Sri Lanka, officially known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country located in South Asia. The country is renowned for its beautiful islands and coastal areas. Here are some notable islands of Sri Lanka:
- Sri Lanka Main Island: The main island of Sri Lanka. It is the largest and most populous island in the country, covering an area of around 65,610 square kilometres.
- Mannar Island: Located in the northern part of Sri Lanka, Mannar Island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. It is known for its rich biodiversity, including various bird species and marine life.
- Jaffna Islands: Situated off the Jaffna Peninsula in the northern part of Sri Lanka, the Jaffna Islands consist of several small islands. Some notable islands in this group include Delft Island, Kayts Island, and Karaitivu Island.
- Palk Strait Islands: The Palk Strait separates Sri Lanka from India, and there are several islands within this strait. Some of these islands include Neduntivu (Delft Island), Nainativu, and Talaimannar.
- Kalpitiya Islands: Located on the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka, the Kalpitiya Islands are a group of islands known for their scenic beauty and water sports activities. They include Wilpattu Islands, Baththalangunduwa Island, and Vellai Island.
- Batticaloa Islands: Situated in the eastern part of Sri Lanka, the Batticaloa Islands are a collection of small islands in the Batticaloa Lagoon. Some notable islands in this area include Puliyanthivu Island, Buffalo Island, and Bone Island.
- Trincomalee Islands: Trincomalee, located on the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka, is known for its natural harbour and beautiful islands. Pigeon Island, which is a national park, is a popular destination for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts. Other islands in the Trincomalee area include Dutch Island, Great Basses, and Little Basses.
- Kalutara Islands: Kalutara is a coastal town located south of Colombo, and it is surrounded by several islands in the Kalu Ganga (river) and the Indian Ocean. These islands, such as Bolgoda Ruskin Island, and Kothduwa Island, are known for their mangrove forests and are ideal for boat rides and birdwatching.
- Negombo Islands: Negombo is a coastal city near Colombo, and it is bordered by a lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The lagoon is home to several islands, including Bolawatta Island, Maadam Island, and Hen Island. These islands offer opportunities for fishing, boating, and birdwatching.
- Beruwala Islands: Beruwala is another coastal town located southwest of Colombo. It is surrounded by several small islands, such as Barberyn Island, and Crow Island. These islands are known for their scenic beauty and are popular spots for boat tours and fishing.
- Madu Ganga Islands: Madu Ganga is a river estuary located in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka, near Balapitiya. It is a complex network of waterways, islands, and mangrove forests. Some of the islands in the Madu Ganga area include Cinnamon Island, Kothduwa Temple Island, and Ma Duwa Island. Boat safaris through the river offer opportunities to explore the islands and observe the diverse flora and fauna.
- Adam’s Bridge: Also known as Rama Setu, Adam’s Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals and sandbanks connecting India and Sri Lanka. It consists of small islands and is a subject of cultural and religious significance in Hindu mythology.
These are just a few examples of the islands found in Sri Lanka. The country has a diverse range of islands, each with its own unique characteristics, ecosystems, and cultural significance. Exploring these islands can be a rewarding experience for nature enthusiasts, beach lovers, and history buffs alike.
