Pungudutivu Lighthouse in Jaffna

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Pungudutivu is an island situated off the Jaffna Peninsula. It lies approximately 3.5 km from the mainland to the east, separated by a shallow channel. A causeway of about 3.8 km connects the island to the mainland, providing direct access. To the west, a channel approximately 1.75 km wide separates Pungudutivu from Nainativu.

Establishment of Survey Towers in Sri Lanka

During the British colonial period, the Department of Land Surveys was formally established in Sri Lanka in 1800 CE. Under the direction of W. D. Gosset (1855–1858), a network of land survey towers was constructed across the island in 1857.

These towers were integral to the implementation of triangulation methods in surveying. They enabled surveyors to measure land accurately, compute distances, determine elevations, and produce reliable cartographic records. Their construction marked a significant advancement in systematic land measurement during the colonial era.

The Pungudutivu Survey Tower

The Pungudutivu Survey Tower, located at the southernmost extremity of the island, is one of the structures attributed to this period. Architecturally, it presents an unusual form. The tower is square in plan, with a comparatively broader base and a square platform at its summit. Constructed from precisely cut and dressed stone blocks, it rises to a height of approximately 15.2 m (50 ft).

The base measures about 2.3 m in width. The structure comprises four stepped tiers, with the first level reaching a height of approximately 2.4 m. The solid masonry construction reflects both durability and the functional requirements of survey triangulation.

Identification as a Lighthouse

Documentary references concerning the tower remain limited. Some traditions identify the structure as a lighthouse rather than a survey tower. The United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) lists this site as a lighthouse with a focal plane of 11 m (36 ft), exhibiting a white flash every five seconds. The NGA describes it as a “stone building.”

An Indian Notice to Mariners reported that the light was deactivated in September 2016, though it was likely inactive for some time prior to that date (Rowlett, 2022).

Further historical maritime records describe the structure differently. Sailing Directions for the West Coast of India from Point Calimere to Cape Monze Including the Island of Ceylon and the Maldive and Laccadive Islands (1942) refers to it as a white stone tower 7.6 m (25 ft) high. Similarly, West Coast of India Pilot: From Point Calimere to Cape Monze, Including Ceylon, Pamban Pass, and Palk Gulf (1920) describes it as a white stone beacon 7.6 m (25 ft) in height, with its summit 10.7 m (35 ft) above high water.

These varying descriptions suggest that the structure may have served multiple navigational or surveying functions over time, or that later accounts recorded only the visible beacon component rather than the entire masonry tower.

References

Sailing Directions for the West Coast of India from point calimere to Cape Monze including the island of ceylon and the Maldive and Laccadive Islands. 3rd edn (1942) edn. Washington: United States Government Printing Office.
West Coast of India Pilot: From point calimere to Cape Monze, including Ceylon, pamban pass, and Palk Gulf. 1st edn (1920) edn. Washington: Hydrographic Office under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy.
Rowlett , R. (2022) Lighthouses of Sri Lanka, Lighthouses of sri lanka. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Available at: https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/lka.htm (Accessed: November 7, 2022).

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Travel Directions to Pungudutivu Lighthouse

Jaffna can be reached through two principal routes. The most commonly used approach is via Elephant Pass, which has long served as the traditional gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula.

An alternative route reaches Jaffna from the direction of Pooneryn by crossing the Sangupiddy Bridge. This crossing follows what was historically the ancient route to the peninsula before the construction of modern highways. The route provides a connection between Jaffna and the Mannar region.

Route 01 from Colombo to Jaffna Through Kurunegala (Popular Route)	Route 02 from Colombo to Jaffna Through Puttalam and Pooneryn (Lesser Traveled Route)
Through : Kurunegala – Dambulla – Anuradhapura – Vavuniya Distance: 410 km Travel Time: 7-8 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.	Through: Puttalam – Thantirimale – Mannar – Poonaryn Distance: 408 km Travel Time: 8 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.

Route from Jaffna to Pungudutivu Lighthouse

Through : Kayts Road
Distance : 30 km
Travel time : 50 minutes
Driving directions : see on Google map