Remains of the Mullaitivu Lighthouse (මුලතිව් ප්‍රදීපාගාරය)

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Mullaitivu Lighthouse is said to be an iron structure and was described by NGA as an “iron latticework obelisk.”  Built in 1896 to a height of 19.8 meters, it survived to for over 100 years. This was located near the mouth of the Vaduvakallu lagoon.

As per the Sailing Directions (Enroute) for India and the Bay of Bengal, the lighthouse is located at 09° 16.0′ N, 080° 49.0′ E in Mullaitivu. It is a metal framework obelisk with a dome top. 19.8 meters high. As per the Lighthouse Explorer website, it had two white flashes every 10 seconds and had a range 10 of nautical miles

There are no photos of this lighthouse nor the exact location is known. Only one sketch of the lighthouse survives in the above-mentioned book. It is said that this lighthouse was destroyed in the 1996-1997 period due to the war waged by the LTTE Tamil Tiger Terrorists.

According to a report by the Maritime Archaeology Unit of the Central Cultural Fund, a team that was carrying out archaeological research off Mullaitivu in 2013, found only the foundation if the above lighthouse as seen in the photo above.

The marker in the map points to the possible area of the lighthouse and any indication of the structure may not exist now.

The only sketch of the Mullaitivu Lighthouse to be found.
The only sketch of the Mullaitivu Lighthouse to be found.
source : Sailing Directions (Enroute) for India and the Bay of Bengal. 4th ed.

References

  1. 1989. Sailing Directions (Enroute) for India anf the Bay of Bengal. 4th ed. Defence Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center, p.126.
  2. Lighthousedigest.com. 2022. Foghorn Publishing … Lighthouse Explorer Database … Mullaittivu Light. [online] Available at: <https://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=6416> [Accessed 31 May 2022].
  3. Rowlett, R., 2006. Lighthouses of Sri Lanka. [online] Ibiblio.org. Available at: <https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/lka.htm> [Accessed 30 May 2022].
  4. Wlol.arlhs.com. 2006. Mullaittivu Light – ARLHS SLI-016. [online] Available at: <http://wlol.arlhs.com/lighthouse/SLI16.html> [Accessed 30 May 2022].

Also See

Map of  Mullaittivu Lighthouse

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travel Directions to Mullaittivu Lighthouse

Route from Colombo to Mullaittivu Lighthouse Route from Trincomalee Mullaittivu Lighthouse
Though : Chillaw – Puttlam – Anuradhapura
Distance : 345 km
Travel time : 7-8 hours
Driving directions : see on google map
Though : Kebithigillawa
distance : 175 km
Travel time : 3 hours
Driving directions : see on google map

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