Valikamam
Valikamam
வலிகாமம் වලිකාමම් | |
|---|---|
Region | |
Valikamam | |
| Coordinates: 09°45′N 80°01′E / 9.750°N 80.017°E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Northern |
| District | Jaffna |
| Largest city | Jaffna |
| Divisional Secretariats | |
| Area | |
• Total | 344.2 km2 (132.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
• Total | 358,991 |
| • Density | 1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka) |
Valikamam (Tamil: வலிகாமம், romanized: Valikāmam; Sinhala: වැලිගම, romanized: Væligama) is one of the three historic regions of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka. The other two regions are Thenmarachchi and Vadamarachchi. Alternative spellings include Valikaamam or Valigamam.
Etymology
The name Valikamam (Tamil: வலிகாமம், romanized: Valikāmam) translates to "the sandy village", whereas Tamil: மேற்கு, romanized: Mēṟku, lit. 'West' denotes the geographical marker.[1][2]
It is derived from the words:[1]
- Tamil: வலி, romanized: Vali, lit. 'Sand or sandy land'
- Tamil: காமம், romanized: Kāmam, lit. 'Village'
The word காமம், Kāmam is no longer in common use but was historically found in Eezham Tamil place names. It shares linguistic roots with Sanskrit: ग्राम, romanized: Grāma, Pali: गाम, romanized: Gāma, and Sinhala: ගම, romanized: Gama.[1] The word has been found in early Tamil inscriptions, including an 11th-century record at Velgam Vihara, Trincomalee, and a 12th-century Chola inscription at Thiruvalangadu, where Valikamam is explicitly mentioned as a village.[1]
The name Valikamam is also linguistically equivalent to Manaltidar or Manarridal, the ancient Tamil names for Jaffna, which carry the same meaning of "sandy land."[3]
According to the 16th-century Tamil literary work Santiago Kumara Ammanai, Valikamam was historically referred to as well as: வல்லி கிராமம், romanized: Valli Kiraamam, lit. 'The village of the Tinospora cordifolia plant.'[3]
The village Mallakam (Tamil: மல்லாகம், romanized: Mallākam), located in Valikamam North, derives its name from: - மல்ல, Malla – a personal title associated with royalty or warriors, originating from the Sanskrit Sanskrit: मल्ल, romanized: Malla, meaning wrestler or great person. This term was commonly used by Pallava rulers and medieval Sri Lankan kings, such as Nissanka Malla (12th century).[4]
Geography
Administrative Divisions
Valikamam is currently divided into 6 Divisional Secretariats, each of which is further subdivided into 190 Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions. Every Divisional Secretariat has its own Divisional Council, which is elected every four years through local government elections.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
| Divisional Secretariat | Tamil name | Sinhala name | Divisional Council | Grama Niladhari Division | Division No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaffna | Tamil: யாழ்ப்பாணம், romanized: Yāḻppāṇam | Sinhala: යාපනය, romanized: Yāpanaya | Jaffna Divisional Council | Nedunkulam | J/61 |
| Columputhurai East | J/62 | ||||
| Columputhurai West | J/63 | ||||
| Passaiyoor East | J/64 | ||||
| Passaiyoor West | J/65 | ||||
| Echchamoddai | J/66 | ||||
