en Velanai

Velanai

வேலணை
වේලනෛයි
Velanai வேலணை; වේලනෛයි
Village
	Velanai Velanai
	Coordinates: 9°40′0″N 79°52′0″E / 9.66667°N 79.86667°E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Northern
District	Jaffna

Velanai (Tamil: வேலணை; Sinhala: වේලනෛයි) is a small village in Velanai Island, off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in the north of Sri Lanka.^[1]^[2]

The majority of the people are Hindus along with a minority of Christians. There are number of Hindu temples along with churches and schools. Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, a well known member of parliament during the British colonial period, and his son Yogendra Duraiswamy, a Hindu activist and well known diplomat, were born in Velanai.

Etymology

The name Velanai is believed to have been derived from 2 terms combined into one word. The first phrase name of the Vel which means spear. The second phrase Anai means ashore. It is believed that the god Murugan's spear landed ashore of this island. Hence the name Velanai. God Murugan is worshiped as a popular god among all the peoples in Velanai.

History

Archaeological evidence

Archaeological evidence of ancient life in Chaddi (Tamil: சாட்டி) sea side suggested that there was a well-organized civilization on the island. Chaaddi is an important archaeological site studied since 2009. Artefacts ranging from protohistoric, the early historic period to the times of medieval Chinese trade were found at this place.^[3]^[4]

In 2024, the remains of a 3,400 year old human were found at Chaddi, reported to be the first confirmed prehistoric human remains found in the Jaffna Peninsula.^[5]

The nearby coastal strip, at Chaddi, housed one of the cemeteries built by the Tamil Tigers for their dead fighters. This cemetery was destroyed by the Sri Lankan Army in the 1990s, but then was rebuilt during the 2002 ceasefire period. The occupying Sri Lankan Navy once again destroyed the cemetery after the end of the civil war leaving no traces behind, in land since used by John Keells.^[6]^{[citation needed]}

Geography and climate

Velanai is located at 9°24′N 79°32′E / 9.40°N 79.54°E / 9.40; 79.54. It is surrounded by the Palk Strait and located at a distance of 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south-west of Jaffna town. Most of Velanai district is a level plain with a maximum elevation of 15 metres (49 ft) above mean sea level. The total area of this island is nearly 36 km².^{[citation needed]}.