Jaffna
- This article is about the capital of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. For other uses, see Jaffna (disambiguation).
Jaffna (யாழ்ப்பாணம் in Tamil meaning யாழ்=harp, பாணம்=town of harper, යාපනය in Sinhala) the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It had been the second largest city in the country for several decades, until recent times. Jaffna boasts a written history dating back to circa 4th centry BC. It is known as Yāpa Patuna in Sinhala in old times. One school of thought about the evolution of the name "Jaffna" is, Yāpa Patuna became "Jaffna Patam" in european language usage after the arrival of portugese, which became Jaffna later for simplicity.
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History
The fort was described by Sir J. Emerson Tennent as "the most perfect little military work in Ceylon - a pentagon built of blocks of white coral." The European part of the town bears the Dutch stamp more distinctly than any other town in the island; and there still exists a Dutch Presbyterian church. Several of the church buildings date from the time of the Portuguese. In 1901 Jaffna had a population of 33,879, while in the district or peninsula of the same name there were 300,851 persons, nearly all Tamils, the only Europeans being the civil servants and a few planters. Coco-nut planting has not been successful of recent years. The natives grow palmyras freely, and have a trade in the fibre of this palm. They also grow and export tobacco, but not enough rice for their own requirements. A steamer calls weekly, and there is considerable trade. The railway extension from Kurunegala due north to Jaffna and the coast was commenced in 1900. Jaffna is the seat of a government agent and district judge, and criminal sessions of the supreme court are regularly held. Jaffna, or, as the natives call it, Yalpannan, was occupied by the Tamils about 204 B.C., and there continued to be Tamil rajahs of Jaffna till 1617, when the Portuguese took possession of the place. As early as 1544 the missionaries under Francis Xavier had made converts in this part of Ceylon, and after the conquest the Portuguese maintained their proselytizing zeal. They had a Jesuit college, a Franciscan and a Dominican monastery. The Dutch drove out the Portuguese in 1658. The Church of England Missionary Society began its work in Jaffna in 1818, and the American Missionary Society in 1822.
Demography
Prior to the civil war most residents of Jaffna were Tamil speaking, Sri Lankan Tamils, with a notable Muslim and Sinhalese presence. There were also various ethnic groups from India such as Indian Tamils, Telugus, Malayalees and Bohra Muslims from Pakistan.
Most Tamils of Jaffna were Hindus followed by a significant Catholic and Protestant minority. Hindu Tamils were also divided along caste lines with Vellalar forming the majority.
Economic activities
Prior to the civil war it was a place of many small scale industries manufacturing house hold items as well as packaging and food processing for export. Most industrialists have left or closed shops. Currently the primary economic activity is related to trading. The foreign remittance from the Tamil diaspora sustains many people.
Jaffna Harbour
The pending Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project may increase the productivity of the Jaffna Harbour positively. Enlargement of the harbour will bring benefits to Sri Lanka. The strategic advantages derive from obtaining a navigable sea route close to the coast, with a reduction in travel distance of more than 350 nautical miles (650 km) (for larger ships). The project is expected to provide a boost to the economic and industrial development of coastal Tamil Nadu. The project will be of particular significance to Jaffna, Kankesanthurai, Mannar, Point Pedro and Tuticorin harbour.
Media
The first newspaper in Jaffna, Uthayatharakai (Morning Star) was published in 1841 by C.W. Thamotharampillai[1]Today it has number of newspapers including Eelamurasu and Uthayan.
Educational instituitions
Jaffna is considered to be the most literate district in the whole of Sri Lanka, which has a very high literacy level to begin with. In early days (before 1970s') Sri Lankan universities were dominated by Jaffna students but currently their enrollment is minimized due to the effects of district based quota system introduced in 1970s as well as the effects of the civil war. However, in 1974 the government opened the University of Jaffna which is de facto reserved for students from the region, while they have a quota based access to the other Sri Lankan universities as well.
