By A Denis N. Fernando-Fellow National Academy of Sciences-Courtesy The Island

June 30, 2012, 5:13 pm

Peninsular Jaffna was called “Post Que est Borem prom” by Ptolemy in circa 115 A.D., which was later called Japane by Javanese who occupied this area in the 12th Century who were fervent Buddhists who settled there from Java to escape the severe volcanic activity that engulfed the famous Borabudhu Buddhist complex with volcanic ash caused by the “Ring of fire” there. This violent volcanic activity in Java resulted in the migration of several Javanese to leave Java and find refuge elsewhere. Some settled in Peninsula Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka as they had cultural and trade contacts with Sri Lanka. It is also known that King Mahanama married the Javanese Princess Ratnavali and begot Parakramabahu I. It is clear that the close trade contacts with Java and King Mahanama would have permitted the affected Javanese to find refuge in the Northern Peninsula and was called Japane where they had a settlement called Chavackacheri in Peninsula Jaffna, a Fortress called Chava Kotte and a Buddhist monastery called Kandarode where even today we find ruins of Mini Dagabos in the style of the Borabudu mini dagabos, where deceased monks remains were kept.

In passing it would be of interest to remember that a similar volcanic activity that took place in Java resulting in Tsunami in eastern Sri Lanka in the time of Kalani Tissa of Kalyani Kanika in the 2nd cent B.C. that caused several towns to be inundated and resulting in the episode of Vihara Maha Devi being set afloat as a sacrifice as recorded in the Mahawamsa

In the time of Parakramabahu VI, Prince Sapumal was sent to conquer the Mukkuwas and Ariya Chakravati who conquered them was appointed Yapa or Governor and Peninsula came to be known as Yapapatuna. He was later appointed Buwanakabahu VI and appointed as King of Kotte. On his demise his son was appointed as King Parakramabahu VII, but was murdered by his own uncle Kudakumaraya and appointed himself as Parakramabahu VIII. Thereafter the progeny of Buvanakabahu VI established the independent Kingdom of Jaffna independent of Kotte.

With the advent of the Portuguese in 1517 and the Martyrdom of Catholics in Mannar, the Portuguese conquered Jaffna and established Forts and settlements in both Mannar and Jaffna. With the advent of the Dutch according to Ivers in his “Manual of the N.C.P.” brought “Vela al” or workers to grow tobacco. While Robert Percival in his “Account of the Island of Ceylon in 1803” in page 47 states as follows:

“There is also a race of Malabars found here somewhat differing in appearances from most of the Continent. The different tribes of foreign settlers greatly exceed the number of Ceylonese in the District of Jaffna. The Bellalas are numerous they are husbandmen and attend to tillage and rearing of cattle”

The irrigation well and shadaff became an integral part of the Landscape of Peninsular Jaffna and today we have over 80,000 such structures that brought prosperity to Jaffna. Rev. Phillipus Baldeaus MAP of REGNUM JAFFNA PATNAM CLEARLY INDICATES THE AREA OCCUPIED by the Portuguese at that time.

It is relevant to indicate that the Veddhas according to the Dutch Maps of Ceylon occupied the Eastern section north of Trincomalee from Tennamarawadu to the Jaffna Lagoon called PAYS DOS BEDAS, which is THE PRESENT MULATIVU DISTRICT, while the Western section North of Mannar up to the Jaffna Lagoon was occupied by the Vannias. This is clearly indicated in the Map titled “New Kaart van Heit” by Franciscos Valentine indicated below.

MAP SHOWING RELEVANT SECTION OF PAYS DOS BEDDAS or Land of the Veddhas in the present Mulativu District.

It is unfortunate that Mr. C. Sunderalingam former MP was the leader of the local “Gobbels” of World War II fame for deception was the perpetrator of EYLOM and drew the first Map of the so called Traditional Homelands of the Tamils and deposited it at the Library of Congress in Washington together with a hand written manuscript after the Vadhukotte Resolution, though he used the Naga Symbol of the Sinhalese. When this was pointed out, the same Map was depicted with the Cholan “Tiger Symbol” by the terrorist Prabakaran to obtain the support of the Tamil South Indians for his terrorist activities which he obtained.

Further when it was discovered that Sri Lanka was surrounded by Low Gravity by Dr Ronnie Mather who called it “the Sri Lanka Low” that portends the presence of fossil fuels, resulted in research by those interested in fossil fuels. When it was further discovered that Sri Lanka is surrounded by the lowest Gravity on Earth, the so called International Community comprising America and Europe using the classical Colonial technique of “Divide and Rule” to divide our country so as to have access to the Natural Resource of fossil fuels by giving support for the terrorist activity in various ways and we suffered from the scourge of terrorism for thirty long years. Fortunately this was overcome by the Government and the Armed forces adapting an unique strategy that surprised the developed world that overcame the tragedy that was about to occur with the help of Iran, China and Russia, to whom all Sri Lankans should be grateful. However it appears there are yet various strategies being hatched by the so called International community to get at the “Black gold” by any means and at any cost which we have to guard against.