Govi-Janapadaya' in Mooduthara (Muttur), Dehiwatte, Somapura etc. This irrigation area was set up by constructing an anicut across the Veharagala (Verugal) river, a tributary of the Mahavaeli Ganga. Hist. See G. D. A. Perera's article linked under 'Sampur'. "Allai veva" should be rendered "serupura". The place previously known as "Ali-oluva" (Ali Oluwa), and part of this area is now known as "Seru-Nuvara". An ,inscription of King Dappula IV found here refers to 'Kaudulu vehera'. Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara (-2 nd Cent.) is a UNESCO Protected site. World-H heritage Page Calgary Buddhists to build houses for Seruwila IDPs | සේරුවිල- අලපේ | |
| Allaipiddi (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ALAPITIYA ⚓name Meaning: Tamil Lexicon does not list a "Piddi" Also, பிட்டி, 'pitti' does not provide a useful meaning. The Tamil pitti is usally associated with "bhittika" or "wall" in Sanskrit. Hence its use in Sri Lankan Tamil has been identified as originating from the Sinhala word "pitiya". The S. word has a clearer contextual validity. history1 Typical war report Located in Urathota (Kaytes Island) see Jaffna map1 | අලපිටිය | |
| Alaveddi, Alavetti, அளெவட்டி (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) AELAVEDDA ⚓name Meaning: Tamil "Veddi" or Vetti have no immediate contextual meaning listed in the standard Tamil Lexicons. The Sinhala "Vadda" in this instance is "approach", path or passage, from "Vadeema", and would agree with the Tamil 'Viti'. 'Ala' in tamil could mean 'muddy', while the sinhala 'aelavaedda' could mean a path defined by (occasional) flow of water. more commonly, 'mud', muddy' in T. is சேறு. Map | ඇලවැද්ද | |
| Alavedduvan (Giranikke [Killinochchi]) ALAVAEDDUVA ⚓name Map | ඇලවැද්දුව | |
| Alavi(Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ALAVIYA ⚓name Birth place of G. G. Ponnambalam 1948 elections | ඇලවිය | |
| Alayadimaduchchenai (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) ARATUMADUHENA ⚓name Map | ඇරටුමඩු හේන | |
| Aliavalai, Aliyavalai (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ALIAVALA ⚓name Meaning: 'Alia' in S. is Elephant, 'vala' is pit. Tamil for elephant is "Yanai". 'Ali' has no contextual meaning in T., but 'valai' is 'place'. Map | අලියවල | |
| Alipalai, Aliyapalai (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ALIAPAELA ⚓name See remarks under 'Aliavalai'; in S., 'pala' is place. Regional map | අලිපැල | |
| Aliyansaintakulam (Mannarama [Mannar]) ALISATHUVAEVA ⚓name, ALIANSANTHAVAEVA Meaning: In S., it means 'the tank dedicated to elephants'. No clear meaning may be attributed in Tamil. Map | අලිසතුවැව | |
| Aliyadiwembu, Aliyadivembu, Alayadivempu (Ampare) AERATIKOHOMBE; ⚓name Wembu, vem,bu is the 'Kohomba'(Sinhala), or Neem tree. | ඇරටිකොහොඹෙ | |
| Aliyarvaddai (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) ALIYAVAEDDA ⚓name The AE rhymes with the A in HAT Meaning: In S., 'Vaedda' could mean 'forest' or 'entered (arrived)', c.f., Pali "Vattani". 'Alia' in S. is 'elephant, 'Aliyar' is dialect for 'big elephant'. Map | අලියවැද්ද | |
| Alkaddiveli, Alkaddiveli Kulam (Mannarama [Mannar]) ALAGEDIVE'LLA ⚓name, here E' is long, as in BEijing Map | අලගෙඩිවේල්ල | |
| Alaikkalluppoddakulam (Vannimava [Vavuniya]) ALAGALPOTHVAEVA ⚓name Map | අලගල්පොත්වැව | |
| Allaippiddi (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ALAPITIYA ⚓name ven. E Medhananda cites this place as an ancient Buddhist site map | අලපිටිය | |
| Amarivayal (Puhulmotte [Pulmoddai]) Amariyal Kulam AEVARIVATTA ⚓name Meaning: 'Aevari' is a Sinhala short-form derived from 'Nil Averi', or Indigo, a blue-dye producing plant. Latin (botanical) name is Indigofera suffruticosa, Indigofera tinctoria<, pea family. The place name 'aevarivatta' exists in the southern provinces. In T., Neela Amari is the name for blue indigo. Map | ඇවරිවත්ත | |
| Ambantativu, Ambanttativu (Puththalama [Puttalam]) SAMBANDA-DOOVA ⚓name Meaning: 'Sambanda'(සම්බන්ධ) means attached or nearby in Sanskrit, Sinhala and and indeed absorbed into Tamil as well. This is the island closest to the Kalpitiya (Galpitiya) jut-out, being less than a kilometer away. Map Part of the post-war tourist development project: Sri Lankan government to lease out 10 more islands in the Kalpitiya area for tourism | සම්බන්ඩ දූව | |
| Amirthakaly (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) RASAKINDALE ⚓name Meaning: In S. and T 'Amurtha' is 'sweet, food of the gods'; Also Sinhala 'Rasakinda' is Tinospora Cordifolia , It is called 'Shindil-kodi' as well as Amirthavalli in Tamil, Heart-leaved moonseed in English, and 'sarakpunka in Sanskrit. Thus 'Rasakindale' stands for a 'forest of Rasakinda'. Map | රසකිඳෙල | |
| Ammivaittan (Vavnimava [Vayniya]) AMBAVATHTHANA ⚓name Disc.: 'Amba' in S., 'Amiram' and 'mangai' in Tamil, is 'mango'. "Mangifera Zeylanica" is endemic to Sri Lanka and is a threatened species. See Ceylon Mango Map | අඹවත්තන | |
