Velanai
Velanai (Tamil: வேலணை; Sinhala: වේලනෛයි) is a small village in Velanai Island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in the North of Sri Lanka.[1][2]
Velanai
வேலணை වේලනෛයි | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Velanai  Velanai | |
| Coordinates: 9°40′0″N 79°52′0″E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Northern |
| District | Jaffna |
The majority of the people are Hindus along with a minority of Christians. There are number of Hindu temples along with few churches. The village is also served by a dozen schools. Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, a well known member of parliament during the British colonial period, and his son Yogendra Duraiswamy, a Hindu activist and well known diplomat, were born in Velanai.
Since 1983, Velanai has also been the scene of violence as part of the Sri Lankan civil war including the Allaipiddy massacre.[3][4]
Also, during the civil war, Velanai housed one of the heroes' cemeteries built by the Tamil Tigers for their dead fighters in a place called Chaaddi. This cemetery was destroyed by the Sri Lankan Army in the 1990s, but then was rebuilt during the 2002 ceasefire period. However, the occupying Sri Lankan Navy once again destroyed the cemetery after the end of the civil war leaving no traces behind. This land is now occupied by John Keells, a Sinhalese-owned hotel corporate having business in the island and in the Maldives.[5]
Etymology
The name Velanai is believed to have been derived from 2 terms combined into one word. The first phrase name of the Vel which means spear. The second phrase Anai means ashore. It is believed that the god Murugan's spear landed ashore of this island. Hence the name Velanai. God Murugan is worshiped as a popular god among all the peoples in Velanai.
History
Archaeological evidence
Received per-historic archaeological evidence of ancient life in Chaaddi (Tamil: சாட்டி) sea side suggested that there was a well-organized civilization emerged in this island. Chaaddi is an important archaeological site. Artefacts ranging from protohistoric and early historic period to the times of medieval Chinese trade were found at this place.[6][7]
Geography and climate
Velani is located at 9.40°N 79.54°E. It is surrounded by the Palk Strait and at a distance of 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south-west of Jaffna town. Though most of Velani district is a level plain and also has maximum elevation of 15 metres (49 ft) above mean sea level. The total area of this island is nearly 36 km2.
Places of interest
- Vangalavadi Murugan Temple
- Velanai Perunkulam Muththumaari Amman Temple
- Periyapulam Maha Ganapathy (Mudippillaiyar) Temple - Velanai West
- Puliyankoodal Seruththanaipathi Sri Raja Mahamary Amman Temple
- Saatti Sea side
- Velanai ayyanar Kovil
- Velanai Central College
Gallery
Velanai Vangalavadi Murugan Kovil
References
- "AdministrativeMap" (PDF). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Sri Lanka. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Sri Lanka. 28 May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2007.
- "District Secretariat Velanai". Gov of Sri Lanka. Gov of Sri Lanka.
- K. T. Rajasingham (29 September 2001). "Sri Lanka: The Untold Story : Chapter 8: Pan Sinhalese board of ministers - A Sinhalese ploy". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 24 December 2001. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "Special Report No.2". University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), Sri Lanka in association with Pax Christi (an international Catholic peacemaking movement). Retrieved 1 November 2009.
- "TamilNet: 01.07.11 Eezham Tamil coastal areas intensively encroached by Sri Lanka". TamilNet. July 1, 2011.
- "TamilNet: 01.07.11 Eezham Tamil coastal areas intensively encroached by Sri Lanka". TamilNet. July 1, 2011.
- "A Historical Record of Kayts Island (2017)".
External links
