More on Tamilinzed Sinhala names in Jaffna……

As a further elaboration to my previous post, the current post too deals with place names in Jaffna which originally had Sinhala names but has been Tamilinized  later. These original Sinhala names were in use as late as Dutch period where they appear by the same names in the maps used by the Dutch colonial government.    

Original Sinhala names                                          Tamilinized names  

Oorana                                                                   Urani

Palyala                                                                    Palali

Kottegampala                                                          Koddagapulam

Karadiva                                                                 Karativ

Katuwana                                                                Kadduwan

Godigama                                                               Kodikamam

Kapudoova                                                              Kapputhoo

Vaslawatta                                                              Vatharavathai

Varan Yattala                                                           Varani  Iyattalai

Mirivila                                                                   Mirveli

Javakachcheriya                                                      Chavakachcheri

Kokilana                                                                 Kuppilan

Navandara                                                               Navanturai

Sorowila                                                                 Suruvil

Udupaella                                                                Oddupeli

Maavanpoluwa                                                         Maravanpulavu

Avusala                                                                   Usan

Kudameeya                                                             Kudamian

Tambagama                                                            Tampakamam

Buthpura                                                                 Buttur

Hirivila                                                                   Siruvilan

Madurusala                                                              Munasal

Araella                                                                   Arayali

Punnalakaduwa                                                        Punnalaikkaduwan

Itththavila                                                               Ittavil

Addaravaella                                                            Arukuveli  

Punranna                                                                Poonaryn

Mavankulissa                                                           Maravankulissa

Sandilipe                                                                 Sandilippai

Sankavaella                                                             Sankuveli

Thalapura                                                               Tolopuram

Athureliya                                                               Achchelu

Kumburukanniya                                                      Chempankundu

Deduwankotte                                                          Tadduwankodddai

Alapitiya                                                                 Allaipiddi

Vasavila                                                                  Vasavilan

Katuwana                                                                Kadduwan

Peduru Thuduwa                                                       Point Pedru

Kokkuvila                                                                Kokkuvil

Mandadiva                                                               Mandatiuv

Vaevunkaduva                                                          Veddukkadu

Neliya                                                                     Neliyan

Batakotte                                                               Vaddukoddai

Vaelivaetithara                                                        Valivatithurai

Karanaeba                                                               Karanaval  

Karavaedda                                                             Karaveddi

Dambakolathota                                                       Kankasanthurai

Colombathora                                                          Colombothurai

Urathota                                                                 Kayts

Source: http://www.jaffnahistory.com/

“The Sri Lanka of today is much bolder and far more confident, far less likely to be dictated to and far more attuned to her own rhythms and priorities”.

A serialized review by Dr. SinhaRaja Tammita-Delgoda on a paper by Ashok Mehta –'Sri Lanka's Ethnic Conflict: How Eelam War IV was Won' appeared in Sunday Island on 31st October, 07^th November and 14^th November 2010.

What struck me most was the following concluding paragraphs by the reviewer. It sums up what ticks inside the head of the present government. All the adversaries to the present regime who try to force things on her should first understand this reality.

"The whole episode only serves to underlines a basic reality. The solution that everybody else desires may not be desirable for Sri Lanka; it may not even be workable, and ultimately, it is Sri Lanka which will have to pay the price. This is something which India and the outside world have yet to understand. Only then, can there be a permanent resolution.

In this context, it is important to point out that the Sri Lanka of today is no longer the country that it was before the last Eelam War. As Sri Lanka has changed, so have her politics and so, has her idea of her place in the world. Despite the immense pressure which has been applied by the United Nations, the western powers and India, Sri Lanka continues to go her own way. After having defied all the odds and come through the very worst, it is unlikely that this administration will give way on anything less. To force it to do so would only exaggerate, increase tensions and shore up trouble for the future.

The Sri Lanka of today is much bolder and far more confident, far less likely to be dictated to and far more attuned to her own rhythms and priorities. It is a story which all those dealing with Sri Lanka should try to understand, for it is the reality which they will encounter."

Attempting to deprive settling the original inhabitants in Jaffna

Eelamists have again started to shout from rooftops as usual over what can best be described as an attempt to perpetuate the big lie called Tamil Homeland in Sri Lanka.  This time around it is against settling some Sinhalese families in Jaffna who lived there before they were chased away by the Eelamists in 1980s. Following are repetitions of a few facts that I highlighted in my various previous posts.     

The extent of distorting the  true history of Sri Lanka is such that perhaps the Eelimist themselves do not know the fact that the original inhabitants of Jaffna had been Sinhalese before a large scale Tamil settlement took place there when Portuguese , Dutch and English  brought them  for tobacco cultivation from South India.  

Mudaliyar C. Rasnayagam, a prominent Tamil historian claims in his book 'Ancient Jaffna' that " Jaffna was occupied by the Sinhalese earlier than by the Tamils is seen not only in the place names of Jaffna but also in the habits and customs of the people. The system of branding cattle with the communal brand by which not only the caste but also the position and family of the owner could be traced, was peculiarly Sinhalese. The very ancient way of wearing the hair in the form of a konde behind the head, was very common among the people of Jaffna till very recent times" (Ancient Jaffna, p. 384)."

Most of the place names in Jaffna that have been Tamilinised originally had Sinhalese names. Kadurugoda (kantarodai), Hunugama (Chunkamam) and Waligama( Weligamam) are just a few to name. The ruins of  Buddhist  temples that have been subjected much destruction, some of them can barely be identifiable now,  prove an existence of a flourishing Sinhalese Buddhist civilization there.

As usual Elemist have again sought the help from Eealm supportive countries in the West to prevent "this attempt by Sinhalese to create a demographic imbalance in Tamil Homeland". The present government should take every step to prevent Eelmists' sustained attempt to create a mono-ethnic enclave in the North and East for it is this very government which is credited for defeating such an effort made Eelamists by means of an armed conflict.  Otherwise, the enormous sacrifices made by our security forces, boarder villagers and general public will go in vain.  On top of all it will be a victory against the falsehood as Tamils have never been the original inhabitants of North and East rather they were recent immigrants or those who came with invaders or those who were brought by the colonists to the region from South India.