Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
The Northern Province is one of the 9 provinces
of Sri Lanka
. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Eastern Province
to form the North-East Province
. The capital of the province is Jaffna
. The Sri Lankan Civil War
had its roots in this province. It is also known as Sri Lanka's Tamil country.
and is just 22 miles (35.4 km) from India
. It is connected with Indian mainland by mythical Adam's Bridge (also known as Sethu Paalam or Rama's Bridge). It has an area of 8884 square kilometres (3,430.1 sq mi).
The province is surrounded by the Gulf of Mannar
and Palk Bay to the west, Palk Strait
to the north, the Bay of Bengal
to the east and the Eastern
, North Central
and North Western
provinces to the south.
The province is divided into two distinct geographic areas: Jaffna peninsula
and the Vanni. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells
whereas the Vanni has irrigation tank
s fed by perennial rivers. Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru
, Aruvi Aru, Kanakarayan Aru
, Kodalikkallu Aru
, Mandekal Aru
, Nay Aru
, Netheli Aru
, Pali Aru
, Pallavarayankaddu Aru
, Parangi Aru
, Per Aru
, Piramenthal Aru
, Theravil Aru
.
The province has a number of lagoons, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon
, Nanthi Kadal
, Chundikkulam Lagoon
, Vadamarachchi Lagoon
, Uppu Aru Lagoon
, Kokkilai lagoon
, Nai Aru Lagoon
and Chalai Lagoon
.
Most of the islands around Sri Lanka are to be found to the west of the Northern Province. The largest islands are: Kayts
, Neduntivu, Karaitivu
, Pungudutivu
and Mandativu
.
Northern Province is covered in tropical forests, with numerous rivers flowing through them. The northwest coast is part of the deep Cauvery (Kaveri) River Basin of southeast India
, which has been collecting sediments from the highlands of India
and Sri Lanka
since the breakup of Gondwanaland.Most of the island's surface consists of plains between 30 and 200 meters above sea level. A coastal belt about thirty meters above sea level surrounds the island. Much of the coast consists of sandy beaches.
Sri Lanka enjoys a typical tropical monsoonal climate. The Northern Province tends to be hot and dry in the dry season (February to September), and moderately cool and wet in the wet season (October to January). Province's climate is of the tropical kind and therefore during monsoons there is always the chance of a deluge. In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with the average temperature is around 28º to 30º for the year. However, on the whole, January is the coolest month and May is the hottest month. Relative Humidity varies from 70% during the day to 90% at night. The Dry Zone of the Sri Lanka is the north and east of the island, this region is affected by the north east monsoon(December to March) and southwest monsoon (June to October). It is thought to be dry because most of the rains fall during the northeast monsoon.
Annual rainfall is less than 1250 mm in the north west and south east of the Inland. It has two rainy seasons South West Monsoon- May to August, North East Monsoon- November to February.
, 33 Divisional Secretary's (DS) Divisions
and 912 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions (villages).
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
and Sri Lankan Malays
.
and Sinhalese
population.
The population of the province, like that of the Eastern Province
, has been heavily affected by the civil war
. The war has killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Several hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamils, possibly as much as 1,000,000, have emigrated
to the West
since the start of the war. There are a further 300,000 internally displaced person
s in Sri Lanka living in refugee camps in the North and East
and depending on aid provided by NGOs
. There are approximately 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees is India
. Many Sri Lankan Tamils have also moved to the relative safety of Colombo
. The war has also caused most of the Sri Lankan Moors
and Sinhalese
who lived in the province to flee to other parts of Sri Lanka
.
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
and Sri Lankan Malays
. 3 2001 Census was only carried out partially in the Northern province.
of Sri Lanka
. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Eastern Province
to form the North-East Province
. The capital of the province is Jaffna
. The Sri Lankan Civil War
had its roots in this province. It is also known as Sri Lanka's Tamil country.
and is just 22 miles (35.4 km) from India
. It is connected with Indian mainland by mythical Adam's Bridge (also known as Sethu Paalam or Rama's Bridge). It has an area of 8884 square kilometres (3,430.1 sq mi).
The province is surrounded by the Gulf of Mannar
and Palk Bay to the west, Palk Strait
to the north, the Bay of Bengal
to the east and the Eastern
, North Central
and North Western
provinces to the south.
The province is divided into two distinct geographic areas: Jaffna peninsula
and the Vanni. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells
whereas the Vanni has irrigation tank
s fed by perennial rivers. Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru
, Aruvi Aru, Kanakarayan Aru
, Kodalikkallu Aru
, Mandekal Aru
, Nay Aru
, Netheli Aru
, Pali Aru
, Pallavarayankaddu Aru
, Parangi Aru
, Per Aru
, Piramenthal Aru
, Theravil Aru
.
The province has a number of lagoons, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon
, Nanthi Kadal
, Chundikkulam Lagoon
, Vadamarachchi Lagoon
, Uppu Aru Lagoon
, Kokkilai lagoon
, Nai Aru Lagoon
and Chalai Lagoon
.
Most of the islands around Sri Lanka are to be found to the west of the Northern Province. The largest islands are: Kayts
, Neduntivu, Karaitivu
, Pungudutivu
and Mandativu
.
Northern Province is covered in tropical forests, with numerous rivers flowing through them. The northwest coast is part of the deep Cauvery (Kaveri) River Basin of southeast India
, which has been collecting sediments from the highlands of India
and Sri Lanka
since the breakup of Gondwanaland.Most of the island's surface consists of plains between 30 and 200 meters above sea level. A coastal belt about thirty meters above sea level surrounds the island. Much of the coast consists of sandy beaches.
Sri Lanka enjoys a typical tropical monsoonal climate. The Northern Province tends to be hot and dry in the dry season (February to September), and moderately cool and wet in the wet season (October to January). Province's climate is of the tropical kind and therefore during monsoons there is always the chance of a deluge. In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with the average temperature is around 28º to 30º for the year. However, on the whole, January is the coolest month and May is the hottest month. Relative Humidity varies from 70% during the day to 90% at night. The Dry Zone of the Sri Lanka is the north and east of the island, this region is affected by the north east monsoon(December to March) and southwest monsoon (June to October). It is thought to be dry because most of the rains fall during the northeast monsoon.
Annual rainfall is less than 1250 mm in the north west and south east of the Inland. It has two rainy seasons South West Monsoon- May to August, North East Monsoon- November to February.
, 33 Divisional Secretary's (DS) Divisions
and 912 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions (villages).
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
and Sri Lankan Malays
.
and Sinhalese
population.
The population of the province, like that of the Eastern Province
, has been heavily affected by the civil war
. The war has killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Several hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamils, possibly as much as 1,000,000, have emigrated
to the West
since the start of the war. There are a further 300,000 internally displaced person
s in Sri Lanka living in refugee camps in the North and East
and depending on aid provided by NGOs
. There are approximately 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees is India
. Many Sri Lankan Tamils have also moved to the relative safety of Colombo
. The war has also caused most of the Sri Lankan Moors
and Sinhalese
who lived in the province to flee to other parts of Sri Lanka
.
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
and Sri Lankan Malays
. 3 2001 Census was only carried out partially in the Northern province.
of Sri Lanka
. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Eastern Province
to form the North-East Province
. The capital of the province is Jaffna
. The Sri Lankan Civil War
had its roots in this province. It is also known as Sri Lanka's Tamil country.
and is just 22 miles (35.4 km) from India
. It is connected with Indian mainland by mythical Adam's Bridge (also known as Sethu Paalam or Rama's Bridge). It has an area of 8884 square kilometres (3,430.1 sq mi).
The province is surrounded by the Gulf of Mannar
and Palk Bay to the west, Palk Strait
to the north, the Bay of Bengal
to the east and the Eastern
, North Central
and North Western
provinces to the south.
The province is divided into two distinct geographic areas: Jaffna peninsula
and the Vanni. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells
whereas the Vanni has irrigation tank
s fed by perennial rivers. Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru
, Aruvi Aru, Kanakarayan Aru
, Kodalikkallu Aru
, Mandekal Aru
, Nay Aru
, Netheli Aru
, Pali Aru
, Pallavarayankaddu Aru
, Parangi Aru
, Per Aru
, Piramenthal Aru
, Theravil Aru
.
The province has a number of lagoons, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon
, Nanthi Kadal
, Chundikkulam Lagoon
, Vadamarachchi Lagoon
, Uppu Aru Lagoon
, Kokkilai lagoon
, Nai Aru Lagoon
and Chalai Lagoon
.
Most of the islands around Sri Lanka are to be found to the west of the Northern Province. The largest islands are: Kayts
, Neduntivu, Karaitivu
, Pungudutivu
and Mandativu
.
Northern Province is covered in tropical forests, with numerous rivers flowing through them. The northwest coast is part of the deep Cauvery (Kaveri) River Basin of southeast India
, which has been collecting sediments from the highlands of India
and Sri Lanka
since the breakup of Gondwanaland.Most of the island's surface consists of plains between 30 and 200 meters above sea level. A coastal belt about thirty meters above sea level surrounds the island. Much of the coast consists of sandy beaches.
Sri Lanka enjoys a typical tropical monsoonal climate. The Northern Province tends to be hot and dry in the dry season (February to September), and moderately cool and wet in the wet season (October to January). Province's climate is of the tropical kind and therefore during monsoons there is always the chance of a deluge. In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with the average temperature is around 28º to 30º for the year. However, on the whole, January is the coolest month and May is the hottest month. Relative Humidity varies from 70% during the day to 90% at night. The Dry Zone of the Sri Lanka is the north and east of the island, this region is affected by the north east monsoon(December to March) and southwest monsoon (June to October). It is thought to be dry because most of the rains fall during the northeast monsoon.
Annual rainfall is less than 1250 mm in the north west and south east of the Inland. It has two rainy seasons South West Monsoon- May to August, North East Monsoon- November to February.
, 33 Divisional Secretary's (DS) Divisions
and 912 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions (villages).
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
and Sri Lankan Malays
.
and Sinhalese
population.