| Ampakamam (Giranikke [Killinochchi]) AMBAGAMA ⚓name 'Amba' is Mango, and 'gama'(S), signify 'village'. In Tamil, 'kamam', கமம், implies 'tillage' or 'cultivation, in Tamil Nadu, but used for village in the N & E Sri Lanka, the usage probably originating in Sinhala. Map | අඹගම | |
| Ampalavanpokkanai (Mooladoova [MUlaitivu]) UPULVANPOKUNA ⚓name In Tamil 'Ampalavaanan' is sometimes a name for Siva. The 2009 LTTE last stand and the No Fire Zone in 2009 (NFZ) included this area. see Manukfarm or Menik farm and Upulvan in the safe zone Map | උපුල්වන් පොකුන | |
| Ampan (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ANGPAANA ⚓name Map | අංපාන | |
| Amparai, Ampari AMPARE, AMPARA, AMBARA ⚓name Ampara is also the name of the administrative district. Meaning. In Tamil "Amparai" may mean " rock", or mica. Hist. Ambara-gama, part of Kavantissa's domaine. 'Ampara' is most probably derived by tamilization of 'Ambara', b → p. The "ambagaama" mentioned in the chronicles (Cv .lxx.321) is modern Ambagamuva, and not Ambaragama. "Ambalala" and Ambamaala Vihaara., in the Ruhuna, are mentioned in Cv.lxxiv.58, and Cv.xlv.55. 'Ambara' in Pali & Sanskr. means "horizon", and may aptly describe the open-sky of "Ambaranagari". "Ambara" also refers "garments, clothes" as in "Shethambara", "haridambara", etc. Whether "Ambaragama" produced clothes and garments in antiquity is not known. The name may also be from "Amba-ara", i.e., "amba-river", but we have found no records. It is the Gal Oya river which flows by Ampara, as seen in map2 given below. In spite of the well established inscriptional and literary history of this town, tamil nationalists have claimed this to be a "traditional Tamil village" with the name "Ampal Eri". There is no evidence supporting this claim, and in fact most Tamil writers use the form "Amapari".The sinhala name-boards were correctly restored in 1964 when Mr. Olcott Gunasekera was the Government Agent of the area. map1 map2 asiatribune lankatruth The town itself was populated (during the Eelam war-CFA perid) with a large number of NGOs and INGOs. See city map with NGOs who agreed to be shown. A movie named "Gamini" was located in the Amapara area and based on the Eelam war. The film was directed by Sarath Weerasekera, a Member of Parliament who was a Rear Admiral in the Navy during the Eelam wars. This was filmed in Gonagala, a village setting in this area. Gaminiඅම්පාර | ||
| Amplanthurai (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) AMBANLANTHARA ⚓name, AMBALANTOTA Meaning: Tamil "Ampalan", is not in the Tamil Lexicon, 'Thurai' is related to Skrt. 'Theetha'. The Sinhalese version is a typical place name; 'thara' and 'thota' often interchange in such place names. tamilnet Map | අම්බලන්තර | |
| Amutankulam (Mooladoova [Mullativu]) AMUDANVAEVA ⚓name Map | අමුදන්වැව | |
| Anaicoddai, Anaicottai, Anaikoddai (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) AENIKOTTE ⚓name Meaning: Tamil, அணை, 'Anai' and Sinhala 'A`niya' may mean 'dam'. 'coddi' may be a tamilization of Kotta=Kotuwa (fort) in sinhala, or 'Kottai' in Tamil. Map | ඇනිකෝට්ටෙ | |
| Anaipanthy (yapana [Jaffna]) HAANAPANDA ⚓name Disc. Unlike in 'Anaicoddai', or anikotte, here 'anai' is related to ploughing, or 'hanava' in Sinhala; see under 'Anaippapan'. terrorism Map | හානපන්ද | |
| Anaippapan (mannaram [Mannar]) HAANAPAMANA ⚓name Disc. The Sinhala meaning is clear. Even in Tamil, "anaippu", ்அணைப்பு , could mean the extent of land that can be ploughed in a day. Map | හානපමන | |
| Anaisuddapottanai(Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) HAANAKUDAPATANA ⚓name See disc. under Anaipanthy and other 'Anai-'. Map | හානකුඩාපටන | |
| Analaitivu (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ANNALADOOVA ⚓name, INNLADOOVA Meaning: Tamil 'analai' has no clear meaning; 'tivu' in T, 'diva' in S, and 'dweepa' in Skrt. The Sinhalese 'annala', 'innala', or 'ran-ala' are types of yam. Hist: The form Annelletivo, is given in Dutch records. historical Notes map | අන්නලදූව | |
| Anaitivu (SiriGonakanda[Trincomalee]) ANIYADOOVA ⚓name Disc. This is located on a branch of the "galoya", near Verugala. 'Aniya' here means 'dam' or 'vella' (වේල්ල), unlike in 'Anaippapan'. Map | ඇනියදූව | |
| Anaiviluntan(mannaram[Mannar]) HAANAVILTANNA, ALIVILTANNA ⚓name In Malayalam 'Aana' can mean 'Elephant', leading to a Tamil 'aani' in addition to the 'yaanai'. See disc. under previous 'Ani-' names. map | අලිවිල්තැන්න | |
| Analkaddimady(Puhulmotte[Pulmoddai]) HAKKATUMATIYA ⚓name This is located between Puhulmotte (Pulmoddai) and Gokanna(Trinco). Disc. 'Anal,anar' in T. could mean neck, jaw etc. 'Kaddimadi' has no clear tamil meaning. 'Hakkatu' are (elephant)jaw bones in Sinhala. Map | හක්කටුමැටිය | |
