Jaffna in history

Nagadipa or Naka-diva was the ancient name of the Jaffna peninsula. Nagadipa is first mentioned in the Pali chronicles of Sri Lnaka in connection with the story of the Buddha’s second visit to the island in the 6th century B.C. Mahavamsa (ch.1.vv 44-70) narrates that the Buddha during this visit made peace between two Naga kings of Nagadipa who were about to wage war over a gem-set throne. According to records seen by the Portuguese, Prince Sapumal of Kotte re-populated the barren Yapanaya with the Sinhalese of Kotte Kingdom. During the Dutch era Jaffna was populated by the south Indians brought into the peninsula for the cultivation of Tobacco. Today the Jaffna peninsula is inhabited mainly by the Tamils.

Jaffna sea port

Jaffna, a derivation of Yapa Patuna (Sinhala: Port of Yapanaya), since the ancient time had been one the four main sea ports in Sri Lanka, the others being Dambakola Patuna (KKS), Mathota (Mannar) in North-West and Gona (Trincomalee) in North-East. Jaffna’s proximity to Powerful Dravidian kingdom over the Palk Straits with a width of only 30km resulted in frequent invasion of the prosperous island by the powerful Dravidian kingdoms in the southern India. Jaffna sea port had been the springboard of the Dravidian marauders from India in the ancient history of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Fort, the second largest Dutch Fort in Sri Lanka, is located immediately south of Jaffna town, with the southern side bounded by the shallow waters of Jaffna lagoon, the inlet of the Indian Ocean that carves out the Jaffna Peninsula.

“A true and exact description of the Great Island of Ceylon” (1672) by Dutch pastor Phillipus Baldaeus, who lived in Jaffna for about nine years narrates:

The fort of Jaffnapatan is square surrounded with strong high walls as the print exhibits, it is larger than the fort of Batavia and is the capital of the entire kingdom. 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 by the great pagode, where there are still to be seen the ruins and a wonderfully large wide well, deep and round and its centre 24 fathoms deep, truly a wonderful work hewn out of a large rock.

Following a grant of LKR 104.5 million, the Department of Archaeology of National Heritage and Cultural Affairs Ministry has secured the assistance of 51 Division of Sri Lanka Army in the reconstruction works of the five sided fort that consists of high ramparts and bastions and a moat that run in the land side.

Elephant Pass

Elephant Pass is an isthmus, a narrow strip of land that links the northern mainland known as Wanni with the Jaffna Peninsula. The A-9 Highway to Jaffna as well as the Railway track to Jaffna from Colombo shares the isthmus of Elephant pass. The narrow strip of land is, in a sense the gateway to Jaffna. Elephant Pass was thought to be an impregnable military complex. The flat barren strip of land is the entry point on A9 motor road to Jaffna peninsula. During the rainy season the narrow strip of land that cut across the Jaffna lagoon tends to get flooded.