Jaffna Peninsula

The Jaffna Peninsula is an area in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is home to the capital city of the province, Jaffna and comprises much of the former land mass of the ancient Tamil kingdoms of the Nagas and the medieval Jaffna kingdom. The peninsula is mostly surrounded by water, connected to the rest of the island by a small strip of land. Its shape like a cobra/serpent head was the basis of much of its description in ancient literature and folklore, as were its inhabitants of classical antiquity, known widely as snake worshippers. Its underground water is used for drinking, agriculture and industry. Paddy cultivation is rain fed but only for three months during the North East monsoon period. It is a part of the peninsula consisting of fourteen D.S Administrative Divisions. The total land area including inland water is 1,030 km². The terrain of the region is almost flat and of low elevation except in the central part of the western sector in the area around Tellippalai, where the elevation rises to 10.5 m above sea level. From there it slopes gently towards the south and south east, while to the north the elevation tends to drop abruptly. The ancient name for the Jaffna peninsula was Nāka-Tivu and Nāka-Nadu, meaning Nāka island (Tivu) or country (Nadu), mentioned in the Vallipuram gold plate inscriptions and the Manimekalai. It is called Nagadipa or Naka-diva, mentioned in the Mahavamsa. Cīttalai Cāttanār, the author of the Manimekalai reflected Tamilakam's perception at the time that Nāka-Nadu was an autonomous administrative entity, kingdom or nadu, distinguished and separate from Ilankatipam, (also referred to as Irattinatipam) - Lanka.