| Anandamkula, Anandankuli(Mooladuva [Mullaitivu]) JAANAKAPURA ⚓name, Janakapura This is near Welioya (Manal aru) which is at the intersection of Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Vavniya and Anuradhapura districts. Map | ජානකපුර | |
| AndiyapuliKukulam (Vavnimava[Vavniya]) AANDIKOTIVAEVA ⚓name Disc. 'Aaandi' or Andi, [Kannada. and Malayalam. āṇḍi, Tamil: ஆண்டி āṇṭi] are a non-Brahmin Hindu mendicant group, usu. dressed in yellow. The place-name could have also arisen from "andun-koti-vaeva" as well, where "andun" refers to a black colour. Map | අඳුන් කොටිවැව ආˡඩි කොටිවැව | |
| Andimunnai, Aandimunai (Halaawatha [Chilaw]) AANNDIMUNNA ⚓name Disc. 'Aaandi' or Andi, [Kannada. and Malayalam. āṇḍi, Tamil: ஆண்டி āṇṭi] are a Hindu mendicant group, usu. dressed in yellow. Many such mendicants may have come by sea and the area south-east of Galpitiya (Kalpitiya) has several place names involving "Aandi". The word "Munna" is a frontal projection ("muhuna") or abutment of land into the sea or lake. People smuggling starting from the Halavatha (Chilaw) coastal area | ආˡඩි මුන්න | |
| Andankulam(Mooladoova[Mullaitivu]) ANDUNVAEVA ⚓name Disc. 'Andan' → 'Anthan' in Tamil, and "andha" (Sihala, Sanskrit etc.) can have several meanings, e.g., Yama, blind man, dark/black, etc. This village is located by the sea, south of Mooladoova Map | අඳුන්වැව | |
| Aninchiyankulam(Giranikke[Killinochchi]) PANNIKKIVAEVA ⚓name Disc. 'Aninchi-' has no Tamil meaning 'Pannikka' refer to a caste designation and 'Aninchiya" may have arisen from it In the 'Panniki' caste are mahots, see 'Panichankemi' Map | පනික්කිවැව | |
| Annammakulam (Mannarama [Mannar]) MAHAMAATAVAEVA ⚓name map | මහමාතාවැව | |
| Antonimelingikulam (Mannarama [Mannar]) ANDUMILINDUVAEVA ⚓name, ANTONIMELINGIVA`VA Disc. Antoni Melingi could be a Slavic/Turkish/Greek name At present we have little information on this toponym, except for a suggestion that this is a "Europeanization' of "Andumilindu' vaeva. map | අඳුමිලිඳුවැව ඇන්තෝනිමේලින්ගි වැව | |
| Addalachchena, Addalahena(Ampare) ADDARAHENA ⚓name n.b., See previous entry for Addalahena | අද්දරහේන | |
| Appakkuttikinattadi (Manaaveva[Mankulam]) MAHARATHGINIVAADIYA ⚓name Disc.- 'Maharathgini' is a fish known as 'Pterois muricata', and means 'great red fire'; It is brilliant red with black spots. In Tamil, the name 'tappakkutti' is used for the fish. The tamil adaptation of Sinhala 'ginivaadi' gives 'kinattadi' | මහරත්ගිනි වාඩිය | |
| Appalamthurai(Madakalapuva[Batticaloa]) AMBALAMTHOTA ⚓name An LTTE base till recently (2007). | අම්බලන්තොට | |
| Araly (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) AERAELLA ⚓name Meaning: No clear tamil meaning; 'Arali' in T., may be 'knot, crushed stone, seed, sea, tubercle or twist. in S. may be from '(w)aralla', or ariyala, a typical place name, where 'ari', or 'aari', referesmeans 'earlier', older (ayya), or even Arya. map birdwatching War Eelam wars, Kobbekaduwa's death etc. | ඇරැල්ල | |
| Arichchal, Periya-Arichchal, Sinna Arichchal (Puttalama) ARAKGALA ⚓name, Maha-arakgala, Podi-Arakgala These are two islands at the tip of the Kalpitiya (Galpatuna) Lagoon. The names Ahungala (close to Galle), Arangala (close to Balapitiya), and Arkgala (Kalpitiya) are related names given to islets or sites on the western shore of Sri lanka. See discussion regarding Kalpitiya | ඇරක්ගල | |
| Arippu, Arippuva (Mannarama [Mannar]) HARAPURA ⚓name, URUWELA Meaning: Tamil 'arippu', அரிப்பு, may mean 'Sifting, separating', but has no useful contextual meaning. Sinhala '...pura'--> 'puva' endings relates to a town. The Prakrit/sanskrit usage of "haara", and "Haaragitika", for perals. or bead of pearls, suggests that this may have been Haarapura, consistent with the existence of a pearl fisher in this area mentioned even in the Pali chronicles (n.b. the common sinhala word 'muthu' for perals is also linked with the Sanskrit "muktha" for pearl). The place-name 'Uruwela' has been mentioned in Mahavamsa reg. pearl fishing. history Arippu Bridge, shortest land route to Mannaram from Puttalam opened, 2011 October | හාරපුර හරිප්පුව, ඌරුවෙල | |
| Arippu (srigonakanda, [Trincomalee])) HARIPPUWA ⚓name, HARISPATTUWA Meaning see notes on 'Arippu' in mannar district. Note that the AGA division of Seruvila in located in SERUNUVARA, called Arippu in Tamil. MAP fyi | හරිප්පුව | |
| Ariyalai ((Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ARIYALA ⚓name, Ariyagala, adhiyala Ancient archaeological site. Meaning: T. "yalai" has no immediate meaning, The S. "yala" is typical place name, 'Adhi'=old 'Sihalavaththupakaranya' and 'Rasavahinya' mention an "ariyagala" which is probably in Nagadeepa. However, Ariyala or Adhiyala may have been "ariyagala", a place name which is appended as a first name. "Nagadeepa" probably was the whole of Jaffna and not just the Island Nainativu. n.b., Ellawala Medhananda favours 'Ariyagala. map hindunet | අරියාල | |
