Jaffna District

History

Between the 5th century BC and the 13th century AD present day Jaffna District was part of various Kingdoms such as Pandya, Chola, Pallava, Kalinga, and Rajarata. Jaffna District was thereafter part of the pre-colonial Jaffna kingdom. The district then came under Portuguese, Dutch and British control. In 1815 the British gained control of the entire island of Ceylon. They divided the island into three ethnic-based administrative structures: Low Country Sinhalese, Kandyan Sinhalese and Tamil. Jaffna District was part of the Tamil administration. In 1833, in accordance with the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission, the ethnic based administrative structures were unified into a single administration divided into five geographic provinces. Jaffna District, together with Mannar District and Vanni District, formed the new Northern Province. At the time that Ceylon gained independence, Jaffna was one of the three districts located in the Northern Province. Parts of the district were transferred to newly created Mullaitivu District in September 1978. Kilinochchi District was carved out of the southern part of Jaffna District in February 1984.

Geography

Jaffna District is located in the far north of Sri Lanka in the Northern Province and occupies most of the Jaffna Peninsula. It has an area of 1025 km2. It is divided into four areas geographically:

• Thenmarachchi or Thenmaradchi
• Vadamarachchi or Vadamaradchi
• Valikamam
• Jaffna Islands

Administrative units

Jaffna District is divided into 15 Divisional Secretary's Division (DS Divisions), each headed by a Divisional Secretary (previously known as an Assistant Government Agent). The DS Divisions are further sub-divided into 435 Grama Niladhari Divisions (GN Divisions).

History

Most of the current divisions and their borders date back to Dutch colonial rule in the 18th century.

Demographics

Population

Jaffna District's population was 583,378 in 2012. It is one of the most densely populated districts of Sri Lanka. The population of the district is almost exclusively Sri Lankan Tamil.

The population of the district, like the rest of the north and east of Sri Lanka, has been heavily affected by the civil war. The war killed an estimated 100,000 people. Several hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamils, possibly as much as one million, emigrated to the West during the war. Many Sri Lankan Tamils also moved to the relative safety of the capital Colombo. Most of the Sri Lankan Moors and Sinhalese who lived in the district fled to other parts of Sri Lanka or were forcibly expelled by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Ethnicity

In 2024, Sri Lankan Tamils are the predominant ethnic group, making up 98.61% of the population.

Religion

Education

• Nagarkovil Maha Vidyalayam

Politics and government

Local government

Jaffna District has 17 local authorities of which one is a Municipal Council, three are Urban Councils and the remaining 13 are Divisional Councils (Pradesha Sabhai or Pradeshiya Sabha).

Twinned Regions

On 18 October 2016, Jaffna District twinned with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in London. This has been a milestone to build “greater understanding and sharing knowledge” in the fields of governance, healthcare and education.

Notes

References

References

1. "District Secretary - Jaffna".
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3. Mills, Lennox A.. (1933). "Ceylon Under British Rule (1795–1932)". [[Oxford University Press]].
4. Medis, G. C.. (1946). "Ceylon Under the British". The Colombo Apothecaries Co..
5. "Area of Sri Lanka by province and district". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
6. "Statistical Information 2012". [[Northern Provincial Council]].
7. மயூரநாதன், இரத்தினவேலுப்பிள்ளை. (2024-06-04). "லெயுசிக்காமின் நிலப்படத் தொகுப்பில் வலிகாமம் - 1".
8. மயூரநாதன், இரத்தினவேலுப்பிள்ளை. (2025-03-02). "லெயுசிக்காமின் நிலப்படத் தொகுப்பில் வலிகாமம் - சங்கானை".
9. "Land area by province, district and divisional secretariat division". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
10. "A6 : Population by ethnicity and district according to Divisional Secretary's Division, 2012". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
11. (20 May 2009). "Up to 100,000 killed in Sri Lanka's civil war: UN". [[ABC News (Australia)]].
12. Harrison, Frances. (23 July 2003). "Twenty years on – riots that led to war". [[BBC News]].
13. (2024). "Population by ethnicity according to Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 2024".
14. "A2 : Population by ethnic group according to districts, 2012". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
15. "Basic Population Information on Jaffna District – 2007". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
16. "Statistical Information 2010". [[Northern Provincial Council]].
17. "Enumeration of Vital Events 2011 – Northern Province". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
18. (2024). "Population by religion according to Divisional Secretariat Divisions, 2024".
19. "A3 : Population by religion according to districts, 2012". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
20. "Population by religion and district, Census 1981, 2001". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
21. "Jaffna District in Facts and Figures". Teepam Institute.
22. (June 2009). "Jaffna District Statistical Information 2009". Jaffna District Secretariat.
23. Hammond, Michael. "International partnerships".
24. "New ties for borough as Kingston twins with Jaffna in Sri Lanka".