Vanni forest

Coordinates: 9°03′12″N 80°24′32″E / 9.05328°N 80.40894°E / 9.05328; 80.40894
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Vanni forest is a heavy forest which covers the Vanni area[1][2] and the majority (approximately 75%) of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. This jungle is spread from Omanthai in south to Paranthan in north. This jungle played a very significant role in the history of Sri Lanka. This forest is located in a dry-zone area. The biodiversity in the Vanni forest is considerably low. There are approximately 300,000 people living near the forest area.[3]

People

This area was situated between the

Jaffna Kingdom from the north. Small groups of Sinhalese and Tamils were established in the Vanni. It brought an ethnic balance to the area. Sinhalese settlements were concentrated in the southern interior of the jungle. Tamils primarily settled in the coastal northern areas of the jungle.[4] Settlements were controlled by a chief selected by the group. Chiefs of Tamil people were called Vanni Chieftains and Sinhala chiefs were called Wanniarachchi. Vanniar Chieftains paid tribute to the Jaffna Kingdom
.

Historical Importance

This jungle was a hotbed of resistance to the civilizations in ancient kingdoms in Sri Lanka. The

Kingdom of Kandy
.

During the Sri Lankan Civil War period, the LTTE controlled this area until 2008. The majority of the battles which took place during the Civil War took place in the Vanni forest. Modern day forest coverage is low due to deforestation.

Settlements in 20th century

In 1936, the town of

Mankulam, and Puliyankulam were colonized by clearing the forest.[citation needed] This affected the ethnic balance in Vanni area which was between Rajarata and Jaffna Kingdom. After independence from the British, the Sinhalese colonized Tamil lands to neutralize the ethnic balance. This led to another wave of forest clearing, as well as increasing the already heated ethnic tensions between the two groups. The Sinhalese colonization of Tamil lands would serve to be a factor behind the outbreak of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[11]

References

  1. ^ Google map static view of Vanni Forest, Parantan (North), Giant Tank, Eropathana,Padawiya Tank
  2. ^ Vanni Forest satellite view
  3. ^ "Vanni: A graphic history". Himal Southasian. 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  4. ^ page 31 Sri Lanka By Joe Cummings
  5. ^ Yoda Wewa - Mannar District amazinglanka.com
  6. ^ The Sri Lanka Reader History, Culture, Politics by John Clifford Holt, Robin Kirk, Orin Starn page 55
  7. ^ The History of Sri Lanka By Patrick Peebles page 31
  8. ^ Delhi Sultanate History Map in 13th Century
  9. ^ K.M. De Silva, A History of Sri Lanka, p. 64.
  10. ^ A History of Sri Lanka by K.M. De Silva page 87
  11. ISSN 0021-9118
    .

9°03′12″N 80°24′32″E / 9.05328°N 80.40894°E / 9.05328; 80.40894

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