Ariyamadu(Mooladoova[Mullaitivu]) ARIYAMADUVA ⚓name Labeled #53 in Vanni Buddhist sites map Ancient Buddhist site, listed by Archaeo. Dept. Somasiri, 1982 Map | ආරියමඩුව | |
| Arugam (Bay) (Ampare [Amparai]) ARUNAGAMA ⚓name, ARRUNAMAGAMTHOTA ARAGAMA Disc. The name "Arunagama" is found in literary records, circa 1766 AD, with references to 'Tissanaga Mudiyanse', a Vedda chief. This town may be the eastern-most point in Sri Lanka, and "aruna", or "dawn" occurs first here! In fact, the easternprovince should be called the "aruna palaatha" insted of "naegenahira palaatha". (also ack., comments from Prof. Meegaskumbura). A village donate to a temple is known as 'aaraamagama' 10th century piller inscriptions near Kondavatavana ruins have used the shortened "aaragama" to refer to an "aaraamagama" there Karanda oya falls into the sea at aaragama Legend. Arugam-bay could be aragamthara → Araganthara "Aragama", which means "that village", as pointed out to King Kavantissa. Also Saigama, where "Sai" -> six -> "Aru" in T. > Both are unsubstantiated, "Jana Pravada". The 'gama' in S. is never used as such in T. where it becomes 'kamam'. Meaning. 'Ara' in S., and 'Aru' in T. refer to a water stream. Today Arugam bay is an internationally known surfing destination. It was strongly affected by the 2004 Dec. 26th Tsunami. Return to Arugam bay by Ratnatunga. Tsuanmis in Sri Lanka | අරුණගම, අරුණගංතාට | |
| Arugampuleliya (Vavnimava [Vavniya]) ARAGAMPULELIYA ⚓name The name is insignificantly tamilized | අරුණගම-පුල්එලිය | |
| Arukarkudah(SriGonakanada[Trincomalee]) AARAGALTHUDAWA ⚓name A branch of the Galoya flows into the ocean here Map | ආරගල් තුඩාව | |
| Arukuveli (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ADDARAVAELLA ⚓name Disc. In S., refers to the 'beach nearby' This is also consistent with a similar meaning for 'Arukku' in T. Map see Jaffna map1 | අද්දරවැල්ල | |
| Arumugathanputhukulam, Arumukattanputukkulam (Vavnimava [Vavniya]) KANDAKUMARAVAEVA ⚓name Meaning: 'Arumugathan=six faces' is 'Lord Murugan' in Hindu lore 'Kanda" in S. is 'Skanda", and 'Puthukulam' is 'kumaravaeva' instead of 'newtank'='puthukulam' in T. fyi කඳකුමාරවැව | කන්ධ කුමාරවැව | |
| Aruviaru, Araviaru (Mannaram) MALVATHUOYA ⚓name Meaning T. 'aruvi'= 'falls', but today there are no important falls in this waterway. This is the second longest river in SL. The river is mentioned in the Pali chronicles and connected the old capital, Anuradhapura to the annciet port, Mantota; its earliest name is "Kadamba Nadiya". Robert Knox calls it Malvatu oya (Mannar) history | මල්වතුඔය | |
| Asikulam (Vavnimava, [Vavniya]) AADHIVAEVA ⚓name No clear meaning in Tamil map SPUR | ආදිවැව | |
Atambagaskada(Vannimava[Vavniya]) ATAMBAGASKADA ⚓name Ancient Buddhist site. There is a "Kiriviharaya", and a "Sudramaramaya" near here. The ruins include a shrine room, remnants of a square building, many stone pillars, and destroyed brickwork. There is part of a stone sculpture and signs of a much larger Buddha statue. The eyes of the head of the statue have been plundered by treasure hunters. The present-day temple itself has several archaeological objects, including a Samadhi statue, and inscriptions of the 7-8th CE. Labeled #97 in Vanni Buddhist sites map | ඇටඹගස්කඩ | |
| Atchuveli ((Yapanaya [Jaffna]) ATHURUVAELLA ⚓name 'Atchu' or 'Achchu', no clear contextual meaning in Tamil 'AthuruVAELLA' is common sea-side name in Sinhala see entry under Achchuveli. Buddhist ruins. Phillipus Baldaeus-(a Dutch who in Jaffna for 9 years) records a great pagoda in Atchuveli, where the Portuguese army beat the Last Sinhala army unit in the peninsula. | අතුරුවැල්ල | |
| Athimottai, Attimottai, Attimoddai (Mannarama [Mannar]) HASTHIMOTTE; ⚓name. AETHUMOTTÉ, Meaning: Tamil for elephant is "Yanai", or "Gajam" from the Skrt. 'Gaja'. 'Athi' could be vaguely connected with a 'fig tree' in Tamil or Sinhala ('aththikka' tree) but this is not a species found here 'Motté' ← Moddé ← Madé signifies a muddy, swampy place. The latin word for 'marsh' is 'madeo', while Skrt. 'manda' means slime. Ancient Buddhist ruins, see p.78 E Medhananda(2003) Map | හස්තිමොටේ | |
| Athiyamalai,Ayittiyamalai (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) HASTHIYAKANDA ⚓name, A`THKANDURA Meaning: See discussion under Athimottai Map | හස්තිකන්ද | |
| Attanakkallai (Anuradhapura) ATHTHANAGALLA, Hattha-Vanagalla, Hasthikchci Hasthikuchchi (see write up under Hasthikuchchi, near Galigamuwa). The Athtnagalla Vihara is famous for its association with the legendary `Bodhisatva king' Siri Sanghabo who reigned from 300-302 CE, is recounted in the 13th century Pali literary work known as the "Hattha Vanagalla Vihara Vamsa". Article on Siri Sangabo and Atthanagalu vamsa The pious king renounced throne when faced with an uprising engineered by his ambitious younger brother Gotahbaya, and became a forest hermit. However, Gothabaya placed a ransom on the out-going king's head. When a wondering peasant came across the hermit, the peasant told the hermit ex-king about the ransom on his head. The legend states that the ex-king offered his own head as a gesture of `daana' (selflessly giving to others), a concept that is an important part of the Buddhist ethic which aims to extinguish selfish greed. However, similar legends of pious kings who become hermits and donate their head are found in several classical traditions of Asia minor and India. | හස්සංගල්ල | |