The population of the province, like that of the Eastern Province
, has been heavily affected by the civil war
. The war has killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Several hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamils, possibly as much as 1,000,000, have emigrated
to the West
since the start of the war. There are a further 300,000 internally displaced person
s in Sri Lanka living in refugee camps in the North and East
and depending on aid provided by NGOs
. There are approximately 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees is India
. Many Sri Lankan Tamils have also moved to the relative safety of Colombo
. The war has also caused most of the Sri Lankan Moors
and Sinhalese
who lived in the province to flee to other parts of Sri Lanka
.
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
and Sri Lankan Malays
. 3 2001 Census was only carried out partially in the Northern province.
Sri Lankan Tamil is the major language spoken in the province by the vast majority of the population. The other language spoken is Sinhala by 1 percent of the population. English is widely spoken and understood in the cities. Tamil
and Sinhala is official language of the Sri Lanka. Tamil
is the official language and administrative language of the Northern Province.
and professionals in the civil and business sectors. Small scale industry such as chemical
, light manufacturing
and textiles were present before the civil war.
Gross State Domestic Product in Rs. Crores and Current Prices
Northern Province being an agricultural dominant province, where agricultural sector is 25.9% and trade sector comes next to it is 19.3%. Most of the people engaged in service sector covering 31.2% of the total.
Major roads in Province are divided into two categories such as:
There are number of C and D Class roads in the Province, which are under developed.
Sri Lanka Government Railway operates the country’s railway network and the lines to Jaffna
, Kankesanthurai
and Mannar
have been destroyed by the LTTE. Most of the railways were developed during the British colonial period.
Airways and airports are under developed in this province. Palaly Airport, once an international airport had regular passenger flight service between Colombo
and Trichirapalli, India
is under the control of Sri Lankan Navy now. Daily flights are between Colombo and Jaffna are available. There are few small airports and airstrips in Vavuniya
and Iranamadu
.
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
, The Governor
is the Constitutional head of the province while the Chief Minister
is the head of the government and the head of the council of ministers. The Chief Justice
of the High Court
is the head of the judiciary.
The Parliamentary representatives from the province are elected through
Provincial Government is not is functioning in Northern Province at present. It is ruled directly from the Central government. Governors are care taker of province. Most of the governors were retired army generals.
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
established provincial councils. The first elections for provincial councils took place on 28 April 1988 in North Central
, North Western
, Sabaragamuwa
, and Uva
provinces.
Elections
in the newly merged North-East Province
were scheduled for 19 November 1988. However, the Indian Peace Keeping Force
(IPKF), which at that time occupied the North-East Province, rigged the elections in the north so that the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front
(EPRLF) and Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front
(ENDLF), two India
n backed paramilitary
groups, won all of the 36 seats in the north uncontested. However, elections did take place for the 35 seats in the east. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
won 17 seats, EPRLF 12 seats, ENDLF 5 seats and the United National Party
1 seat. On 10 December 1988 Annamalai Varatharajah Perumal of the EPRLF became the first Chief Minister of the North-East Provincial Council.
On 1 March 1990, just as the IPKF were preparing to withdraw from Sri Lanka, Permual moved a motion in the North-East Provincial Council declaraing
an independent
Eelam
. President Premadasa
reacted to Permual's UDI by dissolving the provincial council and imposing direct rule on the province.
The north-east was ruled directly from Colombo
until May 2008 when elections
were held in the demerged Eastern Province. However, the Northern Province continues to be ruled from Colombo. More than 20 years after the introduction of provincial councils the people of the Northern Province remain the only ones in Sri Lanka who have never a cast a vote to elect their provincial council. This is despite the fact that the provincial councils were only established to satisfy the demands for autonomy
by the Tamils, the majority
of whom live in the Northern Province.
or also known as Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi, DTNA, United National Party
, Sri Lanka Freedom Party
and EPDP.
, the University of Jaffna
which became independent in 1979, previously having been a campus
of the University of Sri Lanka
since 1974. The university has approximately 7,000 students. The province is known for its institutions of education, many of which were established by Christian
missionaries.
Few newspapers are published in the province now in the principal language of Tamil. None in English and Sinhala. Before the Civil war commences dozens of newspapers and magazines were published. Press freedom is limited and mostly censored by Government and Pro-government paramilitaries. Now most of the Tamil, English, Sinhala magazines come from Colombo and Chennai, India.
signed on 29 July 1987 required the Sri Lankan government
to devolve powers to the provinces and, in the interim
, to merge the Northern and Eastern
provinces into one administrative unit
. The accord required a referendum
to be held by 31 December 1988 in the Eastern Province to decide whether the merger should be permanent
. Crucially, the accord allowed the Sri Lankan president
to postpone the referendum at his discretion
.
On 14 November 1987 the Sri Lankan Parliament passed the 13th Amendment
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
and the Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987, establishing provincial councils. On September 2 and 8 1988 President Jayewardene
issued proclamations enabling the Northern and Eastern provinces to be one administrative unit administered by one elected Council. The North-East Province
was born.
The proclamations were only meant to be a temporary
measure until a referendum was held in the Eastern Province on a permanent merger between the two provinces. However, the referendum was never held and successive Sri Lankan presidents have issued proclamations annually extending the life of the "temporary" entity.
The merger was bitterly opposed by Sri Lankan nationalists. The combined North-East Province occupied one fourth of Sri Lanka. The thought of the Tamil Tigers
controlling this province, directly or indirectly, alarmed them greatly. On 14 July 2006, after a long campaign against the merger, the JVP
filed three separate petitions with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
requesting a separate Provincial Council for the East. On 16 October 2006 the Supreme Court ruled that the proclamations issued by President Jayewardene were null and void and had no legal effect. The North-East Province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern provinces on 1 January 2007.
Provinces of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, provinces are the first level administrative division. They were first established by the British rulers of Ceylon in 1833. Over the next century most of the administrative functions were transferred to the districts, the second level administrative division. By the middle of the...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
Constitution of Sri Lanka
The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been the constitution of the island nation of Sri Lanka since its original promulgation by the National State Assembly on 7 September 1978. It is Sri Lanka's second republican constitution, and its third constitution since the...
established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
to form the North-East Province
North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The North Eastern Province was one of the provinces of Sri Lanka. The province was created in September 1988 by merging the Northern and Eastern provinces. This merger was declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2006. The province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern...
. The capital of the province is Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
. The Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
had its roots in this province. It is also known as Sri Lanka's Tamil country.
Geography
Northern province is located in the north of Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and is just 22 miles (35.4 km) from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is connected with Indian mainland by mythical Adam's Bridge (also known as Sethu Paalam or Rama's Bridge). It has an area of 8884 square kilometres (3,430.1 sq mi).
The province is surrounded by the Gulf of Mannar
Gulf of Mannar
The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. It lies between the southeastern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka. A chain of low islands and reefs known as Adam's Bridge, also called Ramsethu, which includes Mannar Island, separates the...
and Palk Bay to the west, Palk Strait
Palk Strait
Palk Strait is a strait between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of the Northern Province of the island nation of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Palk Bay and thence with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. The strait is wide. Several...
to the north, the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
to the east and the Eastern
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
, North Central
North Central Province, Sri Lanka
North Central Province is a province of Sri Lanka. Its capital is Anuradhapura. The province is not densely populated with a weak economy, as the land tends to be dry tropical woodlands.-History:...
and North Western
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam...
provinces to the south.
The province is divided into two distinct geographic areas: Jaffna peninsula
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...
and the Vanni. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
whereas the Vanni has irrigation tank
Irrigation tank
For etymology, see Storage tank#Etymology.In India, an irrigation tank or tank is an artificial reservoir of any size. . It can also have a natural or man-made spring included as part of a structure...
s fed by perennial rivers. Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru
Akkarayan Aru
Akkarayan Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in north-west Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Jaffna Lagoon.-References:...
, Aruvi Aru, Kanakarayan Aru
Kanakarayan Aru
Kanakarayan Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in eastern Vavuniya District, near Omanthai, before flowing north through Vavuniya District, Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into the Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Kodalikkallu Aru
Kodalikkallu Aru
Kodalikkallu Aru is a small river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in south-east Mullaitivu District, before flowing north-east/north through Mullaitivu District. The river empties into Nanthi Kadal lagoon.-References:...
, Mandekal Aru
Mandekal Aru
Mandekal Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in western Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Palk Bay.-References:...
, Nay Aru
Nay Aru
Nay Aru is the name of two rivers in Northern Province, Sri Lanka:* Nay Aru - a river in Mannar District and Vavuniya District.* Nay Aru - a river in Mullaitivu District....
, Netheli Aru
Netheli Aru
Netheli Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Pali Aru
Pali Aru
Pali Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Vavuniya District, near Puliyankulam, before flowing north/north-west through Vavuniya District, Mullaitivu District and Mannar District. The river empties into Palk Bay. The southern section of the river is sometimes...
, Pallavarayankaddu Aru
Pallavarayankaddu Aru
Pallavarayankaddu Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in western Mullaitivu District, before flowing north-west through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Palk Bay.-References:...
, Parangi Aru
Parangi Aru
Parangi Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Vavuniya District, before flowing north/north-west through Vavuniya District, Mannar District, Mullaitivu District and Mannar District. The river empties into Palk Bay....
, Per Aru
Per Aru
Per Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Vavuniya District, before flowing north/north-east through Vavuniya District and Mullaitivu District. The river empties into Nanthi Kadal lagoon.-References:...
, Piramenthal Aru
Piramenthal Aru
Piramenthal is a small river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Theravil Aru
Theravil Aru
Theravil Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon....
.
The province has a number of lagoons, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon
Jaffna Lagoon
Jaffna lagoon is a large lagoon off Jaffna District and Kilinochchi District, northern Sri Lanka.The lagoon is surrounded by the densely populated Jaffna peninsula containing palmyra palms, coconut plantations, and rice paddies. There are numerous fishing villages and some salt pans.The lagoon has...
, Nanthi Kadal
Nanthi Kadal
Nanthi Kadal is a lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka. The English translation of Nanthi Kadal is "the sea of conches".The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers, including Per Aru....
, Chundikkulam Lagoon
Chundikkulam Lagoon
Chundikkulam Lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District and Kilinochchi District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Chundikkulam is located on a narrow piece of land between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The lagoon is sometimes referred to as Elephant Pass Lagoon.The lagoon is fed by a number of...
, Vadamarachchi Lagoon
Vadamarachchi Lagoon
Vadamarachchi lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. The lagoon is sometimes referred to as Thondamannar lagoon. The lagoon separates the Vadamarachchi region from the Valikamam and Thenmarachchi regions....
