List of islands of Sri Lanka

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This is a list of islands of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an island nation, but around it there are number of small islets.

The most prominent islets are around the Jaffna peninsula. Historic importance of these is manifested by their inhabitation exclusively by the Sinhalese and Tamil minority, the current occupation of most of them by the Sri Lankan Navy due to the Black July induced civil war.

They are also historically important from a sociological point of view as the sub group of minority Sri Lankan Tamils hailing from these islands once upon a time suffered social discrimination and known derogatively as Theevar by the Jaffna peninsula domiciled Tamils.

Further curiously most the other islands also had Dutch place names that are no longer in use.

[edit] Northern Province

  • Mannar Island – Historically important entry port of Indian immigrants and merchants from India and embarkation point of refugees from Sri Lanka to India
  • Velanai – Known as Vajira Dvipa in Sinhalese language and Leiden in Dutch and place of alleged recent massacre of Tamil civilians by suspected Sri Lankan Navy personnel and Para-military personnel working with them[1]
  • Pungutu Theevu – Known as Thiru Poongudi in Tamil and Punvangu Dvipa in Sinhalese language. its mostly called as Pungudutivu in English (as per government records).
  • Analai Theevu – Loosely translated as Heat Wave Island.
  • Mandai Theevu – Loosely translated as Skull island and is totally taken over by the Sri Lankan Navy
  • Nedun Theevu – Or Long island known as Delft in the Dutch language
  • Karai Theevu - Also known as Kyts in the Dutch language
  • Naina Theevu – also known as Naga Dvipa in the Sinhalese language, place of pilgrimage for Tamil Hindus and Sinhalese Buddhists.
  • Kachcha Theevu - In a controversial land deal, India transferred this Island belonging to the state of Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in 1975. It is not inhabited but used to be, extensively used by Indian fishermen that has been interrupted to the activities of the Sri Lankan navy. It also houses a Roman Catholic shrine sacred to Tamil people from both sides of the sea border.[2]
  • Eluvai Theevu - Generally uninhabitted islet.
  • Parati Theevu - Uninhabitted islet

[edit] Eastern Province

  • Sambal Theevu
  • Karai Theevu

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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