Native name: காரைதீவு කාර දිවයින | |
---|---|
Geography | |
Coordinates | 9°44′03″N 79°52′33″E / 9.73417°N 79.87583°E |
Area | 22.95 km2 (8.86 sq mi) [1] |
Administration | |
Province | Northern |
District | Jaffna |
DS Division | Karainagar |
Demographics | |
Population | 9,576 (2012) [2] |
Pop. density | 417/km2 (1080/sq mi) |
Languages | Tamil |
Ethnic groups | Sri Lankan Tamils |
Additional information | |
Time zone |
Karaitivu ( Tamil: காரைதீவு, romanized: Kāraitīvu; Sinhala: කාර දිවයින Kãra Divaina) is an island off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) north-west of the city of Jaffna.
Present Karaitivu has been identified with ancient Kãra Divaina (the Island of Kãra). This island is referred to in the 12th-century Rameswaram Sinhala inscription of King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.) as "Kãra Divaina". [3] The Nampota, an ancient Sinhala text written after the 14th century also mentions this island as Kãra Divaina. [4]
Karaitivu means "the island of karai shrubs" in Tamil and is derived from the Tamil words karai (Webera tetrandra, a thorny shrub from the family Rubiaceae) and tivu (island). [5] [6] The island was known as Amsterdam during Dutch colonial rule. [1] [7]
Extended in an area of 22.95 square kilometres (8.86 sq mi), the island is divided into nine village officer divisions whose combined population was 9,576 at the 2012 census. [2]
Karaitivu is connected to Jaffna peninsula by a causeway and there is a ferry service from Kayts on the neighbouring island of Velanaitivu. [8] [9] Karainagar is the main settlement on the island. [10] The popular Casuarina Beach is located on the island. [11]
The statement that Nissankamalla, during there expeditions, visited the islands of Puvagu (modern Pungudutivu), Mininak (Maninaga), Kappa, and Kãra (Karai-tivu) occurs only in this epigraph.
Native name: காரைதீவு කාර දිවයින | |
---|---|
Geography | |
Coordinates | 9°44′03″N 79°52′33″E / 9.73417°N 79.87583°E |
Area | 22.95 km2 (8.86 sq mi) [1] |
Administration | |
Province | Northern |
District | Jaffna |
DS Division | Karainagar |
Demographics | |
Population | 9,576 (2012) [2] |
Pop. density | 417/km2 (1080/sq mi) |
Languages | Tamil |
Ethnic groups | Sri Lankan Tamils |
Additional information | |
Time zone |
Karaitivu ( Tamil: காரைதீவு, romanized: Kāraitīvu; Sinhala: කාර දිවයින Kãra Divaina) is an island off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) north-west of the city of Jaffna.
Present Karaitivu has been identified with ancient Kãra Divaina (the Island of Kãra). This island is referred to in the 12th-century Rameswaram Sinhala inscription of King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.) as "Kãra Divaina". [3] The Nampota, an ancient Sinhala text written after the 14th century also mentions this island as Kãra Divaina. [4]
Karaitivu means "the island of karai shrubs" in Tamil and is derived from the Tamil words karai (Webera tetrandra, a thorny shrub from the family Rubiaceae) and tivu (island). [5] [6] The island was known as Amsterdam during Dutch colonial rule. [1] [7]
Extended in an area of 22.95 square kilometres (8.86 sq mi), the island is divided into nine village officer divisions whose combined population was 9,576 at the 2012 census. [2]
Karaitivu is connected to Jaffna peninsula by a causeway and there is a ferry service from Kayts on the neighbouring island of Velanaitivu. [8] [9] Karainagar is the main settlement on the island. [10] The popular Casuarina Beach is located on the island. [11]
The statement that Nissankamalla, during there expeditions, visited the islands of Puvagu (modern Pungudutivu), Mininak (Maninaga), Kappa, and Kãra (Karai-tivu) occurs only in this epigraph.