, Uppu Aru Lagoon
Uppu Aru Lagoon
Uppu Aru lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. The lagoon separates the Valikamam region from the Thenmarachchi region.The lagoon is linked to Jaffna Lagoon by a short channel to the south...
, Kokkilai lagoon
Kokkilai lagoon
Kokkilai lagoon is an estuarine lagoon in Mullaitivu District and Trincomalee District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Kokkilai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean....
, Nai Aru Lagoon
Nai Aru Lagoon
Nai Aru Lagoon is an estuarine lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka.The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers, including Nay Aru . It is linked to the sea by a narrow channel to the south that is very often blocked by a sand bar...
and Chalai Lagoon
Chalai Lagoon
Chalai Lagoon is a lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Chalai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean....
.
Most of the islands around Sri Lanka are to be found to the west of the Northern Province. The largest islands are: Kayts
Kayts
Kayts , is one of the important villages in Velanai Island which is a small island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in the North of Sri Lanka. There are number of other villages within the Velanai Island such as Allaipiddy, Mankumpan, Velanai, Saravanai, Puliyankoodal, Suruvil, Naranthanai and...
, Neduntivu, Karaitivu
Karaitivu (Island)
Karaitivu or Kaaraitheevu , is an island linked to Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka by a Causeway. Karainagar is the biggest town on this island....
, Pungudutivu
Pungudutivu
Pungudutivu is a small island composed of number villages that is just west of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Northern Province. It is divided into 12 wards internally, each corresponding a major settlement. Most of the residents of the Island are Tamils with majority being...
and Mandativu
Mandativu
Mandativu or Mandaitheevu is small island off the coast of minority Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Jaffna Peninsula in north Sri lanka. It is connected to the mainland via a causeway. -External links:*...
.
Northern Province is covered in tropical forests, with numerous rivers flowing through them. The northwest coast is part of the deep Cauvery (Kaveri) River Basin of southeast India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, which has been collecting sediments from the highlands of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
since the breakup of Gondwanaland.Most of the island's surface consists of plains between 30 and 200 meters above sea level. A coastal belt about thirty meters above sea level surrounds the island. Much of the coast consists of sandy beaches.
Climate and weather
| Seashores | Inlands | |
| Max. | 28 °C (82.4 °F) | 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Min. | 24 °C (75.2 °F) | 22 °C (71.6 °F) |
Sri Lanka enjoys a typical tropical monsoonal climate. The Northern Province tends to be hot and dry in the dry season (February to September), and moderately cool and wet in the wet season (October to January). Province's climate is of the tropical kind and therefore during monsoons there is always the chance of a deluge. In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with the average temperature is around 28º to 30º for the year. However, on the whole, January is the coolest month and May is the hottest month. Relative Humidity varies from 70% during the day to 90% at night. The Dry Zone of the Sri Lanka is the north and east of the island, this region is affected by the north east monsoon(December to March) and southwest monsoon (June to October). It is thought to be dry because most of the rains fall during the northeast monsoon.
Annual rainfall is less than 1250 mm in the north west and south east of the Inland. It has two rainy seasons South West Monsoon- May to August, North East Monsoon- November to February.
Administrative units
The Northern Province is divided into 5 administrative districtsDistricts of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government...
, 33 Divisional Secretary's (DS) Divisions
Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka
The districts of the Sri Lanka are divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became...
and 912 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions (villages).
| Administrative District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... |
DS Divisions Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka The districts of the Sri Lanka are divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became... |
GN Divisions |
Area (km2) |
Population (2007 Estimate) | Population Density (/km2) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamils Tamil people Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,... 1 |
Muslims2 | Sinhalese Sinhalese people The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the... |
Other | Total | |||||
| Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
15 | 435 | 1,025 | 608,587 | 299 | 33 | 0 | 608,919 | 594.07 |
| Kilinochchi Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
4 | 95 | 1,279 | 195,386 | 424 | 2 | 0 | 195,812 | 153.10 |
| Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
5 | 153 | 1,996 | 95,560 | 8,073 | 55 | 0 | 103,688 | 51.95 |
| Mullaitivu Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
5 | 127 | 2,617 | 220,117 | 193 | 1 | 0 | 220,311 | 84.18 |
| Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
4 | 102 | 1,967 | 157,917 | 11,594 | 13,535 | 0 | 183,046 | 93.06 |
| Total | 33 | 912 | 8,884 | 1,277,567 | 20,583 | 13,626 | 0 | 1,311,776 | 147.66 |
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sri Lankan Malays
Sri Lankan Malays
The Malays of Sri Lanka originated in Southeast Asia and today consist of about 50,000 people...
.
Major cities and towns
| Rank | |City/town | |District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... | Population (2010 est) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vavuniya Vavuniya Vavuniya is a town in northern Sri Lanka. This town is situated in the Northern Province. Vavuniya was often referred to as the gateway to Vanni.... |
Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
108,834 |
| 2 | Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
84,416 |
| 3 | Chavakacheri Chavakacheri Chavakacheri is a town in the Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka which has been badly devastated in the Sri Lankan civil war. Today, the people of Chavakacheri have rebuilt the town, but the population remains drastically lower than the pre-war years.... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
54,517 |
| 4 | Point Pedro Point Pedro Point Pedro is the northernmost town of the island of Sri Lanka. The agriculturally active area around Point Pedro with fertile calcic red latosols is known for its cotton production. The eastern coast of Point Pedro is a 3-mile-broad beach with huge sand dunes up to 100 feet height, extending... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
39,962 |
| 5 | Mannar Mannar, Sri Lanka Mannar , formerly spelled Manar, is the capital of Mannar District, Sri Lanka. It is located on Mannar Island.Mannar is known for its baobab trees and for its fort, built by the Portuguese in 1560 and taken by the Dutch in 1658 and rebuilt; its ramparts and bastions are intact, though the interior... |
Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
36,442 |
| 6 | Valvettithurai Valvettithurai Valvettithurai or VVT is a small coastal village on the northeast coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka's north. The population is mainly minority Sri Lankan Tamils of Hindu or Catholic faith. The main industry is farming, fishing and trading... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
34,701 |
| 7 | Kilinochchi Kilinochchi Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna... |
Kilinochchi Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
15,194 |
Population
The Northern province's population was 1,311,776 in 2007. The majority of the population are Sri Lankan Tamils, with a minority Sri Lankan MoorSri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
population.
The population of the province, like that of the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
, has been heavily affected by the civil war
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
. The war has killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Several hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamils, possibly as much as 1,000,000, have emigrated
Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora refers to the global diaspora of the people of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. It can be said to be a subset of the larger Sri Lankan as well as Tamil diaspora....
to the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
since the start of the war. There are a further 300,000 internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s in Sri Lanka living in refugee camps in the North and East
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
and depending on aid provided by NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
. There are approximately 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees is India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Many Sri Lankan Tamils have also moved to the relative safety of Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. The war has also caused most of the Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
who lived in the province to flee to other parts of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Ethnicity
| Year | Tamils Tamil people Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,... 1 |
Muslims2 | Sinhalese Sinhalese people The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the... |
Others Burgher people The Burghers are a Eurasian ethnic group, historically from Sri Lanka, consisting for the most part of male-line descendants of European colonists from the 16th to 20th centuries and local women, with some minorities of Swedish, Norwegian, French and Irish.Today the mother tongue of the Burghers... |
Total No. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |||
| 1881 Census | 289,481 | 95.70% | 10,416 | 3.44% | 1,379 | 0.46% | 1,224 | 0.41% | 302,500 | |
| 1891 Census | 304,355 | 95.32% | 11,831 | 3.71% | 1,922 | 0.60% | 1,188 | 0.37% | 319,296 | |
| 1901 Census | 326,379 | 95.73% | 11,862 | 3.48% | 1,555 | 0.46% | 1,140 | 0.33% | 340,936 | |
| 1911 Census | 352,698 | 95.41% | 12,818 | 3.47% | 2,890 | 0.78% | 1,245 | 0.34% | 369,651 | |
| 1921 Census | 356,801 | 95.19% | 13,095 | 3.49% | 3,795 | 1.01% | 1,138 | 0.30% | 374,829 | |
| 1946 Census | 449,958 | 93.82% | 18,183 | 3.79% | 9,602 | 2.00% | 1,829 | 0.38% | 479,572 | |
| 1963 Census | 689,470 | 92.93% | 30,760 | 4.15% | 20,270 | 2.73% | 1,410 | 0.19% | 741,910 | |
| 1971 Census | 799,406 | 91.07% | 37,855 | 4.31% | 39,511 | 4.50% | 996 | 0.11% | 877,768 | |
| 1981 Census | 1,112,425 | 92.46% | 54,205 | 4.51% | 33,890 | 2.82% | 2,589 | 0.22% | 1,203,109 | |
| 2001 Census3 | ||||||||||
| 2007 Estimate | 1,277,567 | 97.39% | 20,583 | 1.57% | 13,626 | 1.04% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,311,776 | |
| Source: | ||||||||||
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sri Lankan Malays
Sri Lankan Malays
The Malays of Sri Lanka originated in Southeast Asia and today consist of about 50,000 people...
. 3 2001 Census was only carried out partially in the Northern province.
