Batticaloa Territory

Batticaloa Territory மட்டக்களப்புத் தேசம்
Territory of Colonial Ceylon
← ????–1961 →   →
Capital		Sammanthurai till 1628, Puliyantivu 1628-1961
History
-	Tribal Native and settlements from Tamilakam	????
-	Bifurcated into two districts of Batticaloa District and Ampara District[1][2]	1961
Population
-	1881	105,558
-	1953	270,043

Batticaloa Territory (Tamil: மட்டக்களப்புத் தேசம் Maṭṭakkaḷapput tēcam; also known as Matecalo;^[3] Baticalo;^[4] in Colonial records, was the ancient region of Tamil Settlements in Sri Lanka. The prior record of that territory can be seen in Portuguese and Dutch Historical documents along with some local inscriptions such as "Sammanthurai Copper epigraphs" written on 1683 CE which also mentions about "Mattakkalappu Desam".^[5] Although there is no more the existence of Batticaloa territory, The name "Maṭṭakkaḷapput tēcam" still in practice among the inhabitants of Batti- Ampara Districts and even among the Jaffna and Vanni people.

History

In most of the historical works belongs to this region, the boundaries of this territory is indicated as Verukal Gangai to the north and Kumbukkan Oya to the south.^[6][7] and some researchers lengthen it from Koneswaram to the north and Katirkamam to the south.^[8] The chronicle of Eastern Tamils, Mattakalappu Purva Charithiram describes the history of this territory and its cheiftains from Before Common Era. It tells that this region was an ancient settlement of Sri Lankan Tribes including Nagar, Thumilar or Iyakkar and Vedar.^[9][10] Etymology researches of some places such as "Nagamunai",^[11] "Mantunagan Saalai" (present Mandur) indicates their association with Naga tribe of ancient Sri Lanka.

Mattakalappu Purva Charithiram also states about the settlements arrived this territory from various parts of present India in different time periods. Arrival of Virasaivite Priests for Nagarmunai Subramanya Swami Kovil from Srisailam Mallikarjunapuram^[12] is believed to held during the 12th Century CE- the Renaissance period of Vira Saivam sect of Hinduism.

Brahmi Inscriptions and ruins related to Megalithic period observed in Kathiraveli, Vellaveli, Ukanthai and kudumbigala are pointed out the antiquity of Batticaloa territory.^[13]

Colonial Period

During the entrance of Portuguese to Ceylon, Batticaloa region was following Vannimai chieftainship samelike Vanni region of northern Sri Lanka. There were three or four Vannian Chieftainships observed by the Portuguese historians like Bocarro and Queroz - Palugāmam, Panova and Sammanturai along with Eravur.^[14] By the end of the eighteenth century, the Dutch colonial territaries comprised eleven separate sub-chieftaincies, or as dutch called them, "Provinces": seven Mukkuvar controlled districts of Eravur, Manmunai, Eruvil, Poraitivu, Karaivaku, Sammanturai and Akkaraipattu, plus Panama in the south, Nadu Kadu(or Nadene) in the west, and Koralai and Kariwitti to the north.^[15] totally eleven "provinces" were in Batticaloa territory.

Nāṭukāṭu Kalvettup Paravani and the Notes of Jacob Burnand indicates that Nadene or Nadukadu pattu (நாடுகாடுப் பற்று;Nāṭukāṭup paṟṟu) was joined as the last "Pattu" (Administrative division of Vannimais) with the ten other pattus of Batticaloa.^[16][17]

Early settlements of Batticaloa Territory

However, the location of above mentioned "Kariwitti" pattu is unknown now. It might be situated around the "Killivetti" village of "Echilampattu" of Southernmost Trincomalee District or around the Eastern part of Welikanda Division of present Polonnaruwa District.

Capital

The evidences tells about the three ancient vannimai chieftainships confirm that, Sammanthurai was the primary burgs of Batticaloa and it remained for the capital of the region. However, Porutguese built a fort at Pulyantivu where the present Batticaloa town situated to preserve themselves from the Kandy kings and Dutch merchants. At last, Portuguese were forced to leave permanently from Batticaloa when they were defeated in the war by the alliance of Kandyan and Dutch Company in 1638. Since that , Puliyantivu became the administrative capital of the District until the Colonial period was ended up with the Ruling of British in 1948.

Bifurcation of the ancient territory

After the independence, Batticaloa Territory was continued as a single district which was divided into two districts where the northern part remained in the same name,the southern part got a new name, Ampara.^[18][19]

In divided Districts, pattu divisions of newly formed Batticaloa district still remains in the same name, where they disrupted in modern Ampara Dsitrict.

References