| Thirunagar | J/67 | ||||
| Reclamation East | J/68 | ||||
| Reclamation West | J/69 | ||||
| Gurunagar East | J/70 | ||||
| Gurunagar West | J/71 | ||||
| Small Bazar | J/72 | ||||
| Jaffna Town West | J/73 | ||||
| Jaffna Town East | J/74 | ||||
| Chundikuli South | J/75 | ||||
| Chundikuli North | J/76 | ||||
| Maruthady | J/77 | ||||
| Athiady | J/78 | ||||
| Sirampiyadi | J/79 | ||||
| Grand Bazar | J/80 | ||||
| Fort | J/81 | ||||
| Vannarpannai | J/82 | ||||
| Koddady | J/83 | ||||
| Navanthurai South | J/84 | ||||
| Navanthurai North | J/85 | ||||
| Moor Street South | J/86 | ||||
| Moor Street North | J/87 | ||||
| New Moor Street | J/88 | ||||
| Nallur | Tamil: நல்லூர், romanized: Nallūr | Sinhala: නල්ලුර්, romanized: Nallur | Nallur Divisional Council | Ariyalai South East | J/89 |
| Ariyalai East | J/90 | ||||
| Ariyalai North West | J/91 | ||||
| Ariyalai Centre West | J/92 | ||||
| Ariyalai South West | J/93 | ||||
| Ariyalai Centre North | J/94 | ||||
| Ariyalai Centre | J/95 | ||||
| Ariyalai Centre South | J/96 | ||||
| Iyanar Kovilady | J/97 | ||||
| Vannarpannai North | J/98 | ||||
| Vannarpannai North West | J/99 | ||||
| Vannarpannai North East | J/100 | ||||
| Neeraviyady | J/101 | ||||
| Kandarmadam North West | J/102 | ||||
| Kandarmadam North East | J/103 | ||||
| Kandarmadam South West | J/104 | ||||
| Kandarmadam South East | J/105 | ||||
| Nallur North | J/106 | ||||
| Nallur Rajathani | J/107 | ||||
| Nallur South | J/108 | ||||
| Sankiliyan Thoppu | J/109 | ||||
| Thirunelvely West | J/110 | ||||
| Thirunelvely Centre South | J/111 | ||||
| Thirunelvely South East | J/112 | ||||
| Thirunelvely North East | J/113 | ||||
| Thirunelvely Centre North | J/114 | ||||
| Kondavil North West | J/115 | ||||
| Kondavil South West | J/116 | ||||
| Kondavil Centre West | J/117 | ||||
| Kondavil Centre East | J/118 | ||||
| Kondavil North East | J/119 | ||||
| Kondavil South East | J/120 | ||||
| Kokuvil North East | J/121 | ||||
| Kokuvil East | J/122 | ||||
| Kokuvil South East | J/123 | ||||
| Kokuvil North West | J/124 | ||||
| Kokuvil West | J/125 | ||||
| Kokuvil Centre East | J/126 | ||||
| Kokuvil South West | J/127 | ||||
| Kokuvil Centre West | J/128 | ||||
| Valikamam East | Tamil: வலிகாமம் கிழக்கு, romanized: Valikāmam Kiḻakku | Sinhala: වලිගම නැගෙනහිර, romanized: Valigama Neganahira | Valikamam East Divisional Council | Irupalai South | J/257 |
| Irupalai East | J/258 | ||||
| Kalviyankadu | J/259 | ||||
| Kopay South | J/260 | ||||
| Kopay Centre | J/261 | ||||
| Kopay North | J/262 | ||||
| Urumpirai West | J/263 | ||||
| Urumpirai North | J/264 | ||||
| Urumpirai South | J/265 | ||||
| Urumpirai East | J/266 | ||||
| Urelu | J/267 | ||||
| Neervely South | J/268 | ||||
| Neervely North | J/269 | ||||
| Neervely West | J/270 | ||||
| Sirippiddy East | J/271 | ||||
| Sirippiddy West | J/272 | ||||
| Puttur West | J/273 | ||||
| Puttur North | J/274 | ||||
| Navatkiri | J/275 | ||||
| Avarangal East | J/276 | ||||
| Avarangal West | J/277 | ||||
| Puttur East | J/278 | ||||
| Achelu | J/279 | ||||
| Vatharavathai | J/280 | ||||
| Pathameny | J/281 | ||||
| Thampalai / Kathiripay | J/282 | ||||
| Idaikkadu | J/283 | ||||