Religion
| Administrative District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... |
Hindu Hinduism in Sri Lanka Hindus currently make up more than 15% of the Sri Lankan population, and are almost exclusively Tamils apart from small immigrant communities from India and Pakistan such as the Sindhis, Telugus, Kannadigas and Malayalees. In the 1915 census they made up almost 25% of the population, which included... |
Roman Catholic Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka The Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.The country comes under the province of Colombo and is divided into 11 dioceses including one archdiocese.There are approximately 1.4 million Catholics... |
Muslim Islam in Sri Lanka Islam in Sri Lanka is practiced by a group of minorities who make up approximately 10% of the population.on the 2001 census of GOSL shows there are 1,711,000 Muslims The Muslim community is divided into three main ethnic groups: the Sri Lankan Moors, the Indian Muslims, and the Malays, each with... |
Buddhist | Other Christian Christianity in Sri Lanka Christianity is a minority religion in Sri Lanka. Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese in 1505. There were conversions by Dutch persons in the 17th century, which resulted in a percentage of church members in excess of 10%. This figure decreased... |
Others | Total No. |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |||
| Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
705,705 | 84.97% | 95,613 | 11.51% | 14,844 | 1.79% | 5,104 | 0.61% | 9,153 | 1.10% | 133 | 0.02% | 830,552 | |
| Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
28,885 | 27.19% | 43,633 | 41.07% | 29,161 | 27.45% | 3,363 | 3.17% | 1,056 | 0.99% | 137 | 0.13% | 106,235 | |
| Mullaitivu Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
60,117 | 77.88% | 11,735 | 15.20% | 3,789 | 4.91% | 1,060 | 1.37% | 476 | 0.62% | 12 | 0.02% | 77,189 | |
| Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
65,574 | 68.72% | 6,493 | 6.80% | 6,740 | 7.06% | 15,754 | 16.51% | 845 | 0.89% | 22 | 0.02% | 95,428 | |
| Total | 860,281 | 77.54% | 157,474 | 14.19% | 54,534 | 4.92% | 25,281 | 2.28% | 11,530 | 1.04% | 304 | 0.03% | 1,109,404 | |
| Source: | ||||||||||||||
Language
The Northern Province ( Vaṭakku mākāṇam, Uturu paḷāta) is one of the 9 provincesProvinces of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, provinces are the first level administrative division. They were first established by the British rulers of Ceylon in 1833. Over the next century most of the administrative functions were transferred to the districts, the second level administrative division. By the middle of the...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
Constitution of Sri Lanka
The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been the constitution of the island nation of Sri Lanka since its original promulgation by the National State Assembly on 7 September 1978. It is Sri Lanka's second republican constitution, and its third constitution since the...
established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
to form the North-East Province
North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The North Eastern Province was one of the provinces of Sri Lanka. The province was created in September 1988 by merging the Northern and Eastern provinces. This merger was declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2006. The province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern...
. The capital of the province is Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
. The Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
had its roots in this province. It is also known as Sri Lanka's Tamil country.
Geography
Northern province is located in the north of Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and is just 22 miles (35.4 km) from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is connected with Indian mainland by mythical Adam's Bridge (also known as Sethu Paalam or Rama's Bridge). It has an area of 8884 square kilometres (3,430.1 sq mi).
The province is surrounded by the Gulf of Mannar
Gulf of Mannar
The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. It lies between the southeastern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka. A chain of low islands and reefs known as Adam's Bridge, also called Ramsethu, which includes Mannar Island, separates the...
and Palk Bay to the west, Palk Strait
Palk Strait
Palk Strait is a strait between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of the Northern Province of the island nation of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Palk Bay and thence with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. The strait is wide. Several...
to the north, the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
to the east and the Eastern
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
, North Central
North Central Province, Sri Lanka
North Central Province is a province of Sri Lanka. Its capital is Anuradhapura. The province is not densely populated with a weak economy, as the land tends to be dry tropical woodlands.-History:...
and North Western
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam...
provinces to the south.
The province is divided into two distinct geographic areas: Jaffna peninsula
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...
and the Vanni. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
whereas the Vanni has irrigation tank
Irrigation tank
For etymology, see Storage tank#Etymology.In India, an irrigation tank or tank is an artificial reservoir of any size. . It can also have a natural or man-made spring included as part of a structure...
s fed by perennial rivers. Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru
Akkarayan Aru
Akkarayan Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in north-west Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Jaffna Lagoon.-References:...
, Aruvi Aru, Kanakarayan Aru
Kanakarayan Aru
Kanakarayan Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in eastern Vavuniya District, near Omanthai, before flowing north through Vavuniya District, Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into the Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Kodalikkallu Aru
Kodalikkallu Aru
Kodalikkallu Aru is a small river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in south-east Mullaitivu District, before flowing north-east/north through Mullaitivu District. The river empties into Nanthi Kadal lagoon.-References:...
, Mandekal Aru
Mandekal Aru
Mandekal Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in western Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Palk Bay.-References:...
, Nay Aru
Nay Aru
Nay Aru is the name of two rivers in Northern Province, Sri Lanka:* Nay Aru - a river in Mannar District and Vavuniya District.* Nay Aru - a river in Mullaitivu District....
, Netheli Aru
Netheli Aru
Netheli Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Pali Aru
Pali Aru
Pali Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Vavuniya District, near Puliyankulam, before flowing north/north-west through Vavuniya District, Mullaitivu District and Mannar District. The river empties into Palk Bay. The southern section of the river is sometimes...
, Pallavarayankaddu Aru
Pallavarayankaddu Aru
Pallavarayankaddu Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in western Mullaitivu District, before flowing north-west through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Palk Bay.-References:...
, Parangi Aru
Parangi Aru
Parangi Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Vavuniya District, before flowing north/north-west through Vavuniya District, Mannar District, Mullaitivu District and Mannar District. The river empties into Palk Bay....
, Per Aru
Per Aru
Per Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Vavuniya District, before flowing north/north-east through Vavuniya District and Mullaitivu District. The river empties into Nanthi Kadal lagoon.-References:...
, Piramenthal Aru
Piramenthal Aru
Piramenthal is a small river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Theravil Aru
Theravil Aru
Theravil Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon....
.
The province has a number of lagoons, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon
Jaffna Lagoon
Jaffna lagoon is a large lagoon off Jaffna District and Kilinochchi District, northern Sri Lanka.The lagoon is surrounded by the densely populated Jaffna peninsula containing palmyra palms, coconut plantations, and rice paddies. There are numerous fishing villages and some salt pans.The lagoon has...
, Nanthi Kadal
Nanthi Kadal
Nanthi Kadal is a lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka. The English translation of Nanthi Kadal is "the sea of conches".The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers, including Per Aru....
, Chundikkulam Lagoon
Chundikkulam Lagoon
Chundikkulam Lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District and Kilinochchi District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Chundikkulam is located on a narrow piece of land between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The lagoon is sometimes referred to as Elephant Pass Lagoon.The lagoon is fed by a number of...
, Vadamarachchi Lagoon
Vadamarachchi Lagoon
Vadamarachchi lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. The lagoon is sometimes referred to as Thondamannar lagoon. The lagoon separates the Vadamarachchi region from the Valikamam and Thenmarachchi regions....
, Uppu Aru Lagoon
Uppu Aru Lagoon
Uppu Aru lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. The lagoon separates the Valikamam region from the Thenmarachchi region.The lagoon is linked to Jaffna Lagoon by a short channel to the south...
, Kokkilai lagoon
Kokkilai lagoon
Kokkilai lagoon is an estuarine lagoon in Mullaitivu District and Trincomalee District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Kokkilai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean....
, Nai Aru Lagoon
Nai Aru Lagoon
Nai Aru Lagoon is an estuarine lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka.The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers, including Nay Aru . It is linked to the sea by a narrow channel to the south that is very often blocked by a sand bar...
and Chalai Lagoon
Chalai Lagoon
Chalai Lagoon is a lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Chalai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean....
.
Most of the islands around Sri Lanka are to be found to the west of the Northern Province. The largest islands are: Kayts
Kayts
Kayts , is one of the important villages in Velanai Island which is a small island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in the North of Sri Lanka. There are number of other villages within the Velanai Island such as Allaipiddy, Mankumpan, Velanai, Saravanai, Puliyankoodal, Suruvil, Naranthanai and...
, Neduntivu, Karaitivu
Karaitivu (Island)
Karaitivu or Kaaraitheevu , is an island linked to Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka by a Causeway. Karainagar is the biggest town on this island....
, Pungudutivu
Pungudutivu
Pungudutivu is a small island composed of number villages that is just west of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Northern Province. It is divided into 12 wards internally, each corresponding a major settlement. Most of the residents of the Island are Tamils with majority being...
and Mandativu
Mandativu
Mandativu or Mandaitheevu is small island off the coast of minority Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Jaffna Peninsula in north Sri lanka. It is connected to the mainland via a causeway. -External links:*...
.
Northern Province is covered in tropical forests, with numerous rivers flowing through them. The northwest coast is part of the deep Cauvery (Kaveri) River Basin of southeast India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, which has been collecting sediments from the highlands of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
since the breakup of Gondwanaland.Most of the island's surface consists of plains between 30 and 200 meters above sea level. A coastal belt about thirty meters above sea level surrounds the island. Much of the coast consists of sandy beaches.
Climate and weather
| Seashores | Inlands | |
| Max. | 28 °C (82.4 °F) | 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Min. | 24 °C (75.2 °F) | 22 °C (71.6 °F) |
Sri Lanka enjoys a typical tropical monsoonal climate. The Northern Province tends to be hot and dry in the dry season (February to September), and moderately cool and wet in the wet season (October to January). Province's climate is of the tropical kind and therefore during monsoons there is always the chance of a deluge. In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with the average temperature is around 28º to 30º for the year. However, on the whole, January is the coolest month and May is the hottest month. Relative Humidity varies from 70% during the day to 90% at night. The Dry Zone of the Sri Lanka is the north and east of the island, this region is affected by the north east monsoon(December to March) and southwest monsoon (June to October). It is thought to be dry because most of the rains fall during the northeast monsoon.
Annual rainfall is less than 1250 mm in the north west and south east of the Inland. It has two rainy seasons South West Monsoon- May to August, North East Monsoon- November to February.
Administrative units
The Northern Province is divided into 5 administrative districtsDistricts of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government...
, 33 Divisional Secretary's (DS) Divisions
Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka
The districts of the Sri Lanka are divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became...
and 912 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions (villages).
| Administrative District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... |
DS Divisions Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka The districts of the Sri Lanka are divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became... |
GN Divisions |
Area (km2) |
Population (2007 Estimate) | Population Density (/km2) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamils Tamil people Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,... 1 |
Muslims2 | Sinhalese Sinhalese people The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the... |
Other | Total | |||||
| Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
15 | 435 | 1,025 | 608,587 | 299 | 33 | 0 | 608,919 | 594.07 |
| Kilinochchi Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
4 | 95 | 1,279 | 195,386 | 424 | 2 | 0 | 195,812 | 153.10 |
| Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
5 | 153 | 1,996 | 95,560 | 8,073 | 55 | 0 | 103,688 | 51.95 |
| Mullaitivu Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
5 | 127 | 2,617 | 220,117 | 193 | 1 | 0 | 220,311 | 84.18 |
| Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
4 | 102 | 1,967 | 157,917 | 11,594 | 13,535 | 0 | 183,046 | 93.06 |
| Total | 33 | 912 | 8,884 | 1,277,567 | 20,583 | 13,626 | 0 | 1,311,776 | 147.66 |
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sri Lankan Malays
Sri Lankan Malays
The Malays of Sri Lanka originated in Southeast Asia and today consist of about 50,000 people...