| Atumagaskodai, Athumagaskotai, Atumagaskoda (Vannimava [Vavniya]) ATUMAGASKADA ⚓name, ATUMAGASKADA Meaning: ATUMANG-ASAKADA → AETUMANG-ASKADA → ATUMAGASKODA ``Aetu manga'' in sinhalese is the `path' taken by elephants. The name probabaly means the village near the path of the elephants. Compare Alimankada (elephant pass); This is a small village about 7 km towards the North of Vannimava (Vavniya). Development in the area after the war, a report in 2012 | ඇතුමංගස්කඩ | |
| Ayiniyankankani Alavakkai (Mannarama[Mannar]) ALAVAKA ⚓name This is very close to 'Alavakkaisirukkulam' and the whole area was probably originally known as AALAVAKA This is of interest in regard to possible pre-Vijayan North Indian contacts with Sri lanka. See under 'Alavakkasisirikkulam' Map | ආලවක | |
| Azhiyanilai,Aliyanilai (Gantale [Kantalai]) AADININDAYA ⚓name Disc. 'Aziyamarutal' in T. means 'Property given in Perpetuity In Sinhala., 'Aadinindya' implies an old 'nindagama' This is close to the north of Somawathie Chaitya Sanctuary. Hotel construction near Somaathie, 2010 | ආදිනින්දය | |
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Butthankalai, Buddhanakalai, Putthankalai (Ampara)
BUDDHANGALA, ⚓ Buddhanagala, KARAJIKA-GALA
Disc. see Putthankalai බුද්ධංගල
C
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| Chadayantalawa, Chadayantalava (Ampara) DADAYANTALAVA ⚓name "This means "Hunting plane" and the sinhala "The-ද" has become Tamilzed to "Cha". The name "Dadayanthalaava" was correctly used even in 1948 | දඩයන්තලාව |
| Chaddi, Chaaddi, Catti, சாட்டி (Jaapanaya [Jaffna]) VAADIYA ⚓name This is a small coastal location on the Urathota (Kayts Island) shore. "Vaadiya" is used to designate a hut or encampment associated with fishing or agricultural activity. By extension, it can apply to a tract of land used in farming, pasturage etc. Thus we have "parana-vaadiya" (Old-encampment), and "Thanamal-vaadiya" (Tract of flowering-grass), "Kurakkan-vaadiya"(chena of Millet) etc, in various parts of the country including the eastern province. -- The very small old-town area near the Bentota tourist complex, (southern province) was originally known as "Vaadiya" as it started as an oyster-fishery complex (but inhabited by social groups not associated with fishing "castes", as well as sinhala families with Dutch names, e.g., van de Bona). In the early part of the 20th century "Vaadiya" in Bentota had a small "Rest house" and the "main street" itself was known as "Vaadiya". A remarkable Dutch church which existited till 1960, and used as a school, was unfortunately demolished by a government which had no sense of historical monuments. A Buddhist temple on a hillock (Udakotuva Vihaara) is of historical significance, but has no known ancient artifacts. This temple, and the more celebrated "Yaathramulle temple" a few kilometers away, had monks who taught Wilhelm Geiger, Rhys Davis and other western Pali pioneers. -- It should also be noted that the form "kumburu-kattiya" may be used for a "tract of paddy land", and "kattiya" is probably derived from the Pali (c.f., Kottaasa). It means a tract or division (of land in the present context). Thus "chaddi" could also be related to "kattiya". The root of the word in Dravidian etymology may well be in the Sanskrit from of "Kotthaasha". Interestingly, the usage of the word சாட்டி cāṭṭi; in Tamil is more commonly for "Land lying fallow after a crop" (see Madras Tamil Lexicon, p 1356). The place name "Chaddi" in Urathota shore is mostly likely derived from වාඩිය, i.e., the location of a fishing encampment. | වාඩිය |
| Chalai Challai (Mooladoova[Mullaitivu] THALAAVA ⚓name, TALAWA This is south of Punnainiravi and north of Chundikulum Note that the tamil "thillai" is used for a type of mangrove, Excoecaria agallocha but we believe that this is not the basis of this toponomy. The word may also have come from the Sanskrit "Saila", i.e., stone, or from the sinhala "Daella", squid shells. But 'Thalaava' is toponymically our preferred choice for this location. [On the other hand, the place named 'Galle', the capital of the southern province may have arisen from 'Saila→Gala→Galla', ගාල්ල.] See map of Punnainiravi and Chalai | තලාව |
