Velanai ( ta, வேலணை; si, වේලනෛයි) is a small village in
Velanai Island off the coast of
Jaffna Peninsula in the North of
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
.
The majority of the people are
Hindus along with a minority of
Christians. There are number of Hindu temples along with few churches. The village is also served by a dozen schools.
Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, a well known member of parliament during the
British colonial period, and his son
Yogendra Duraiswamy, a Hindu activist and well known diplomat, were born in Velanai.
Since 1983 Velanai has also been the scene of violence as part of the
Sri Lankan civil war including the
Allaipiddy massacre.
Etymology
The name Velanai is believed to have been derived from 2 terms combined into one word. The first phrase name of the Vel which means
spear. The second phrase anai means
ashore
This list of ship directions provides succinct definitions for terms applying to spatial orientation in a marine environment or location on a vessel, such as ''fore'', ''aft'', ''astern'', ''aboard'', or ''topside''.
Terms
* Abaft (preposition ...
. It is believed that the god Murugan's spear landed ashore of this island. Hence the name Valani. God Murugan is worshiped as a popular god among all the peoples in Velanai.
History
Archaeological evidence
Received per-historic archaeological evidence of ancient life in Saatti ( ta, சாட்டி) sea side' suggested that there was a well-organized civilization emerged in this island.
Geography and climate
Velani is located at . It is surrounded by the Palk Strait and at a distance of south-west of
Jaffna town. Though most of Velani district is a level plain and also has maximum elevation of above mean sea level. The total area of this island is nearly 36 km2.
Places of interest
# Vangalavadi Murugan Temple
# Velanai Perungukalm Muththumari amman
# Saatti Sea side
# Velanai ayyanar Kovil
Gallery
References
External links
Velanai websiteVelanai website
Towns in Jaffna District
Island South DS Division
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