The Vanni , also spelled Wanni , is the name given to the mainland area of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka . It covers the entirety of Mannar , Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts , and most of Kilinochchi District . It has an area of approximately 7,650 square kilometres (2,950 sq mi). The population and infrastructure of the Vanni were devastated by the Sri Lankan Civil War .
15-647: Tamil feudal chiefs called Vanniar chiefs who have their origin here cultivated the Vanni in the first millennium of the Common Era governing what were called Vannimai , the Jaffna Kingdom 's land divisions located south of the Jaffna Peninsula in the present-day Northern , North Central and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. Geographically, the Vanni is distinct from the Jaffna Peninsula ,
30-628: A new founded town in the area Thampalakamam to maintain the Kantalai tank and the temple itself. The effects of this saw the Vanni region flourish. The Vanniars were brought here by this chief to make them cultivate in this region. Following the re-rise of the Tamil kingdom in the medieval period and demise of the Rajarata kingdom period after the twelfth century AD, many petty chiefs took power in
45-421: A number of lagoons around the Vanni, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon , Nanthi Kadal , Chundikkulam Lagoon , Kokkilai Lagoon , Nai Aru Lagoon and Chalai Lagoon . Much of the interior (approximately 4,200 km (1,600 sq mi)) of the Vanni is covered by dense forest . The Vanni had a population of nearly 700,000 in 2007, making it one of the most sparsely populated areas of Sri Lanka. However,
60-420: A number of lagoons around the Vanni, the largest being Jaffna Lagoon , Nanthi Kadal , Chundikkulam Lagoon , Kokkilai Lagoon , Nai Aru Lagoon and Chalai Lagoon . Much of the interior (approximately 4,200 km (1,600 sq mi)) of the Vanni is covered by dense forest . The Vanni had a population of nearly 700,000 in 2007, making it one of the most sparsely populated areas of Sri Lanka. However,
75-638: The Jaffna vassal state . There are a number of origin theories for the feudal chiefs, coming from an indigenous formation. The most famous of the Vavni chieftains was Pandara Vannian , known for his resistance against the British colonial power. The word Vanni may have been a derivation of the Tamil word Vanam , meaning " forest ", with Vanniar meaning "person from the forest". Medieval Tamil chronicles such as
90-571: The 18th-century Yalpana Vaipava Malai and stone inscriptions like Konesar Kalvettu recount that the Chola royal Kankan, a descendant of the legendary King Manu Needhi Cholan of Thiruvarur , Chola Nadu , restored the Koneswaram temple at Trincomalee and the Kantalai tank after finding them in ruins. He visited the Munneswaram temple on the west coast, before settling ancient Vanniars in
105-527: The Jaffna Vassal State era. As a title , it is no longer registered amongst northern Sri Lankan Tamils but in the 1900s it was present singly in the North and North Central provinces. The word Vanniyan means warrior and Vanniya Nayan means the leader of warriors in the inscriptions. Vanniapattru - A land or town given to a soldier serving in the army. (Vanniyar - Soldier). Tamil castes with
120-555: The Vanni is distinct from the Jaffna Peninsula , the other area of the Northern Province. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells whereas the Vanni has irrigation tanks fed by perennial rivers . Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru , Aruvi Aru , Kanakarayan Aru , Kodalikkallu Aru , Mandekal Aru , two called Nay Aru , Netheli Aru , Pali Aru , Pallavarayankaddu Aru , Parangi Aru , Per Aru , Piramenthal Aru , Theravil Aru . There are also
135-487: The Vanni were devastated by the Sri Lankan Civil War . Tamil feudal chiefs called Vanniar chiefs who have their origin here cultivated the Vanni in the first millennium of the Common Era governing what were called Vannimai , the Jaffna Kingdom 's land divisions located south of the Jaffna Peninsula in the present-day Northern , North Central and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. Geographically,
150-471: The area's population figures have been highly volatile due to massive displacement caused by the Sri Lankan Civil War . Vanniar (Chieftain) Vanniar or Vanniyar ( Tamil : பண்டாரத்தார் , romanized: Vavuniyar , Sinhala : වන්නියා , romanized: pandara ) was a title borne by chiefs in medieval Sri Lanka who ruled in the Chiefdom of Vavuni regions as tribute payers to
165-520: The buffer lands between the northern-based Jaffna Vassal State and other kingdoms based on the southwest of the island – namely Kotte Kingdom and the Kandyan Kingdom . These petty chiefs paid tribute to the Jaffna Vassal State. Sometimes they were independent of any central control or subdued by the southern kingdoms during the European colonial era for strategical purposes. The ruling class
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#1732787512777180-456: The east of the island. According to the chronicles, he extensively renovated and expanded the shrine, lavishing much wealth on it; he was crowned with the epithet Kulakottan meaning Builder of tank and temple. Further to the reconstruction, Kulakottan paid attention to agricultural cultivation and economic development in the area, inviting the Vanniar chief Tanniuna Popalen and families to
195-436: The other area of the Northern Province. Jaffna peninsula is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells whereas the Vanni has irrigation tanks fed by perennial rivers . Major rivers include: Akkarayan Aru , Aruvi Aru , Kanakarayan Aru , Kodalikkallu Aru , Mandekal Aru , two called Nay Aru , Netheli Aru , Pali Aru , Pallavarayankaddu Aru , Parangi Aru , Per Aru , Piramenthal Aru , Theravil Aru . There are also
210-613: The title of Vanniyan. As a title, it is no longer recorded among North Sri Lankan Tamils, but in the 1900s it was isolated in the North and North Central Provinces. Vanni region The Vanni , also spelled Wanni , is the name given to the mainland area of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka . It covers the entirety of Mannar , Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts , and most of Kilinochchi District . It has an area of approximately 7,650 square kilometres (2,950 sq mi). The population and infrastructure of
225-644: Was composed of multi-caste origins. The Vannimai ruling class arose from a multi-ethnic and multi-caste background Some scholars conclude the Vanniyar title as a rank of a local chieftain which was introduced by the Velaikkarar mercenaries of the Chola dynasty . There were also number of Vannia chiefs of Sinhalese ancestry. Many kings and chiefs with titles such as Vannia had ruled in northern areas of modern Sri Lanka termed as Vanni Nadu or Vannimai during
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