| Challi-munai (Gonakanna [Trincomalee]) Sailamunna, GALMUNNA ⚓name 'Challi' is from the Sanskrit 'Saila', sinhala 'silaa' for stone. The word 'Gal' may have also originated from 'Chall(i)→Gal', while a Sumerian source has also been proposed! The stones may be limestone, coral stone etc. Similarly, there is a Challik-kalappu or "Galkalapuva" (stoney lagoon) in the same area. | ගල්මුන්න |
| Challik-kalappu (Gonakanna [Trincomalee]) GALKALAPUVA | ගල්කලපුව |
| Challitivu (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) GALDOOVA, Sailadoova This was originally a small group of reefs and rocks, now damaged and also enlarged into an islet during the 2004 Tsunami. It represents a very fragile eco-system, and is located in the Madakalapuva lagoon. It should not be opened up for tourism. | ගල් දූව |
| Chalampan, Chaalampan (Mannaram[Mannar]) SAALAPANA ⚓name , SAALAVANA Disc. The Sal tree, Bot., shorea robusta is a timber tree with fragrant flowers and 'canon-ball' like fruits. Botany Page Sal is either the "cannon ball tree", or the related north Indian diperocarpaceae referred to as 'Salva', 'sakhu', 'shal' and also 'kandar' Sanskrit and pali names are also Saala. The names 'saala', and also 'Sal' are used in Elu-Sinhala, modern Sinhala and in north Indian languages. In Tamil Nadu, 'chaalamban' is a soft-wood tree, '. The 'Sal' tree itself is called 'Kungkiliyam' (p 954 of the Madras Tamil lexicon). See also Kunturukkam, p996 of MTL. Thus the use of 'Chala' in the place name clearly supports the derivation of the Lankan-Tamil form 'chaala' from the sinhala 'saala'. The tree has a special place in Buddhist belief and lore, as Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha, ia claimed to have been born in Lumbini park, (in modern Napal), under a Sal tree. Similarly, the Parinibbana (passing way) is said to have taken place in a grove of Sal trees in Kusinara (Kushinagar) of the Malla kingdom. The Sal tree when tapped, yields white opaline resin which is burnt as incense in Hindu/Buddhist religious ceremonies. It is also used for caulking boats. The seeds are used for oil extraction. The hardy wood does not take a polish and is used in heavy construction. An oil obtained from the sal fruit is used in lamps. The Sal tree is an object of worship among Buddhists and Hindus. The tree "Vateria indica", Skrt. 'Sarja', is known in Tamil as Kundirikam or 'kungilium', dhup-maram, and may be confused with the "sal' tree. Map සාලපන | සාලවන |
| Chalampan (Chinnach-), (Periya-) சாளம்பன் (Mooladoova[Mullaitivu]) SAALAVANA (kuda) (Maha) SAALAVANA ⚓name for this entry See Disc. under 'Chalampan' in Mannar. | සාලවනය (කුඩා-), (මහ-) |
| Chalampaikkulam (Vannimava[Vavniya]) SALGASVAEVA ⚓name See discussion under Chalampan Map | සල්ගස්වැව |
| Chalampakerni, Chaalampaikkeani (Madakalapuva[Batticaloa]) SAALAKAENNA ⚓name See discussion under Chalampan There is also a'Saalahena', i.e., 'Chalampaicheannai' in this area. 'SaalaKaenna' is a dug-out region, near a forest of Sal trees. Sal is either the "cannon ball tree", or the related north Indian diperocarpaceae referred to as 'Salva', 'sakhu', 'shal' and also 'kandar' 'Kaenna' is from the sinhala 'kaeneema', to dig. Map | සාලකැන්න |
| Chammalai (Mooladoova [Mullaitivu]) GAMMALE ⚓name, Gammmalé The word " malé " has been used since ancient times in Sinhala to indicate hilly or mountainous regions. Thus "Kothmalé" is referred to in the story of Prince Gamunu (later Dutugamunu), 2nd century CE. The word is derived from the Sanskrit use of Mleccha, and Pali Milakkha to mean barbarian or hillman , (e.g., p. 533 of the Pali Text society dictionary). See also Geiger, Pali Grammar p622, Milaaca [by-- form to milakkha, via milaccha → milacca → milaaca". The above usage in Pali and Sanskrit, for hill tribes ("non-Aryans=barbarians"), suggests that the word "malé", or " malaya " found in modern and old Sinhala for "hilly region" probably came from these source languages. The form "malai" found in Tamil dates to the Changam period, and may have also arisen from Sanskrit sources. The contention by T. Burrow and M. B. Emeneau, (A Dravidian etymological dictionary, Oxford 1961, p. 314) that malai is an original Tamil word, because it occurs in Sangam poetry, is untenable as the Sanskrit sources are older. Karthigesu Indrapala's claim (p 375, The Evolution of an Ethnic Identity, Chennai 2006) that "some of the early geographic names in the Pali chronicles also seem to indicate the influence of Dravidian languages", is also based on the erroneous Burrow-Emmaneua etymology of "malaya", and possibly "pattana" (see entry under "Yapapatuna"). This village is part of the Weli-oya development area | ගම්මලේ |
| Chammanthurai, Samanthurai, Sammanthurai சம்மாந்துறை (Ampara) SAMANTHARA ⚓name See discussion under: Samanthurai | සමන්තර |
| Champoor, Sampur சம்பூர் (Gokanna [Trincomalee]) SOMAPURA ⚓name See entry under Sampur | සෝ මපුර |