.
Major cities and towns
| Rank | |City/town | |District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... | Population (2010 est) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vavuniya Vavuniya Vavuniya is a town in northern Sri Lanka. This town is situated in the Northern Province. Vavuniya was often referred to as the gateway to Vanni.... |
Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
108,834 |
| 2 | Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
84,416 |
| 3 | Chavakacheri Chavakacheri Chavakacheri is a town in the Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka which has been badly devastated in the Sri Lankan civil war. Today, the people of Chavakacheri have rebuilt the town, but the population remains drastically lower than the pre-war years.... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
54,517 |
| 4 | Point Pedro Point Pedro Point Pedro is the northernmost town of the island of Sri Lanka. The agriculturally active area around Point Pedro with fertile calcic red latosols is known for its cotton production. The eastern coast of Point Pedro is a 3-mile-broad beach with huge sand dunes up to 100 feet height, extending... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
39,962 |
| 5 | Mannar Mannar, Sri Lanka Mannar , formerly spelled Manar, is the capital of Mannar District, Sri Lanka. It is located on Mannar Island.Mannar is known for its baobab trees and for its fort, built by the Portuguese in 1560 and taken by the Dutch in 1658 and rebuilt; its ramparts and bastions are intact, though the interior... |
Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
36,442 |
| 6 | Valvettithurai Valvettithurai Valvettithurai or VVT is a small coastal village on the northeast coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka's north. The population is mainly minority Sri Lankan Tamils of Hindu or Catholic faith. The main industry is farming, fishing and trading... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
34,701 |
| 7 | Kilinochchi Kilinochchi Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna... |
Kilinochchi Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
15,194 |
Population
The Northern province's population was 1,311,776 in 2007. The majority of the population are Sri Lankan Tamils, with a minority Sri Lankan MoorSri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
population.
The population of the province, like that of the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
, has been heavily affected by the civil war
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
. The war has killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Several hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamils, possibly as much as 1,000,000, have emigrated
Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora refers to the global diaspora of the people of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. It can be said to be a subset of the larger Sri Lankan as well as Tamil diaspora....
to the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
since the start of the war. There are a further 300,000 internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s in Sri Lanka living in refugee camps in the North and East
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
and depending on aid provided by NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
. There are approximately 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees is India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Many Sri Lankan Tamils have also moved to the relative safety of Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. The war has also caused most of the Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
who lived in the province to flee to other parts of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Ethnicity
| Year | Tamils Tamil people Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,... 1 |
Muslims2 | Sinhalese Sinhalese people The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the... |
Others Burgher people The Burghers are a Eurasian ethnic group, historically from Sri Lanka, consisting for the most part of male-line descendants of European colonists from the 16th to 20th centuries and local women, with some minorities of Swedish, Norwegian, French and Irish.Today the mother tongue of the Burghers... |
Total No. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |||
| 1881 Census | 289,481 | 95.70% | 10,416 | 3.44% | 1,379 | 0.46% | 1,224 | 0.41% | 302,500 | |
| 1891 Census | 304,355 | 95.32% | 11,831 | 3.71% | 1,922 | 0.60% | 1,188 | 0.37% | 319,296 | |
| 1901 Census | 326,379 | 95.73% | 11,862 | 3.48% | 1,555 | 0.46% | 1,140 | 0.33% | 340,936 | |
| 1911 Census | 352,698 | 95.41% | 12,818 | 3.47% | 2,890 | 0.78% | 1,245 | 0.34% | 369,651 | |
| 1921 Census | 356,801 | 95.19% | 13,095 | 3.49% | 3,795 | 1.01% | 1,138 | 0.30% | 374,829 | |
| 1946 Census | 449,958 | 93.82% | 18,183 | 3.79% | 9,602 | 2.00% | 1,829 | 0.38% | 479,572 | |
| 1963 Census | 689,470 | 92.93% | 30,760 | 4.15% | 20,270 | 2.73% | 1,410 | 0.19% | 741,910 | |
| 1971 Census | 799,406 | 91.07% | 37,855 | 4.31% | 39,511 | 4.50% | 996 | 0.11% | 877,768 | |
| 1981 Census | 1,112,425 | 92.46% | 54,205 | 4.51% | 33,890 | 2.82% | 2,589 | 0.22% | 1,203,109 | |
| 2001 Census3 | ||||||||||
| 2007 Estimate | 1,277,567 | 97.39% | 20,583 | 1.57% | 13,626 | 1.04% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,311,776 | |
| Source: | ||||||||||
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sri Lankan Malays
Sri Lankan Malays
The Malays of Sri Lanka originated in Southeast Asia and today consist of about 50,000 people...
. 3 2001 Census was only carried out partially in the Northern province.
Religion
| Administrative District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... |
Hindu Hinduism in Sri Lanka Hindus currently make up more than 15% of the Sri Lankan population, and are almost exclusively Tamils apart from small immigrant communities from India and Pakistan such as the Sindhis, Telugus, Kannadigas and Malayalees. In the 1915 census they made up almost 25% of the population, which included... |
Roman Catholic Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka The Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.The country comes under the province of Colombo and is divided into 11 dioceses including one archdiocese.There are approximately 1.4 million Catholics... |
Muslim Islam in Sri Lanka Islam in Sri Lanka is practiced by a group of minorities who make up approximately 10% of the population.on the 2001 census of GOSL shows there are 1,711,000 Muslims The Muslim community is divided into three main ethnic groups: the Sri Lankan Moors, the Indian Muslims, and the Malays, each with... |
Buddhist | Other Christian Christianity in Sri Lanka Christianity is a minority religion in Sri Lanka. Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese in 1505. There were conversions by Dutch persons in the 17th century, which resulted in a percentage of church members in excess of 10%. This figure decreased... |
Others | Total No. |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |||
| Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
705,705 | 84.97% | 95,613 | 11.51% | 14,844 | 1.79% | 5,104 | 0.61% | 9,153 | 1.10% | 133 | 0.02% | 830,552 | |
| Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
28,885 | 27.19% | 43,633 | 41.07% | 29,161 | 27.45% | 3,363 | 3.17% | 1,056 | 0.99% | 137 | 0.13% | 106,235 | |
| Mullaitivu Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
60,117 | 77.88% | 11,735 | 15.20% | 3,789 | 4.91% | 1,060 | 1.37% | 476 | 0.62% | 12 | 0.02% | 77,189 | |
| Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
65,574 | 68.72% | 6,493 | 6.80% | 6,740 | 7.06% | 15,754 | 16.51% | 845 | 0.89% | 22 | 0.02% | 95,428 | |
| Total | 860,281 | 77.54% | 157,474 | 14.19% | 54,534 | 4.92% | 25,281 | 2.28% | 11,530 | 1.04% | 304 | 0.03% | 1,109,404 | |
| Source: | ||||||||||||||
Language
The Northern Province ( Vaṭakku mākāṇam, Uturu paḷāta) is one of the 9 provincesProvinces of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, provinces are the first level administrative division. They were first established by the British rulers of Ceylon in 1833. Over the next century most of the administrative functions were transferred to the districts, the second level administrative division. By the middle of the...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
Constitution of Sri Lanka
The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been the constitution of the island nation of Sri Lanka since its original promulgation by the National State Assembly on 7 September 1978. It is Sri Lanka's second republican constitution, and its third constitution since the...
established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
to form the North-East Province
North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The North Eastern Province was one of the provinces of Sri Lanka. The province was created in September 1988 by merging the Northern and Eastern provinces. This merger was declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2006. The province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern...
. The capital of the province is Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
. The Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
had its roots in this province. It is also known as Sri Lanka's Tamil country.
Geography
Northern province is located in the north of Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and is just 22 miles (35.4 km) from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is connected with Indian mainland by mythical Adam's Bridge (also known as Sethu Paalam or Rama's Bridge). It has an area of 8884 square kilometres (3,430.1 sq mi).
The province is surrounded by the Gulf of Mannar
Gulf of Mannar
The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. It lies between the southeastern tip of India and the west coast of Sri Lanka. A chain of low islands and reefs known as Adam's Bridge, also called Ramsethu, which includes Mannar Island, separates the...
and Palk Bay to the west, Palk Strait
Palk Strait
Palk Strait is a strait between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of the Northern Province of the island nation of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Palk Bay and thence with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. The strait is wide. Several...
to the north, the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
to the east and the Eastern
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
, North Central
North Central Province, Sri Lanka
North Central Province is a province of Sri Lanka. Its capital is Anuradhapura. The province is not densely populated with a weak economy, as the land tends to be dry tropical woodlands.-History:...
and North Western
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam...
provinces to the south.
The province is divided into two distinct geographic areas: Jaffna peninsula
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...
and the Vanni. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
whereas the Vanni has irrigation tank
Irrigation tank
For etymology, see Storage tank#Etymology.In India, an irrigation tank or tank is an artificial reservoir of any size. . It can also have a natural or man-made spring included as part of a structure...
s fed by perennial rivers. Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru
Akkarayan Aru
Akkarayan Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in north-west Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Jaffna Lagoon.-References:...
, Aruvi Aru, Kanakarayan Aru
Kanakarayan Aru
Kanakarayan Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in eastern Vavuniya District, near Omanthai, before flowing north through Vavuniya District, Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into the Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Kodalikkallu Aru
Kodalikkallu Aru
Kodalikkallu Aru is a small river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in south-east Mullaitivu District, before flowing north-east/north through Mullaitivu District. The river empties into Nanthi Kadal lagoon.-References:...
, Mandekal Aru
Mandekal Aru
Mandekal Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in western Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Palk Bay.-References:...
, Nay Aru
Nay Aru
Nay Aru is the name of two rivers in Northern Province, Sri Lanka:* Nay Aru - a river in Mannar District and Vavuniya District.* Nay Aru - a river in Mullaitivu District....
, Netheli Aru
Netheli Aru
Netheli Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Pali Aru
Pali Aru
Pali Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Vavuniya District, near Puliyankulam, before flowing north/north-west through Vavuniya District, Mullaitivu District and Mannar District. The river empties into Palk Bay. The southern section of the river is sometimes...