Islands
| Name | District | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bone Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 7.7523, 81.6908 Area : 13,500 square meters (3.33 acres) Shoreline : 504 meters Bone Island was initially named Bone’s Island. This is a barren, uninhabited tiny island pleasantly situated close to the mouth of the Batticaloa lagoon. |
| 2 | Buffalo Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 7.6916, 81.6973 Area : 4.5 square kilometres (1,115 acres) Shoreline : 9.41 kilometres The largest island in the Batticaloa lagoon. Covers 4.5 square kilometres (1,115 acres). Buffalo Island has an elevation of about 5 meters. |
| 3 | Mantheevu Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 7.7011, 81.6621 Area : 0.38 square kilometres (94 acres) Shoreline : 5.2 kilometres Mantivu Island (Mantheevu Island) is situated north of Valayiravu bridge and located between Thimilathivu and Vavunathivu, around 7 km from Batticaloa. It is an island where historically leprosy patients had been isolated. The island is mostly flat but rises slightly from the beach towards the centre. |
| 4 | Nasuvantivu Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 7.936, 81.537 Area : 2.0 square kilometers (500 acres) Shoreline : 7 kilometers A small island on the Valaichchenai lagoon. in Batticaloa district. Nasuvantivu has an elevation of 2 meters above sea level. The island is mainly scrubland and cultivated land. It is connected to the mainland by a causeway. |
| 5 | Periyativu Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 7.6394, 81.7275 Area : 0.17 square kilometers (41 acres) Shoreline : 1.73 kilometers A small island on the Batticaloa lagoon. Periyativu has an elevation of 1 meter above sea level. The island is comprised of small water pools, mangroves and wetlands. Eastern and Western sides of the lagoon are connected through this island. |
| 6 | Puliyanthivu Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 7.640, 81.727 Area : 1.42 square kilometers (352 acres) Shoreline : 5.9 kilometers Batticaloa town including the Batticaloa Fort. Batticaloa’s historical book Mattakalapputh Thamilakam quotes from Swami Vipulananda that Vedda’s chieftain Puliyan ruled the area and his name later adapted to the island. Puliyanthivu literally means “island of Puliyan” (Shiva means island). Also, the book quotes from the Mahavamsa that there was a caste called Pulinthar, which could be the reason for the name of the island. As per the common naming of villages in Batticaloa, which is called by the name of a tree or a pond, the island could have been using the name of tree tamarind, since there were a lot of tamarind trees in the area. Tamarind is called Puli in Tamil. It means “island of tamarind”. |
| 7 | Sallitivu Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 8.1111, 81.4634 Area : 0.03 square kilometers (8.2 acres) Shoreline : 850 meters Sallitivu Islet is a highly environmentally sensitive uninhabited island surrounded by a coral reef. After the tsunami, most of the corals died and now the beach is covered with the coral rubble. Connected to the mainland By a narrow sand bar. |
| 8 | Serayativu Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 7.651976, 81.701722 Area : 0.52 square kilometers (128 acres) Shoreline : 2.82 meters The island lies west of Mavilankamunai, north of Ichchamunai and southeast of Mandapattadi. Serayativu has an elevation of 4 meters. |
| 9 | Siriyativu Island | Batticaloa | GPS location : 7.6350, 81.7318 Area : 0.053 square kilometers (13 acres) Shoreline : 880 meters In Sinhalease, this island is called “Seru Duwa”. This is a tiny rocky island in the Batticaloa lagoon close to Periyativu Island. The island is covered in scrub and wetland plants and it is completely separated from the mainland. |
| 10 | Barberyn Island | Galle | GPS location : 6.463229, 79.969164 Area : 43,407.06 m 2 (10.7 acres) Shoreline : 897 meters Beruwela lighthouse is located on Barberyn Island on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, 475 meters off the Beruwala mainland. An exciting 10-minute boat ride from the town of Beruwela will transport you to Barberyn Island. |