| Valalai | J/284 | ||||
| Atchuvely North | J/285 | ||||
| Atchuvely South | J/286 | ||||
| Atchuvely West | J/287 | ||||
| Valikamam North | Tamil: வலிகாமம் வடக்கு, romanized: Valikāmam Vaṭakku | Sinhala: වලිගම උතුර, romanized: Valigama Uthura | Valikamam North Divisional Council | Mallakam South | J/212 |
| Mallakam Centre | J/213 | ||||
| Mallakam North | J/214 | ||||
| Alaveddy North | J/215 | ||||
| Alaveddy Centre | J/216 | ||||
| Alaveddy East | J/217 | ||||
| Kaneswaram | J/218 | ||||
| Alaveddy South | J/219 | ||||
| Alaveddy West | J/220 | ||||
| Ilavalai North | J/221 | ||||
| Ilavalai Northwest | J/222 | ||||
| Viththukapuram | J/223 | ||||
| Pannalai | J/224 | ||||
| Kollankaladdy | J/225 | ||||
| Nakuleswaram | J/226 | ||||
| Tellipalai East | J/227 | ||||
| Tellipalai | J/228 | ||||
| Thurkkapuram | J/229 | ||||
| Thanthaiselvapuram | J/230 | ||||
| Maviddapuram | J/231 | ||||
| Maviddapuram South | J/232 | ||||
| Kankesanthurai West | J/233 | ||||
| Kankesanthurai Centre | J/234 | ||||
| Kankesanthurai South | J/235 | ||||
| Palai Veemankamam North | J/236 | ||||
| Palai Veemankamam South | J/237 | ||||
| Kadduvan | J/238 | ||||
| Kadduvan West | J/239 | ||||
| Thenmaiyilai | J/240 | ||||
| Varuththalaivilan | J/241 | ||||
| Kurumpasiddy | J/242 | ||||
| Kurumpasiddy East | J/243 | ||||
| Vasavilan East | J/244 | ||||
| Vasavilan West | J/245 | ||||
| Mailiddy North | J/246 | ||||
| Thaiyiddy East | J/247 | ||||
| Mailiddy Thurai South | J/248 | ||||
| Thaiyiddy North | J/249 | ||||
| Thaiyiddy South | J/250 | ||||
| Mailiddy Thurai North | J/251 | ||||
| Palaly South | J/252 | ||||
| Palaly East | J/253 | ||||
| Palaly North | J/254 | ||||
| Palaly Northwest | J/255 | ||||
| Palaly West | J/256 | ||||
| Valikamam South | Tamil: வலிகாமம் தெற்கு, romanized: Valikāmam Teṟku | Sinhala: වලිගම දකුණ, romanized: Valigama Dakuna | Valikamam South Divisional Council | Uduvil South West | J/182 |
| Uduvil South East | J/183 | ||||
| Uduvil Centre | J/184 | ||||
| Uduvil Centre North | J/185 | ||||
| Uduvil North | J/186 | ||||
| Sanguvely | J/187 | ||||
| Inuvil South West | J/188 | ||||
| Inuvil East | J/189 | ||||
| Inuvil North East | J/190 | ||||
| Inuvil East | J/191 | ||||
| Thavady South | J/192 | ||||
| Thavady East | J/193 | ||||
| Thavady North | J/194 | ||||
| Chunnakam North | J/195 | ||||
| Chunnakam South | J/196 | ||||
| Chunnakam East | J/197 | ||||
| Chunnakam Centre | J/198 | ||||
| Chunnakam West | J/199 | ||||
| Kantharodai | J/200 | ||||
| Erlalai West | J/201 | ||||
| Erlalai South West | J/202 | ||||
| Erlalai South | J/203 | ||||
| Erlalai East | J/204 | ||||
| Erlalai North | J/205 | ||||
| Erlalai Centre | J/206 | ||||
| Punnalaikkadduvan South | J/207 | ||||
| Punnalaikkadduvan North | J/208 | ||||
| Evinai | J/209 | ||||
| Kuppilan South | J/210 | ||||
| Kuppilan North | J/211 | ||||
| Valikamam South-West | Tamil: வலிகாமம் தெற்கு மேற்கு, romanized: Valikāmam Teṟku Mēṟku | Sinhala: වලිගම දකුණු බටහිර, romanized: Valigama Dakuna Batahira | Valikamam South-West Divisional Council | Suthumalai North | J/129 |
| Suthumalai South | J/130 | ||||
| Chavalkaddu | J/131 | ||||
| Uyarapulam | J/132 | ||||
| Anaicoddai | J/133 | ||||