, Pallavarayankaddu Aru
Pallavarayankaddu Aru
Pallavarayankaddu Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in western Mullaitivu District, before flowing north-west through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Palk Bay.-References:...
, Parangi Aru
Parangi Aru
Parangi Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Vavuniya District, before flowing north/north-west through Vavuniya District, Mannar District, Mullaitivu District and Mannar District. The river empties into Palk Bay....
, Per Aru
Per Aru
Per Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Vavuniya District, before flowing north/north-east through Vavuniya District and Mullaitivu District. The river empties into Nanthi Kadal lagoon.-References:...
, Piramenthal Aru
Piramenthal Aru
Piramenthal is a small river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in northern Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon.-References:...
, Theravil Aru
Theravil Aru
Theravil Aru is a river in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The river rises in central Mullaitivu District, before flowing north through Mullaitivu District and Kilinochchi District. The river empties into Chundikkulam Lagoon....
.
The province has a number of lagoons, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon
Jaffna Lagoon
Jaffna lagoon is a large lagoon off Jaffna District and Kilinochchi District, northern Sri Lanka.The lagoon is surrounded by the densely populated Jaffna peninsula containing palmyra palms, coconut plantations, and rice paddies. There are numerous fishing villages and some salt pans.The lagoon has...
, Nanthi Kadal
Nanthi Kadal
Nanthi Kadal is a lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka. The English translation of Nanthi Kadal is "the sea of conches".The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers, including Per Aru....
, Chundikkulam Lagoon
Chundikkulam Lagoon
Chundikkulam Lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District and Kilinochchi District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Chundikkulam is located on a narrow piece of land between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The lagoon is sometimes referred to as Elephant Pass Lagoon.The lagoon is fed by a number of...
, Vadamarachchi Lagoon
Vadamarachchi Lagoon
Vadamarachchi lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. The lagoon is sometimes referred to as Thondamannar lagoon. The lagoon separates the Vadamarachchi region from the Valikamam and Thenmarachchi regions....
, Uppu Aru Lagoon
Uppu Aru Lagoon
Uppu Aru lagoon is a lagoon in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. The lagoon separates the Valikamam region from the Thenmarachchi region.The lagoon is linked to Jaffna Lagoon by a short channel to the south...
, Kokkilai lagoon
Kokkilai lagoon
Kokkilai lagoon is an estuarine lagoon in Mullaitivu District and Trincomalee District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Kokkilai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean....
, Nai Aru Lagoon
Nai Aru Lagoon
Nai Aru Lagoon is an estuarine lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka.The lagoon is fed by a number of small rivers, including Nay Aru . It is linked to the sea by a narrow channel to the south that is very often blocked by a sand bar...
and Chalai Lagoon
Chalai Lagoon
Chalai Lagoon is a lagoon in Mullaitivu District, north-east Sri Lanka. The town of Chalai is located on a sand bar between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean....
.
Most of the islands around Sri Lanka are to be found to the west of the Northern Province. The largest islands are: Kayts
Kayts
Kayts , is one of the important villages in Velanai Island which is a small island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in the North of Sri Lanka. There are number of other villages within the Velanai Island such as Allaipiddy, Mankumpan, Velanai, Saravanai, Puliyankoodal, Suruvil, Naranthanai and...
, Neduntivu, Karaitivu
Karaitivu (Island)
Karaitivu or Kaaraitheevu , is an island linked to Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka by a Causeway. Karainagar is the biggest town on this island....
, Pungudutivu
Pungudutivu
Pungudutivu is a small island composed of number villages that is just west of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Northern Province. It is divided into 12 wards internally, each corresponding a major settlement. Most of the residents of the Island are Tamils with majority being...
and Mandativu
Mandativu
Mandativu or Mandaitheevu is small island off the coast of minority Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Jaffna Peninsula in north Sri lanka. It is connected to the mainland via a causeway. -External links:*...
.
Northern Province is covered in tropical forests, with numerous rivers flowing through them. The northwest coast is part of the deep Cauvery (Kaveri) River Basin of southeast India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, which has been collecting sediments from the highlands of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
since the breakup of Gondwanaland.Most of the island's surface consists of plains between 30 and 200 meters above sea level. A coastal belt about thirty meters above sea level surrounds the island. Much of the coast consists of sandy beaches.
Climate and weather
| Seashores | Inlands | |
| Max. | 28 °C (82.4 °F) | 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Min. | 24 °C (75.2 °F) | 22 °C (71.6 °F) |
Sri Lanka enjoys a typical tropical monsoonal climate. The Northern Province tends to be hot and dry in the dry season (February to September), and moderately cool and wet in the wet season (October to January). Province's climate is of the tropical kind and therefore during monsoons there is always the chance of a deluge. In the lowlands the climate is typically tropical with the average temperature is around 28º to 30º for the year. However, on the whole, January is the coolest month and May is the hottest month. Relative Humidity varies from 70% during the day to 90% at night. The Dry Zone of the Sri Lanka is the north and east of the island, this region is affected by the north east monsoon(December to March) and southwest monsoon (June to October). It is thought to be dry because most of the rains fall during the northeast monsoon.
Annual rainfall is less than 1250 mm in the north west and south east of the Inland. It has two rainy seasons South West Monsoon- May to August, North East Monsoon- November to February.
Administrative units
The Northern Province is divided into 5 administrative districtsDistricts of Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government...
, 33 Divisional Secretary's (DS) Divisions
Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka
The districts of the Sri Lanka are divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became...
and 912 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions (villages).
| Administrative District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... |
DS Divisions Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka The districts of the Sri Lanka are divided into administrative sub-units known as divisional secretariats. These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became... |
GN Divisions |
Area (km2) |
Population (2007 Estimate) | Population Density (/km2) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamils Tamil people Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,... 1 |
Muslims2 | Sinhalese Sinhalese people The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the... |
Other | Total | |||||
| Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
15 | 435 | 1,025 | 608,587 | 299 | 33 | 0 | 608,919 | 594.07 |
| Kilinochchi Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
4 | 95 | 1,279 | 195,386 | 424 | 2 | 0 | 195,812 | 153.10 |
| Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
5 | 153 | 1,996 | 95,560 | 8,073 | 55 | 0 | 103,688 | 51.95 |
| Mullaitivu Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
5 | 127 | 2,617 | 220,117 | 193 | 1 | 0 | 220,311 | 84.18 |
| Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
4 | 102 | 1,967 | 157,917 | 11,594 | 13,535 | 0 | 183,046 | 93.06 |
| Total | 33 | 912 | 8,884 | 1,277,567 | 20,583 | 13,626 | 0 | 1,311,776 | 147.66 |
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sri Lankan Malays
Sri Lankan Malays
The Malays of Sri Lanka originated in Southeast Asia and today consist of about 50,000 people...
.
Major cities and towns
| Rank | |City/town | |District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... | Population (2010 est) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vavuniya Vavuniya Vavuniya is a town in northern Sri Lanka. This town is situated in the Northern Province. Vavuniya was often referred to as the gateway to Vanni.... |
Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
108,834 |
| 2 | Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
84,416 |
| 3 | Chavakacheri Chavakacheri Chavakacheri is a town in the Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka which has been badly devastated in the Sri Lankan civil war. Today, the people of Chavakacheri have rebuilt the town, but the population remains drastically lower than the pre-war years.... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
54,517 |
| 4 | Point Pedro Point Pedro Point Pedro is the northernmost town of the island of Sri Lanka. The agriculturally active area around Point Pedro with fertile calcic red latosols is known for its cotton production. The eastern coast of Point Pedro is a 3-mile-broad beach with huge sand dunes up to 100 feet height, extending... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
39,962 |
| 5 | Mannar Mannar, Sri Lanka Mannar , formerly spelled Manar, is the capital of Mannar District, Sri Lanka. It is located on Mannar Island.Mannar is known for its baobab trees and for its fort, built by the Portuguese in 1560 and taken by the Dutch in 1658 and rebuilt; its ramparts and bastions are intact, though the interior... |
Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
36,442 |
| 6 | Valvettithurai Valvettithurai Valvettithurai or VVT is a small coastal village on the northeast coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lanka's north. The population is mainly minority Sri Lankan Tamils of Hindu or Catholic faith. The main industry is farming, fishing and trading... |
Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
34,701 |
| 7 | Kilinochchi Kilinochchi Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna... |
Kilinochchi Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
15,194 |
Population
The Northern province's population was 1,311,776 in 2007. The majority of the population are Sri Lankan Tamils, with a minority Sri Lankan MoorSri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
population.
The population of the province, like that of the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
, has been heavily affected by the civil war
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
. The war has killed between 80,000 and 100,000 people. Several hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamils, possibly as much as 1,000,000, have emigrated
Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora
The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora refers to the global diaspora of the people of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. It can be said to be a subset of the larger Sri Lankan as well as Tamil diaspora....
to the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
since the start of the war. There are a further 300,000 internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s in Sri Lanka living in refugee camps in the North and East
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
and depending on aid provided by NGOs
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
. There are approximately 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees is India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Many Sri Lankan Tamils have also moved to the relative safety of Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. The war has also caused most of the Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
who lived in the province to flee to other parts of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Ethnicity
| Year | Tamils Tamil people Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,... 1 |
Muslims2 | Sinhalese Sinhalese people The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the... |
Others Burgher people The Burghers are a Eurasian ethnic group, historically from Sri Lanka, consisting for the most part of male-line descendants of European colonists from the 16th to 20th centuries and local women, with some minorities of Swedish, Norwegian, French and Irish.Today the mother tongue of the Burghers... |
Total No. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |||
| 1881 Census | 289,481 | 95.70% | 10,416 | 3.44% | 1,379 | 0.46% | 1,224 | 0.41% | 302,500 | |
| 1891 Census | 304,355 | 95.32% | 11,831 | 3.71% | 1,922 | 0.60% | 1,188 | 0.37% | 319,296 | |
| 1901 Census | 326,379 | 95.73% | 11,862 | 3.48% | 1,555 | 0.46% | 1,140 | 0.33% | 340,936 | |
| 1911 Census | 352,698 | 95.41% | 12,818 | 3.47% | 2,890 | 0.78% | 1,245 | 0.34% | 369,651 | |
| 1921 Census | 356,801 | 95.19% | 13,095 | 3.49% | 3,795 | 1.01% | 1,138 | 0.30% | 374,829 | |
| 1946 Census | 449,958 | 93.82% | 18,183 | 3.79% | 9,602 | 2.00% | 1,829 | 0.38% | 479,572 | |
| 1963 Census | 689,470 | 92.93% | 30,760 | 4.15% | 20,270 | 2.73% | 1,410 | 0.19% | 741,910 | |
| 1971 Census | 799,406 | 91.07% | 37,855 | 4.31% | 39,511 | 4.50% | 996 | 0.11% | 877,768 | |
| 1981 Census | 1,112,425 | 92.46% | 54,205 | 4.51% | 33,890 | 2.82% | 2,589 | 0.22% | 1,203,109 | |
| 2001 Census3 | ||||||||||
| 2007 Estimate | 1,277,567 | 97.39% | 20,583 | 1.57% | 13,626 | 1.04% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,311,776 | |
| Source: | ||||||||||
1 Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. 2 Sri Lankan Moors
Sri Lankan Moors
The Sri Lankan Moors are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 8% of the country's total population . They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries...
and Sri Lankan Malays
Sri Lankan Malays
The Malays of Sri Lanka originated in Southeast Asia and today consist of about 50,000 people...
