Homeland

Between the 5th century BC and the 13th century AD present day, Jaffna District was part of various Kingdoms such as Pandya, Chola, Pallava, Kalinga, and Rajarata. Jaffna District was thereafter part of the pre-colonial Jaffna Kingdom. The district then came under Portuguese, Dutch and British control. In 1815 the British gained control of the entire island of Ceylon. They divided the island into three ethnic- based administrative structures: Low Country Sinhalese and Tamil. Jaffna District was part of the Tamil administration.

In 1833, in accordance with the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission, the ethnic based administrative structures were unified into a single administration divided into five geographic Provinces. Jaffna District, together with the Mannar District and Vanni District, formed the new Northern Province. At the time that Ceylon gained independence, Jaffna was one of the three Districts that were transferred to newly created Mullaitivu District in September 1978. Kilinochchi District was Carved out of the southern part of Jaffna District in February 1984. This is not the complete history of my birthplace, this is just a simple introduction I wanted to share about my birth place, which I would love forever.