| Navali North | J/134 | ||||
| Navali East | J/135 | ||||
| Navali South | J/136 | ||||
| Manipay North | J/137 | ||||
| Manipay West | J/138 | ||||
| Manipay South | J/139 | ||||
| Manipay East | J/140 | ||||
| Sandilipay North | J/141 | ||||
| Sandilipay Centre | J/142 | ||||
| Sandilipay West | J/143 | ||||
| Mahiyapiddy | J/144 | ||||
| Vadaliyadaippu | J/145 | ||||
| Pandatharippu | J/146 | ||||
| Piranpattu | J/147 | ||||
| Sillalai North | J/148 | ||||
| Sillalai South | J/149 | ||||
| Mathagal East | J/150 | ||||
| Mathagal South | J/151 | ||||
| Mathagal West | J/152 | ||||
| Periyavilan | J/153 | ||||
| Mareesankoodal | J/154 | ||||
| Ilavalai | J/155 | ||||
| Mullanai | J/156 | ||||
| Valikamam West | Tamil: வலிகாமம் மேற்கு, romanized: Valikāmam Mēṟku | Sinhala: වලිගම බටහිර, romanized: Valigama Batahira | Valikamam West Divisional Council | Vaddukoddai East | J/157 |
| Vaddukoddai North | J/158 | ||||
| Vaddukoddai Centre | J/159 | ||||
| Araly West | J/160 | ||||
| Araly Centre | J/161 | ||||
| Araly South | J/162 | ||||
| Araly East | J/163 | ||||
| Araly North | J/164 | ||||
| Vaddukoddai South | J/165 | ||||
| Vaddukoddai South-West | J/166 | ||||
| Vaddukoddai West | J/167 | ||||
| Chulipuram West | J/168 | ||||
| Chulipuram Centre | J/169 | ||||
| Chulipuram East | J/170 | ||||
| Moolai | J/171 | ||||
| Sittankerny | J/172 | ||||
| Sittankerny East | J/173 | ||||
| Sittankerny South | J/174 | ||||
| Sittankerny West | J/175 | ||||
| Sittankerny North | J/176 | ||||
| Chankanai East | J/177 | ||||
| Chankanai West | J/178 | ||||
| Chankanai Centre | J/179 | ||||
| Chankanai South | J/180 | ||||
| Chankanai North | J/181 |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Indrapala, Karthigesu (2006). The Evolution of an Ethnic Identity. South Asian Studies Centre. p. 389.
- ^ Fabricius, J. P. (1972). "J. P. Fabricius's Tamil and English dictionary. 4th ed., rev.and enl". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
- ^ a b Ragupathy, Ponnampalam (1987). Early Settlements in Jaffna: An Archaeological Survey. University of Jaffna: Thillimalar. p. 211.
- ^ CDIAL (2006). Comparative Dictionary of Indo-Aryan Languages. Royal Asiatic Society.
- ^ a b "Administrative Structure - Jaffna DS". Jaffna Divisional Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ a b "Administrative Structure - Nallur DS". Nallur Divisional Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
- ^ a b "Administrative Structure - Valikamam East DS". Valikamam East Divisional Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2020-10-24. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
- ^ a b "Administrative Structure - Valikamam North DS". Valikamam North Divisional Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ a b "Administrative Structure - Valikamam South DS". Valikamam South Divisional Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ^ a b "Administrative Structure - Valikamam South West DS". Valikamam South West Divisional Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
- ^ a b "Administrative Structure - Valikamam West DS". Valikamam West Divisional Secretariat. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-01-30.