. 3 2001 Census was only carried out partially in the Northern province.
Religion
| Administrative District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... |
Hindu Hinduism in Sri Lanka Hindus currently make up more than 15% of the Sri Lankan population, and are almost exclusively Tamils apart from small immigrant communities from India and Pakistan such as the Sindhis, Telugus, Kannadigas and Malayalees. In the 1915 census they made up almost 25% of the population, which included... |
Roman Catholic Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka The Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.The country comes under the province of Colombo and is divided into 11 dioceses including one archdiocese.There are approximately 1.4 million Catholics... |
Muslim Islam in Sri Lanka Islam in Sri Lanka is practiced by a group of minorities who make up approximately 10% of the population.on the 2001 census of GOSL shows there are 1,711,000 Muslims The Muslim community is divided into three main ethnic groups: the Sri Lankan Moors, the Indian Muslims, and the Malays, each with... |
Buddhist | Other Christian Christianity in Sri Lanka Christianity is a minority religion in Sri Lanka. Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese in 1505. There were conversions by Dutch persons in the 17th century, which resulted in a percentage of church members in excess of 10%. This figure decreased... |
Others | Total No. |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |||
| Jaffna Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
705,705 | 84.97% | 95,613 | 11.51% | 14,844 | 1.79% | 5,104 | 0.61% | 9,153 | 1.10% | 133 | 0.02% | 830,552 | |
| Mannar Mannar District Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka... |
28,885 | 27.19% | 43,633 | 41.07% | 29,161 | 27.45% | 3,363 | 3.17% | 1,056 | 0.99% | 137 | 0.13% | 106,235 | |
| Mullaitivu Mullaitivu District Mullaitivu district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mullaitivu town... |
60,117 | 77.88% | 11,735 | 15.20% | 3,789 | 4.91% | 1,060 | 1.37% | 476 | 0.62% | 12 | 0.02% | 77,189 | |
| Vavuniya Vavuniya District Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town... |
65,574 | 68.72% | 6,493 | 6.80% | 6,740 | 7.06% | 15,754 | 16.51% | 845 | 0.89% | 22 | 0.02% | 95,428 | |
| Total | 860,281 | 77.54% | 157,474 | 14.19% | 54,534 | 4.92% | 25,281 | 2.28% | 11,530 | 1.04% | 304 | 0.03% | 1,109,404 | |
| Source: | ||||||||||||||
Language
| Languages (2008) | |
|---|---|
| Languages | Percentage |
| Tamil Tamil language Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore... |
98.96 |
| Sinhala | 1 |
| Others | 0.04 |
| Total | 100 |
Sri Lankan Tamil is the major language spoken in the province by the vast majority of the population. The other language spoken is Sinhala by 1 percent of the population. English is widely spoken and understood in the cities. Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and Sinhala is official language of the Sri Lanka. Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
is the official language and administrative language of the Northern Province.
- Population: 1,311,776 (2007 est.)
- Official language: TamilTamil languageTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
- Majority group: TamilTamil languageTamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
(98.96% native language) - Percentage population fluent in Tamil: (99.9%)
- Minority group: Sinhala (1%)
Economy
Majority of the people earn their livelihood as farmers, fishersFisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
and professionals in the civil and business sectors. Small scale industry such as chemical
Chemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
, light manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
and textiles were present before the civil war.
Gross State Domestic Product in Rs. Crores and Current Prices
| Year | GSDP | Change | Share of Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 29,490 |
 % |
2.37% |
| 2002 | 37,400 |
% |
2.67% |
| 2003 | 43,123 |
% |
2.76% |
| 2004 | 52,988 |
% |
2.94% |
| 2005 | 64,004 |
% |
3.05% |
| 2006 | 72,722 |
% |
 2.93% |
Northern Province being an agricultural dominant province, where agricultural sector is 25.9% and trade sector comes next to it is 19.3%. Most of the people engaged in service sector covering 31.2% of the total.
Transportation
Transportation in the Province are poorly developed and it is still hindrance to the development of the Province. Most of the people still using the traditional Bullock carts for transportation.Major roads in Province are divided into two categories such as:
- A Class roads or National Highways which is maintained and controlled by Central Government.
- B Calss roads or Provincial Highways which is maintained and controlled by Provincial Government.
There are number of C and D Class roads in the Province, which are under developed.
Sri Lanka Government Railway operates the country’s railway network and the lines to Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
, Kankesanthurai
Kankesanthurai
Kankesanthurai or KKS , is a town with a harbour in the northern Sri Lankan city of Jaffna. It is the location of the Sri Lanka Navy naval base, SLNS Uttara. At present it is in the High Security Zone declared by the security forces of Sri Lanka. India helps in port's restoration...
and Mannar
Mannar, Sri Lanka
Mannar , formerly spelled Manar, is the capital of Mannar District, Sri Lanka. It is located on Mannar Island.Mannar is known for its baobab trees and for its fort, built by the Portuguese in 1560 and taken by the Dutch in 1658 and rebuilt; its ramparts and bastions are intact, though the interior...
have been destroyed by the LTTE. Most of the railways were developed during the British colonial period.
Airways and airports are under developed in this province. Palaly Airport, once an international airport had regular passenger flight service between Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
and Trichirapalli, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
is under the control of Sri Lankan Navy now. Daily flights are between Colombo and Jaffna are available. There are few small airports and airstrips in Vavuniya
Vavuniya
Vavuniya is a town in northern Sri Lanka. This town is situated in the Northern Province. Vavuniya was often referred to as the gateway to Vanni....
and Iranamadu
Iranamadu
Iranamadu is a village in Kilinochchi District, Sri Lanka. It consist a lake that provides water to the paddy fields in the region. Sri Lankan Army claimed in early 2009 that they captured an Air Tiger Airstrip in the area.- External links :...
.
Politics and government
According to the 13th AmendmentConstitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
Constitution of Sri Lanka
The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been the constitution of the island nation of Sri Lanka since its original promulgation by the National State Assembly on 7 September 1978. It is Sri Lanka's second republican constitution, and its third constitution since the...
, The Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
is the Constitutional head of the province while the Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
is the head of the government and the head of the council of ministers. The Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the High Court
High Court
The term High Court usually refers to the superior court of a country or state. In some countries, it is the highest court . In others, it is positioned lower in the hierarchy of courts The term High Court usually refers to the superior court (or supreme court) of a country or state. In some...
is the head of the judiciary.
The Parliamentary representatives from the province are elected through
- Two Electoral District such as Jaffna Electoral DistrictJaffna Electoral DistrictJaffna Electoral District is one of the 22 multi-member electoral districts of Sri Lanka created by the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka. The district covers the administrative districts of Jaffna and Kilinochchi in the Northern province...
and Vanni Electoral District which elects 15 of the 225 members of the Sri Lankan Parliament.
Provincial Government is not is functioning in Northern Province at present. It is ruled directly from the Central government. Governors are care taker of province. Most of the governors were retired army generals.
- Major General G.A. Chandrasiri was sworn in as the Governor, Northern Province with effect 12 July 2009. The local political parties are pushing for more autonomy for the provinces, especially the Tamil majority Northern province. The vast executive powers are held by the governors, who are appointed by the President is the drawback of the provincial council. Peoples asking for more powers to the elected council. According to the 13th AmendmentConstitutional amendmentA constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri LankaConstitution of Sri LankaThe Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been the constitution of the island nation of Sri Lanka since its original promulgation by the National State Assembly on 7 September 1978. It is Sri Lanka's second republican constitution, and its third constitution since the...
High courts should be made in each provinces, police and land powers should be given to the provincial governments, but it still that were not given by Sri Lankan central government to the provinces are the biggest problems.
Provincial Council
The 13th AmendmentConstitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
Constitution of Sri Lanka
The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been the constitution of the island nation of Sri Lanka since its original promulgation by the National State Assembly on 7 September 1978. It is Sri Lanka's second republican constitution, and its third constitution since the...
established provincial councils. The first elections for provincial councils took place on 28 April 1988 in North Central
North Central Province, Sri Lanka
North Central Province is a province of Sri Lanka. Its capital is Anuradhapura. The province is not densely populated with a weak economy, as the land tends to be dry tropical woodlands.-History:...
, North Western
North Western Province, Sri Lanka
North Western Province is a province of Sri Lanka. The districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam formulate Wayamba. Its capital is Kurunegala, which has a population of 28,571. The province is known mainly for its numerous coconut plantations. Other main towns in this province are Chilaw and Puttalam...
, Sabaragamuwa
Sabaragamuwa Province
Sabaragamuwa, is a province of Sri Lanka, and contains two main cities: Ratnapura and Kegalle. Sabaragamuwa University is in Belihuloya. It is named after its former indigenous inhabitants, namely the Sabara, an indic term for hunter gatherer tribes, a term seldom used in ancient Sri...
, and Uva
Uva Province
Uva is Sri Lanka's second least populated province, with 1,187,335 people, created in 1896. It consists of two districts: Badulla බදුල්ල பதுளை and Moneragala මොනරාගල மொனராகல. The provincial capital is Badulla. Uva is bordered by Eastern, Southern and Central provinces...
provinces.
