Vanni (Sri Lanka)

The Vanni is the name given to the mainland area of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It covers the entirety of Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts, and most of Kilinochchi District. It has an area of approximately 7,650 km². The population and infrastructure of the Vanni were severely devastated by the Sri Lankan Civil War.

History

The Vanni historically formed a large swathe of the former Tamil country of the northeast of the island, the Coylot Wanees Country. Vanniar chiefs--Tamil feudal chiefs from this area--cultivated the Vanni in the first millennia of the common era, governing what were called Vannimai - the Jaffna kingdom's land divisions ruled south of the Jaffna peninsula in the present-day Northern, North Central and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka.

Geography

Geographically the Vanni is distinct from the Jaffna peninsula, the other area of the Northern Province. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells whereas the Vanni has irrigation tanks fed by perennial rivers. Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru, Aruvi Aru, Kanakarayan Aru, Kodalikkallu Aru, Mandekal Aru, Nay Aru, Netheli Aru, Pali Aru, Pallavarayankaddu Aru, Parangi Aru, Per Aru, Piramenthal Aru, Theravil Aru. There are also a number of lagoons around the Vanni, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon, Nanthi Kadal, Chundikkulam Lagoon, Kokkilai lagoon, Nai Aru Lagoon and Chalai Lagoon.

Much of the interior (approximately 4,200 km²) of the Vanni is covered in dense forests.

The Vanni had a population of nearly 700,000 in 2007, making it one of the most sparsely populated areas of Sri Lanka. However, the area's population figures have been extremely volatile due to massive displacement caused by the civil war.