Founded by American missionaries in 1819, Jaffna College, has records of Malaysian, Singaporean, South Indian and even Japanese students enrollment in 1930s and 1940s. American missionaries also founded many other institutions of higher learning that are still functioning today. Today most students are locals.
Ethnic conflict
Due to the current civil war, the city has witnessed countless numbers of murders, rapes, wholesale massacres and disappearances of the civilian population. Currently it is occupied by the Sri Lankan Army; prior to 1995 it was under control of the LTTE. Due to ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, as well as ethnic cleansing by the LTTE, many residents have moved out of the city, and thus the population has been reduced dramatically. According to the 2001 census, the population of the city is about 145,600 [citation needed]. Jaffna also functions as the economic and cultural capital of Sri Lankan Tamils.
It was also a so-called 'stronghold' of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a political and military organization seeking the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam for Tamil-speaking people in Sri Lanka. However, it is under the control of the government of Sri Lanka.
The Jaffna Public library was burnt down by a Singhalese mob in June 1981, when ethnic tensions in the country were building steadily twoards war. It renovated in 2003 by the government of Sri Lanka. [2]
Mass exodus
Many of the Tamils from this region have moved out to other parts of the island or to foreign countries. This exodus of Tamils from Jaffna has occurred for a number of reasons.
The entire Muslim and Sinhalese population of Jaffna was forced to leave within 48 hours in 1990 due to an ethnic clensing order by the LTTE. During this forced exodus, they were not allowed to take any of their belonging with them. LTTE had even removed the jewellery from the women that they were wearing at the time.[1]
There have been claims of human rights violations on both sides. Due to Jaffna becoming a constant battleground between the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE, many people have been displaced. The tense security situation over the years of the ceasefire has left Jaffna in a precarious position as it is likely to be a key target should the conflict renew in the future.
History
According to some scholars the about the early history of Jaffna that a significant permanent Tamil presence came into being only after the 12th century, when the Sinhala kings moved to the south.
In the 13th Century, Jaffna was established by Arya Chakaravarthi[3], a chieftain of the South Indian Pandyan Empire. The Kingdom was Saivite Hindu in its religion and Tamil in an island that was Buddhist in character till then.
The Kingdom had control over the Jaffna Peninsula, Northern Vanni Districts, Mannar, Pearl rich western Puttalam coast and sometimes even Trincomalee port. It had two seats of govt, one in Nallur and other during the Pearling season in the Puttalam city. After lasting for over 400 years, it finally lost its independence to the Portuguese in 1621. With the Portuguese power, the only indigenous political entity that was not Sinhalese and Buddhist in character came to an end.
The Portuguese built the Jaffna Fort and the moat around it. The Tamils and the Kandyan Kingdom collaborated and conspired with the Dutch rulers of Batavia. The Dutch invasion from Batavia brought religious freedom for Tamils and Muslims.
The Dutch rule and the English rule were approximately 3 centuries in length with each ruling for approximately 150 years. The Jaffna Tamil has several Portuguese and Dutch words still in usage.
Christian missionary activity
Jaffna also has played an important role in the Roman Catholic religious administration of Sri Lanka. It also plays an important role in the administration of the Church of South India in Sri Lanka, a group of Protestant denominations. Some notable missionaries are
- Eliza Agnew, Presbyterian missionary from New York City[2]
See also
References
- ^ http://uthayam.net/articles/oct30_2005html_2.htm Fifteenth Anniversary of Muslim Expulsion From Jaffna, DBS Jeyaraj
- ^ (1967) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who.
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
External links
| Main Cities Of Sri Lanka |  |
|---|---|
| Colombo | Trincomalee | Jaffna | Kandy | Anuradhapura | Polonnaruwa | Galle | Batticaloa | Sri Jayewardenapura | Kurunegala | Badulla | Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia | Moratuwa | |
| Provincial Capitals Of Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|
| Colombo | Kandy | Galle | Jaffna | Trincomalee | Kurunegala | Anuradhapura | Badulla | Ratnapura | |
Categories
Articles with unsourced statements | Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica | Cities and towns in Sri Lanka | Jaffna District