| 11 | Seenigama Devalaya Island | Galle | GPS location : 6.155331, 80.090045 Area : 471 m 2 (0.15 acres) Shoreline : 84 meters Seenigama Devalaya is a tiny rocky island 100 meters off the coast of Hikkaduwa in Galle District. The island is a popular destination for locals due to its Devale, which is dedicated to the sinister “Devol Deviyo” who is known for the power of placing curses on adversaries. |
| 12 | Great Basses reef | Hambantota | Lighthouse Island GPS location : 6.181994, 81.481257 Area :1,678 m 2 (0.41 acres) Shoreline : 211 meters Western Island Area :3,221 m 2 (0.80 acres) Shoreline : 505. meters Great Basses Reef and the Little Basses Reef are two rock formations on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka with lighthouses. Locals call these ‘ Maha Ravana‘ and ‘ Kuda Ravana‘ reefs respectively. Great Basses Reef consists of 2 large formations stretching from east to west. The lighthouse lies on the eastern formation. Great Bases Reef islands lie 11.7 km off the shores of Hambantota. |
| 13 | Little Basses reef | Hambantota | GPS location : 6.240277, 81.493760 Great Basses Reef and the Little Basses Reef are two rock formations on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka with lighthouses. Locals call these ‘Maha Ravana’ and ‘ Kuda Ravana‘ reefs respectively. |
| 14 | Analaitivu Island | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.6655, 79.7750 Area : 5.4 square kilometers (1,333 acres) Shoreline : 10.5 kilometers A large populated island in Jaffna Peninsula sandwiched in between Nagadeepa Island (Nainativu) and Eluvaithevu approx 25 km from Jaffna town. Serayativu has an elevation of 4 meters. There are several Hindu temples and a few churches on the island. It has no causeway connecting it to the mainland or other islands, but it is served by a ferry service from Kayts on the neighbouring island of Velanaitivu. The Dutch called this island Rotterdam. |
| 15 | Chirutivu Island | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.645780, 80.007235 Area : 0.34 square kilometers (84 acres) Shoreline : 3.3 kilometers Chirutivu Island (Siruthivu Island) is a tear shaped island which is situated 1 km away from the Jaffna mainland and 330 meters away from the Mandativu island. The island is covered by scrublands, mangroves and tidal flats. |
| 16 | Delft Island | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.645780, 80.007235 Area : 48.29 square kilometers (195,422 acres) Shoreline : 29.0 kilometers The whole island of Delft is built on coral and limestone. The island is a typical remote Sri Lankan village. Simple houses built of coral and limestone, laid-back life and the most popular form of transport is bicycle. |
| 17 | Eluvaitivu Island | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.7021, 79.8107 Area : 1.38 square kilometers (341 acres) Shoreline : 7.4 kilometers Eluvaitivu is called “Eluva Duwa” in Sinhalese. This is a sparsely populated island in Jaffna Peninsula sandwiched between Analaitivu Island and Kayts. Eluvaitivu has a population of 555 (CPH 2012). Eluvaitivu has no causeway connecting it to the mainland or other islands, but is served by a ferry service from Kayts on the neighbouring island of Velanaiti. Interest for Polymotu project, because this island is famous for local and migratory birds. |
| 18 | Kachchatheevu Island | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.387888, 79.525681 Area : 0.66 square kilometers (163 acres) Shoreline : 7.4 kilometers Katchatheevu (Kachchativu) is a small, barren, uninhabited island located in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka. It lies right in the center of Rameswaram in India and Delft Island of Sri Lanka with about 20 km on both sides. Despite its small size, the island has a long and complex history connecting Sri Lanka and India. |
| 19 | Kakkarativu Island (Kakeraitivu) | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.4421, 79.8904 Area : 0.14 square kilometers (35 acres) Shoreline : 1.53 kilometers The Dutch called this island ” Calienye” and its called ” Sakkara Duwa“. This is an uninhabited isolated island in Jaffna Peninsula sandwiched in between Delft Island and Poonaryn lying approx 25 km from Jaffna town. The island is covered mainly with scrub jungle and ideal for Bird watching. There is a fishing village and a church on the island. The island lies 20 km from Mainland (Poonaryn) and 16 km from Punkudutivu. |
