Jaffna Peninsula’s history centers on the Buddha’s mediation of a gem-studded throne dispute between Naga kings Mahodara and Chulodara. Archaeological evidence, like the Vallipuram gold plate and limestone statues, proves the entire Jaffna Peninsula was a flourishing 2nd-century Buddhist center under royal patronage.
The Ilavalai Lighthouse is square in design, with a hollow central shaft. A cement stairway leads to the top platform. Unlike traditional lighthouses equipped with parabolic reflectors, this structure uses a single powerful light to guide fishing boats approaching the shore.
Built by the Portuguese, only a few remains exist of this forgotten fort. The eastern basitan today is inside Thal Sevana Resort and western bastian is near the Kankesanthurai Lighthouse. Here parts of the massive walls built by the Portuguese can be still seen fallen off to the sea.
Chirutivu Island (Siruthivu Island) is a tear shaped island close to the mainland of Jaffna which has been sold to property developer with the intention of building a luxury eco tourism resort. Work has been started about 10 years ago but not completed.
Katchatheevu (Kachchativu) is a small 163-acre (0.66 square kilometers), 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 20km on both sides.
A ruined site named Sankiliya-tidal (Sankiliyatital) about four and a half miles on the Kodikamam—Point Pedro road which had indications of an ancient building possibly linked to the regional king Sankili
In 1922, Rev. S. Gnana Prakasar, a missionary working in Jaffna had left a detailed note a ruined site, possibly a Buddhist monastery at an area named ‘Verak-Kadu’ in Jaffna peninsula.
According to folklore, this site at Kalvalai has been the adobe of seven queens. Their names are handed down as Angai-Nachy, Ko-Nachy, Manni-Nachy, Kunkuni-Nachy and the rest unnamed. There has been an internal quarrel between the queens and they have left leaving the personal attendants and maids at the site.
Megalithic Burial Grounds of Anaikoddai lies close the inner most point of the bay, about 500 meters inwards. An archaeological survey has been carried out in this to study early settlements in the 1980.
Dr. Ragupathi records Verappitti site as a mound of considerable size facing the sea in an area of about 5 acres. He records chiselled corel stones still having traces of lime plaster on them, semi-circular stepping stones (possibly an Moonstone) made out of Jaffna limestone, stones with sockets which was used as pillar bases and tiles scattered in the vicinity confirming the type of structure of the remains of this site.
Ariyalai is long stip of sandy land projecting out to the sea from the Jaffna peninsula lying between Jaffna and the main land. The whole strip at Ariyalai is strategically a vital one for the communication system of the Peninsula. This strip is separated from the Manniththalai stretch of the mainland of Sri Lanka by the narrow Jaffna lagoon.
The major site of this complex is Kumpuruppitti where Dr Ragupathy records structural remains and artifacts scattered in an area of 10-15 acres. He records a mound with limestone slabs and chiselled coral stones resembling a stupa. Grooved tiles were noticed in concentrations on one side of this mound, which has become a pond because of heavy earth-scooping.
A limestone torso of Buddha found among a ancient pottery site at Tikali in Pungudutivu of Jaffna peninsula is reported by Dr. Ponnampalam Ragupathy in his PhD thesis and its publication as “Early settlements in Jaffna : An Archaeological Survey” in 1987. No photo is found on this site or the torso found by Dr Ponnampalam.
Baldaeus, a Dutch preacher provides a brief description of this town, harbour and the church in 1672. The area has been rich in cotton trees and was well known for its cotton harvest. A fort has been built not so long ago during skirmishes with the British in this area.
