Velanai Island

Velanai Island (Tamil: வேலணை), also known as Leiden in Dutch, or Kayts Island,^[1] is a small island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in the north of Sri Lanka.^[2][3] There are a number of villages within the island, such as Allaipiddy, Mankumpan, Velanai, Saravanai, Puliyankoodal, Suruvil, Naranthanai, Kayts and Karampon.

Velanai Island வேலணைத் தீவு
Island
Aerial view of the Velanai Island.
Velanai Island Show map of Northern Province Velanai Island Show map of Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 9°40′0″N 79°52′0″E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Northern
District	Jaffna

The majority of the island's inhabitants are Hindus, along with a sizeable minority of Christians. There are number of Hindu Temples along with few Churches on the island. The village also consists of a few schools. Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, a well known member of the State Council of Ceylon during the British colonial period, and his son Yogendra Duraiswamy, a Hindu activist and well-known diplomat, were both born in Velanai.

Velanai was marred by violence during the Sri Lankan Civil War, with the island being the main setting of the Allaipiddy massacre in 2006.^[4][5][6][7] In 1992, Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and Commodore Mohan Jayamaha were killed along with several senior officers when their Land Rover hit a land mine off Araly Point in Kayts.^[8]

Etymology

The name Velanai is believed to have been derived from the name of the Tamil god Velan (Tamil: வேலன்). The goddess Parvathi gave a pointed spear (vel) to her son, the god Murugan (Tamil: முருகன்) in Velanai.

Geography and climate

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

Places of interest

1. Vangalavadi Murugan Temple
2. Velanai West Mudipilayar Temple
3. Saatti Sea side
4. Mankumpan Vellaipputtady Sri Veerakaththi Vinayagar Temple

Gallery

Velanai Gallery

• 
  Velanai Vangalavadi Murugan Kovil
• 
  Portuguese fort, Kayts