| 20 | Kanantivu Island | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.4421, 79.8904 Area : 1.03 square kilometers (255 acres) Shoreline : 4.63 kilometers Uninhabited island in Jaffna Peninsula sandwiched in between Kayts Island and Punkudutivu Island. The island is covered with natural water pools, scrubland, marshes and mangroves. The island lies in shallow water but there is no causeway connecting to either island by its sides. |
| 21 | Kannativu Island | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.59741, 80.0948 Area : 0.17 square kilometers (46 acres) Shoreline : 3.85 kilometers Uninhabited island in Jaffna Peninsula sandwiched in between Kawtharimunai and Ariyalai. Kannativu has an elevation of 1.0 meter. The island is covered with natural water pools, scrubland, marshes and the surrounding shallow sea is covered by a seagrass bed. This small and long islet is popular for local and migratory birds. The island lies in shallow water but there is no causeway connecting to either side. |
| 22 | Karaitivu Island (Karainagar) | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.7341, 79.8758 Area : 22.3 square kilometers (5500 acres) Shoreline : 21.9 kilometers Highly populated island in Jaffna Peninsula sandwiched in between Jaffna and Kayts island. The island of Karaitivu is rooted deep in the Buddhist history. It has been called Karadeepa in ancient times. This island is mentioned in the Akeerthi Jataka ( Akitti Jataka) of the 550 Jataka Stories of Buddha where an ascetic named Akeerthi who wanted to be alone, left to a park in Kavirapattana and came to the county of Soli, where dwelling in a park over against Kavirapattana, he cultivated a mystic ecstasy and supernatural faculties. He then travelled through the air and descended at the isle of Kara, which is over against the island of Naga. At that time, Karadipa was named Ahidipa, the ‘Isle of Snakes’. Karaitivu is connected to the peninsula through a 3 kilometer long causeway across the shallow waters. The main town in Karaitivu is Karainagar therefore sometimes this island is also called the Karainagar Island. |
| 23 | Karaitivu Island (Pungudutivu) | Jaffna | GPS location : 9.6090, 79.8298 Area : 1.1 square kilometers (272 acres) Shoreline : 5.05 kilometers Inhabited islet in Jaffna Peninsula wrapped halfway by Pungudutivu Island. Low sandy flats, tidal flats and tidal creeks are the salient features. The island is connected to Pungudutivu East and Karaitivu West through causeways. |
Inland Islands of Sri Lanka
In addition to the islands on the sea, there are several island clusters within rivers inside the land mass of Sri Lanka.
| Name | District | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ma Duwa Island (Madu Ganga) | Galle | GPS location : 6.302396, 80.058221 Area : 0.540 square kilometers (133 acres) Shoreline : 3.9 kilometers The largest island in the Madu Ganga in Ambalangoda. There is a 200 meter narrow bridge connecting the mainland to Meda Duwa and this island connects to the Ma Duwa with a similar bridge. Only Bicycles and Motobikes can go on this narrow bridge. The island is thinly populated and has a school as well. A thick mangrove cover surrounds the shoreline. | |
| Meda Duwa Island (Madu Ganga) | Galle | GPS location : 6.302396, 80.058221 Area : 0.540 square kilometers (133 acres) Shoreline : 3.9 kilometers The largest island in the Madu Ganga in Ambalangoda. There is a 200 meter narrow bridge connecting the mainland to Meda Duwa and this island connects to the Ma Duwa with a similar bridge. Only Bicycles and Motobikes can go on this narrow bridge. The island is thinly populated and has a school as well. A thick mangrove cover surrounds the shoreline. | |
| Kothduwa Island (Bolgoda) | Kalutara | GPS location : 6.747420, 79.917606 Area : 0.072 square kilometers (17.8 acres) Shoreline : 1.55 kilometers There are two adjoining islands in the Bogoda Lake in Piliyanda separated by a narrow water channel, Kothduwa and Ruskin Island. Kothduwa has a rich mangrove cover and is a paradise for migrating birds. Access is by boat. | |
| Ruskin Island (Bolgoda) | Kalutara | GPS location : 6.749380, 79.921593 Area : 0.338 square kilometers (83 acres) Shoreline : 3 kilometers There are two adjoining islands in the Bogoda Lake in Piliyanda separated by a narrow water channel, Kothduwa and Ruskin Island. Ruskin Island is mostly covered with mangroves and there are several popular villas and hotels spread around a gravel road around this island. Access is by boat. | |