Kayts
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Kayts ('','' ), is one of the important small island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in northern
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
. There are a number of other villages within the Kayts  Island such as Allaippiddi, Mankumpan, Velanai, Saravanai, Puliyankoodal, Suruvil, Naranthanai, Karampon and Melinchimunai. Most of the people are
Tamils The Tamils ( ), also known by their endonym Tamilar, are a Dravidian peoples, Dravidian ethnic group who natively speak the Tamil language and trace their ancestry mainly to the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Tamil language is o ...
. There are a number of
Hindu temple A Hindu temple, also known as Mandir, Devasthanam, Pura, or Kovil, is a sacred place where Hindus worship and show their devotion to Hindu deities, deities through worship, sacrifice, and prayers. It is considered the house of the god to who ...
s as well as churches and a
mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...
. The island is also served by a dozen schools. Since 1983 Kayts Island has also been the scene of violence as part of the Sri Lankan Civil War, including the Allaipiddy massacre. On 8 August 1992, Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and Commodore Mohan Jayamaha were killed along with several senior army and navy officers when their Land Rover hit a land mine off Araly Point in Kayts.


Etymology

The name Kayts is of colonial origin, derived from the Portuguese "Caes dos Elefantes" meaning "Elephant's
Quay A wharf ( or wharfs), quay ( , also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more Berth (mo ...
", often just shortened to ''Cais''. It was named such because elephants were shipped from here to
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. The present term evolved further as ''Kayts'' under Dutch rule. The native Tamil name ''Ūrkavathurai'' means "Port which guards the Country". This name is again derived from the original Tamil term ''Ūrathurai'', derived from the Tamil words ''Uru'' meaning "ship" or "schooner", and ''thurai'' meaning "
port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manch ...
". The earliest reference to this is found in two Tamil inscriptions of the 12th century AD, one found in Thiruvalangadu,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
issued by Rajadhiraja Chola II and one found in Nainativu issued by
Parakramabahu I Parākramabāhu I (Sinhala language, Sinhala: මහා පරාක්‍රමබාහු, 1123–1186), or Parakramabahu the Great, was the List of Sinhalese monarchs, king of Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, Polonnaruwa from 1153 to 1186. He oversaw ...
. Other scholars derive the name from the
Pali Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a Classical languages of India, classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pali Canon, Pāli Can ...
name ''Ūrātota'' meaning " Pig port", referring to a legend surrounding the Śakra Buddhist deity, who swam from India to this place in the form of a pig. Earliest reference to this is found in the Pali chronicle ''Pujavaliya'' of the 13th century AD.


History

The earliest inscription mentioning Kayts or ''Ūrathurai'' is that of a Tamil Chola inscription of the 12th century AD discovered in Fort Hammenhiel, referring to the 9th century AD Chola general of the King Parantaka Chola II, who was defeated in a battle field in Kayts. The 13th century AD
Pali Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a Classical languages of India, classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pali Canon, Pāli Can ...
chronicle ''Pujavaliya'', mentions that Mahinda IV defeated a Tamil general who landed at ''Hurātota'' from the Cola country. A Tamil 12th century AD inscription issued by Rajadhiraja Chola II found in Thiruvalangadu,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
also mentions the Chola King taking elephants from Kayts and other places such as Valikamam and Mattivazh. Archeological remains found in Kayts indicates that Kayts was a harbour for foreign vessels. The Tamil 12th century AD inscription of Nainativu issued by
Parakramabahu I Parākramabāhu I (Sinhala language, Sinhala: මහා පරාක්‍රමබාහු, 1123–1186), or Parakramabahu the Great, was the List of Sinhalese monarchs, king of Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, Polonnaruwa from 1153 to 1186. He oversaw ...
mentions Kayts as a port where foreigner must first land for trading. Kayts was part of the
Jaffna Kingdom The Jaffna kingdom (, ; 1215–1619 CE), also known as Kingdom of Aryachakravarti, was a historical kingdom of what today is northern Sri Lanka. It came into existence around the town of Jaffna on the Jaffna peninsula and was traditionally t ...
. Under the chieftainship of Migapulle Arachchi, did a group of
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
s revolt against the Jaffna King Cankili II, who thereupon sought refugee in Kayts and asked the Portuguese for assistance.


Places of Worship

* Naranthanai Thanthonri Manonmani Amman Temple * Naranthanai Saravanai Karnanthoddam Subramaniyaswamy Temple * Thambaddy Nunipuram Muththumari Amman Temple * Karampon Oluvil Gnana Vairavar Temple * Karampon Kannaki Amman Temple * Melai Karampon Murugamoorthy Temple * Karampon Ganapatheeswarar Temple * Paruthiyadaippu Thevankanai Pillaiyar Temple * Naranthanai St Peter and St Paul's Church * Our Lady of Lourdes Church * Karampon St. Sebastian’s Church * Our Lady of Vellankanni Church (Karampon) * Christ The King Church (Melinchimunai)


Education

* Naranthanai Roman Catholic Maha Vithyalayam * Naranthanai Ganesha Vidyalayam * Little Flower Convent, Karampon * Shanmuganatha Vidyalayam, Karampon * St. Antony's College, Kayts * Thampaddy Government Tamil Mixed School (தம்பாட்டி அரசினர் தமிழ் கலவன் பாடசாலை)


References


External links

{{coord, 9, 40, N, 79, 52, E, display=title, region:LK_type:isle_source:GNS-enwiki Towns in Jaffna District Island North DS Division