Elections
Sri Lankan Provincial Council elections, November 1988
Provincial Council elections were held on 19 November 1988 to elect members to Sri Lanka’s North Eastern Provincial Council.-Background:The Indo-Lanka Accord signed on 29 July 1987 required the Sri Lankan government to devolve powers to the provinces and, in the interim, to merge the Northern and...
in the newly merged North-East Province
North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The North Eastern Province was one of the provinces of Sri Lanka. The province was created in September 1988 by merging the Northern and Eastern provinces. This merger was declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2006. The province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern...
were scheduled for 19 November 1988. However, the Indian Peace Keeping Force
Indian Peace Keeping Force
Indian Peace Keeping Force was the Indian military contingent performing a peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990...
(IPKF), which at that time occupied the North-East Province, rigged the elections in the north so that the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front
Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front
The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front is a Sri Lankan political party and a former militant separatist group.-Militant separatists:The EPRLF was formed in 1980 by K...
(EPRLF) and Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front
Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front
The Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front is a former Indian backed Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka. It was formed in 1987 as an amalgamation of splinter groups from other militant groups...
(ENDLF), two India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n backed paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
groups, won all of the 36 seats in the north uncontested. However, elections did take place for the 35 seats in the east. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is a political party in Sri Lanka. The party was formed at a meeting held at Kattankudy in 1981 by a small study group of local Eastern Province political leaders....
won 17 seats, EPRLF 12 seats, ENDLF 5 seats and the United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
1 seat. On 10 December 1988 Annamalai Varatharajah Perumal of the EPRLF became the first Chief Minister of the North-East Provincial Council.
On 1 March 1990, just as the IPKF were preparing to withdraw from Sri Lanka, Permual moved a motion in the North-East Provincial Council declaraing
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
an independent
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
Eelam
Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam , is the name given by certain Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora to the independent state which they aspire to create in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Tamil Eelam has no official status or recognition by any other state or authority...
. President Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from February 6, 1978 to January 1, 1989...
reacted to Permual's UDI by dissolving the provincial council and imposing direct rule on the province.
The north-east was ruled directly from Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
until May 2008 when elections
Sri Lanka Eastern Provincial Council elections, 2008
The Sri Lanka Eastern Provincial Council elections, 2008 was held on May 10, 2008 to elect members to Sri Lanka’s Eastern Provincial Council. Following the successful completion of local government elections in the Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka’s Elections Department announced on March 14 that the...
were held in the demerged Eastern Province. However, the Northern Province continues to be ruled from Colombo. More than 20 years after the introduction of provincial councils the people of the Northern Province remain the only ones in Sri Lanka who have never a cast a vote to elect their provincial council. This is despite the fact that the provincial councils were only established to satisfy the demands for autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
by the Tamils, the majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
of whom live in the Northern Province.
Political parties
Major Political parties in the province are Tamil National AllianceTamil National Alliance
The Tamil National Alliance is a powerful minority Sri Lankan Tamil political alliance in Sri Lanka. It was formed as an amalgamation of moderate Tamil parties as well as number of former rebel groups...
or also known as Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi, DTNA, United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
, Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
and EPDP.
- Tamil National AllianceTamil National AllianceThe Tamil National Alliance is a powerful minority Sri Lankan Tamil political alliance in Sri Lanka. It was formed as an amalgamation of moderate Tamil parties as well as number of former rebel groups...
is a Sri Lankan Tamil political alliancePolitical partyA political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It was formed as an amalgamation of moderate Tamil parties as well as number of former rebel groupsSri Lankan Tamil militant groupsSri Lankan Tamil militant groups rose to prominence in the 1970s to fight the state of Sri Lanka in order to create an independent Tamil Eelam in the north of Sri Lanka. They rose in response to the perception amongst minority Sri Lankan Tamils that the state was preferring the majority Sinhalese...
. It has participated in elections since 2001. The alliance supports self-determination in an autonomous state for the island's Tamils. It also supported negotiations with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil EelamLiberation Tigers of Tamil EelamThe Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
to resolve the civil warSri Lankan civil warThe Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
in Sri Lanka. Three of its sitting Members of the Parliament K. SivanesanK. SivanesanKiddinan Sivanesan was a Sri Lankan Tamil politician and Member of Parliament. He was killed by a roadside bomb placed by the Sri Lanka Army's Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol .-Early life:...
, Joseph PararajasinghamJoseph PararajasinghamJoseph Pararajasingham was a Sri Lankan Member of Parliament and a poet who was known for his pro-Tamil Tiger views and advocacy of human rights...
and Nadarajah RavirajNadarajah RavirajNadarajah Raviraj was a prominent Sri Lankan Tamil politician and human rights lawyer. Born in the Jaffna district in the North of Sri Lanka, he served as a Member of Parliament for the Tamil National Alliance, which is backed by the LTTE, until he was shot dead by gunmen in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on...
have been assassinated since 2006.
- The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political partyPolitical partyA political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and a ParamilitaryParamilitaryA paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organization in Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It is led by its founder Douglas DevanandaDouglas DevanandaKathiravelu Nithyananda Douglas Devananda, commonly known as Douglas Devananda, is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician, Cabinet Minister and leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party. Originally a Sri Lanka Tamil militant who fought against the Sri Lankan government for an independent Tamil Eelam, he...
.
Education
The Northern Province has one universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, the University of Jaffna
University of Jaffna
Jaffna University is a public university in the city of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.- Overview :Jaffna University has four campuses; Thirunelveli, Marathanamadam, Kaithady and Vavuniya...
which became independent in 1979, previously having been a campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
of the University of Sri Lanka
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
since 1974. The university has approximately 7,000 students. The province is known for its institutions of education, many of which were established by Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionaries.
| Districts | No. of Schools (1981) | No. of Schools (2006) |
|---|---|---|
| Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... |
488 | 410 |
| Kilinochchi Kilinochchi Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna... |
85 | 96 |
| Mannar Mannar, Sri Lanka Mannar , formerly spelled Manar, is the capital of Mannar District, Sri Lanka. It is located on Mannar Island.Mannar is known for its baobab trees and for its fort, built by the Portuguese in 1560 and taken by the Dutch in 1658 and rebuilt; its ramparts and bastions are intact, though the interior... |
105 | 95 |
| Vavuniya Vavuniya Vavuniya is a town in northern Sri Lanka. This town is situated in the Northern Province. Vavuniya was often referred to as the gateway to Vanni.... |
183 | 188 |
| Mullaitivu Mullaitivu Mullaitivu is a small town on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of Mullaitivu District in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. A largely fishing settlement, the town in the early 20th century grew as an anchoring harbour of the small sailing vessels transporting goods between... |
100 | 103 |
Media
The first newspaper in Jaffna, Uthayatharakai (Morning Star) was published in 1841 by C.W. Thamotharampillai By the 1940s, daily newspapers had already been started Eelakesari and Virakesari in 1930 and Thinakaran in 1932 and journals committed to the growth of modernistic, socially purposive literature Bharati and Marumalarchi in 1946 had also started coming out.Few newspapers are published in the province now in the principal language of Tamil. None in English and Sinhala. Before the Civil war commences dozens of newspapers and magazines were published. Press freedom is limited and mostly censored by Government and Pro-government paramilitaries. Now most of the Tamil, English, Sinhala magazines come from Colombo and Chennai, India.
North-East Province
The Indo-Lanka AccordIndo-Sri Lanka Accord
The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was an accord signed in Colombo on July 29, 1987, between Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene. The accord was expected to resolve the ongoing Sri Lankan civil war...
signed on 29 July 1987 required the Sri Lankan government
Politics of Sri Lanka
Politics of Sri Lanka takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Sri Lanka is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both...
to devolve powers to the provinces and, in the interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
, to merge the Northern and Eastern
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
provinces into one administrative unit
Administrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...
. The accord required a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
to be held by 31 December 1988 in the Eastern Province to decide whether the merger should be permanent
Permanent
The permanent of a square matrix in linear algebra, is a function of the matrix similar to the determinant. The permanent, as well as the determinant, is a polynomial in the entries of the matrix...
. Crucially, the accord allowed the Sri Lankan president
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
to postpone the referendum at his discretion
Discretion
Discretion is a noun in the English language with several meanings revolving around the judgment of the person exercising the characteristic.-Meanings:*"The Art of suiting action to particular circumstances"...
.
On 14 November 1987 the Sri Lankan Parliament passed the 13th Amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
Constitution of Sri Lanka
The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been the constitution of the island nation of Sri Lanka since its original promulgation by the National State Assembly on 7 September 1978. It is Sri Lanka's second republican constitution, and its third constitution since the...
and the Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987, establishing provincial councils. On September 2 and 8 1988 President Jayewardene
Junius Richard Jayewardene
Junius Richard Jayewardene , famously abbreviated in Sri Lanka as JR, was the first executive President of Sri Lanka, serving from 1978 till 1989. He was a leader of the nationalist movement in Ceylon who served in a variety of cabinet positions in the decades following independence...
issued proclamations enabling the Northern and Eastern provinces to be one administrative unit administered by one elected Council. The North-East Province
North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The North Eastern Province was one of the provinces of Sri Lanka. The province was created in September 1988 by merging the Northern and Eastern provinces. This merger was declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2006. The province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern...
was born.
The proclamations were only meant to be a temporary
Temporary
Temporary may refer to:Computing* Temporary variable* Temporary file* Temporary folder* Temporary filesystemOther uses* Temporary work, a common working arrangement...
measure until a referendum was held in the Eastern Province on a permanent merger between the two provinces. However, the referendum was never held and successive Sri Lankan presidents have issued proclamations annually extending the life of the "temporary" entity.
The merger was bitterly opposed by Sri Lankan nationalists. The combined North-East Province occupied one fourth of Sri Lanka. The thought of the Tamil Tigers
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
controlling this province, directly or indirectly, alarmed them greatly. On 14 July 2006, after a long campaign against the merger, the JVP
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
The Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
filed three separate petitions with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is the highest court of the nation of Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court is the highest and final judicial instance of record and is empowered to exercise its powers, subject to the provisions of the Constitution. The Court has ultimate appellate jurisdiction in...
requesting a separate Provincial Council for the East. On 16 October 2006 the Supreme Court ruled that the proclamations issued by President Jayewardene were null and void and had no legal effect. The North-East Province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern provinces on 1 January 2007.
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