| Champuththurai, Camputurai (Yapanaya[Jaffna]) JAMBUKOLA ⚓name This is on the mainland near the causeway to Karainagar. Disc.-The name suggests that this may have been the 'Jambukola' of the Mahavamsa. Kankesanthurai is also a candidate for the Mahavamsa port. See entry under Kankesanthurai | ජම්ඹුකෝල |
| Chamalankulam (Vannimava [Vavniya]) SAMALAN-VAEVA, Halmillavaeva | හල්මිල්ලවැව |
| Camulaiyativattai, ChamulaiyadiVaddai, சமுளையடி வட்டை (Madakalapuva[Batticaloa]) HALMILLAVATTA Disc.- 'Halmilla' is sinhala for 'Berrya cordifolia' and is close to the Tamil name 'Chamandalai' for this valuable timber tree. | හල්මිල්ලවත්ත |
| Chandilipai(Yapanaya[Jaffna]) See Sandilipai | සන්දිලිපේ |
| Chandrapuram (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) CHANDRAPURA | චන්ද්ර පුර |
| Chankanai, Sankanai (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) CHANDANA 'Chandana' means Sandalwood in literary S., from Pali. See Gomarankadawala regarding "Sandun Kumara" cult See Old Dutch map, Changana Base Hospital map | චන්දන |
| Chankattarvayval(Yapanaya[Jaffna]) SANGATARAVYA Disc. -'cankattaar' in Tamil refers to 'Buddhist and Jian fraternity of monks, c.f., Madras tamil Lexicon, p1222 'Sangataravaya' would be the side, or promenade allocated to the monks. Compare also with the name "Hanguranketha ← Sanga-sathu-ketha" See Jaffna area Map. | සංගතරවය |
| Chankaththanai, Chankattanai (Yapanaya[Jaffna]) SANGASTHAANA This is close to Chankattarvayval and was probably a part of a larger Buddhist complex. See entry under 'Pachchilaippalli' (Paththirapahala) which is nearby. 'Thaenna' is a common sinhala ending for 'place', location In pure tamil the usage is '(s)thaanam', and the form 'thanai' found only in Sri Lanka is probably a sign of adaptation from Sinhala. | සංගස්තානය |
| Chavakachcheri, Chaavakachcheari சாவகச்சேரி (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) JAAVAKACHERAYA, Chavakachcheriya, Javakachcheri Sinhala Meaning. Area where Javanese people lived, "Java town" According to the Mahavamsa, Chandrabhanu, a Javanese ruler from Tambralinga invaded SL in the 13th Century CE. His armies landed in Gokanna(Trinco), and used blow pipes and poisoned arrows, and ruled Jaffna for three decades. Tambralinga is in the south isthmus of Thailand, close to Malaysia. Jaffna or Japané was a main Javanese settlement left behind by Charndrabhanu. The largest Buddhist shrine to God Natha was in Chavakakachcheri (Javakachcheri). It was destroyed by the Portuguese. Natha, or "Naaka" was the God of the Naga people who lived in Nagadeepa, the ancient name of the Jaffna peninsula as found in the Pali chronicles. See entry under Jaffna. See Dutch Map, Chiavagacherij, Chavakgatzeri, Chawagacheri see Jaffna map1 Politics.There was a noteworthy Muslim presence in Chavakachcheri. Some 500 Muslims were expelled on 25th October 1990 with just two hours notice by the LTTE. They were a part of the 85,000 muslims expelled from the North. By the year 2000 most of the city had been destroyed by the war. See muslim expulsion S. Kadirgamar on the "Final Report of the Citizens’ Commission on the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTE in 1990 This is the birth village of Thamilselvan, spokesperson of the LTTE since the demise of Anton Balasingham. Tamilselvan was kill in Nov 2007 V. Kumaraswamy was the first MP of this seat in the first general election, 1947. | ජාවකච්චේරිය |
| Chavatkaddu, Chaavatkaddu, Cavarkattu" சாவற்கட்டு (Yapanaya[Jaffna]) JAAVAKADUVA Disc.- This was another area in the peninsula where the Javanese people inhabited, and developed a tradition of boat building. Boat building has existed here even in recent times. See also entry under place name 'Chavalkaddu' | ජාවකඩුව |
| Chavangkoddai (Yapanaya[Jaffna]) JAAVANG-KOTTE, Ja-kotte This is a fortification associated with the Javanese. Charndrabhanu II used this fortification to fight the Magha. Seee entry under Chavakachcheri | ජාවකෝට්ටෙ |
| Chavalkaddu (Mannaram[Mannar]) HABALKADUVA This is a ferry point, and 'habal' in Sinhala is "Oar' In tamil 'cavalakkaarar' is a ferryman. Caaval is a male cock and 'caavar-kattu' is a cockfight ( see p1339, Madras T. lexicon), but there is no tradition of cock-fighting here. See under Chavalakkadai for other details of the word "chaval" and Saevul. | හබල්කඩුව |
| Chavalakkadai, Chaavalkkadai(Madakalpuva[Batticaloa]) KUKULKADE, SAEVULKADE (anchor name) 'Chaaval' or Chaval is a rooster in Malayalam and Tamil, 'Kukula' in Sinhala (kukkuta in Pali). The Malayalam word has been admitted to sinhala in the form "saevul", as in the "Saevul sandesha" of Alagiyavanna Mukaveti (Alagiawanna Mohottala, 17th century). The earliest literary use of the word "saevul" in sinhala is probably found in Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula's 15th century work, composed during the time of Parakramabahu VI, named "The Nightingale's Message (or Epistle-Poem)" Salalihini Sandeshaya; verse 25 line 2, "rane- yataga savulindu dada ga_lapa-ya". Sri Rahula and others See also entry under 'Chavalkaddu' Map | කුකුල්කඩේ සැවුල් කඩේ |
Cheddikulam, Chettikulam, Vettikulam (Vavnimava [Vavniya]) HETTIAEVA, GEDIWEWA Labeled #110 in Vanni Buddhist sites map For label no: 111 click here For label nos: 112, 113 click here For label nos: 114,115,116 click here Ancient Buddhist ruins, Listed in 1982 by Archaeo. Dept. Somasiri Galara (Kalaru) stream and several private lands are included in this list. Some 500 acres used for tobacco farming contain ancient ruins, remnants of a large stupa, old bricks, stone pillars etc. Meaning Tamil, 'cheddi'=community 'Hetti' or 'Chetti' was a merchant community cited even in the Pali texts Type of report filed with Canadian Govt reg. army checkpoint | හෙට්ටිවැව |
| Cheddipalayam, Chettipalayam (Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) KADAPEELIYA, KADAPALA Meaning S. 'town area' ; T. could mean'community place' Tsunami | කඩපල |
| Cheddiyakurichchi, Chettiyakurichchi (Giranikke, [killinochchi]) HETTIYAKULISSA Meaning: Kuliya, Kulissa or 'pattuwa' in S., and 'Kudiyiruppu' T. are words which may mean 'quarters', or 'ethnic area' The word `Kuli' was used in old sinhala for hamlet or village. 288 the verse (9th century), Sigiri Mirror-wall – "I am Gunakara (of) Ambagam-kuli (of the) Northern Province Clear map of area near Yapana lagoon | හෙට්ටිකුලිස්ස |
| Cheddukulam, Chettukulam (Mannarama) KEHETUVAEVA See military Action-2008 map near Mannar | කෙහෙටුවැව |
Chelleivillu (mooladoova[Mulaitivu]) SAALIYAVILA Labeled #31 in Vanni Buddhist sites map Ancient Buddhist ruins, Listed in 1982 by Archaeo. Dep. Somasiri | සාලියවිල |
| Chempankundu(yapanaya[jaffna]) KUMBURUKANNIYA Now included in the Killinochchi administrative region. This is located between Punranna(Poorneryn) and Palaava(Palavi) Disc.- 'Kanniya' is a small tract of land. 'Kundu' in T. could mean the same thing, but 'chempan' cannot be ascribed a meaning. Perhaps 'Kumburu'→chumpuru' etc ? see Jaffna area map Regional map | කුඹුරුකන්නිය |
| Chempian aru, Chempiyan pattu (Yapanaya [Jaffna]) SEMBIAN-oya, SEMBIANPATTUWA, Choranaaga oya, choranaga pattuva Meaning The Cembians are a caste associated with the Vanniyars (Vanna-kula) of Chennai. The forms 'Chempian, chempiyan', may also be a name of a queen, 'Sembian Devi', wife of Gandaraditya Chola (10th Cen.) However, Tambra in Tambraparni is (according to Rasanayagam) equivalent to "Chembu" in tamil, "Chempian pattu is `Tambarapattu'. Furthermore, the Chola King Karikala is said to have been named `Chembiyan' after his uinvasion of `Tambraparni'. This name would have been instated in the 15th century or afterward. The ancient name is believed to be 'choranaga oya'. | සෙම්බියන්ඔය, -පත්තුව |
| Chenaikudiyiruppu (Ampare) SENAAKUTIYA Meaning: In Tamil, it could mean army quarters, agreeing with the Sinhala 'Senaakutiya' | සේනාකුලිස්ස |
| Chencholai, Sencholai, Naddalamottankulam (Mooladuva [Mullaitivu]) HENDOLA, Hengolla See also entry under Vallipunam, the location of the Tiger torture prison and Victor-I base. This area (in the aluth-kulissa or puthukudiruppe district) is also called Naddalamottankulam (Naaatu-maetta-vaeva) "Hena" is "chena", i.e., slash and burn cultivation area. This location came into the news after air strikes (August 2006) on an LTTE facility, claimed by the LTTE and certain international observers to be an orphanage, while the Govt. claimed it to be a black-tiger training facility. It has clearly been both, i.e., an orphanage where the orphans get trained for war. The songs of the orphanage, "Sencholai Padalkal" reveal much more: The tomb shall wait for me Flowers as offerings shall there blossom A memorial for me who turn into a myriad atoms The burning embers shall watch over me. The poet then describes a variety of possible deaths awaiting her -such as shells and bullets. It then runs: The poison (cyanide) I bore since I became a Tigress Shall also await me. The hawk and the hound to taste my flesh Shall stalk the field where I do battle. ...All these will I endure for my land To me a grateful nation shall arise./i (name of poet) Uthayaletchumi. See section 6.5 of the UTHR(J) report no: 13, UTHR-#13 See also 'Choncholai' Unicef: Bombed orphans were not Tamil Tigers ? | හේන්දොල හේන්ගොල්ල |
| Chengalniravi (Sri Gonakanda [Trincomalee]) HEN-GAL-NIYARA Disc.- 'Hen', or 'chena' is where 'e' is as in 'Pain' Ancient Buddhist site; in the list by Archaeo. Dept.(Somasiri), 1982 | හේන්ගල්නියර |
| Chenkaladi Chenkalady(Madakalapuwa [Batticaloa]) SINHALAVAADIYA Meaning Sinhala meaning is evident; in Tamil it could mean 'red foot print' Army camp Note that there is another place known as 'Sinhalavadi' about 15 km south of Chenkalady Map of Chenkalai=sinhalawadiya Map of Sinhalavadi | සිංහලවාඩ |
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