Sri Lanka (SL)

Sin: ශ්‍රී ලංකා śrī laṅkā – Tam: இலங்கை ilaṅkai

Sri Lanka, according to legend, was populated in the 6thC BCE by Prince Vijaya and 700 fellow exiles from the kingdom of Vanga (Bengal). He founded the Sinhala dynasty [SKT: siṃha, ‘lion’], a name which now identifies the language and the people who constitute the largest ethnic group on the island, and claim to be descendants of the original settlers. 

The ancient history of the island is recorded in chronicles such as the Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, which recount the stories of kings and kingdoms; temples, stupas and relics; sieges and battles; and, most importantly,  the arrival of Buddhism in 250 BCE.

Sri Lanka has had a long history of foreign invaders and rulers:

  • the Cholas, a Tamil dynasty based in South India, appeared many times from as early as the 3rdBCE, establishing a firm footing in the North in the 10thC CE ;
  • Kalinga Magha, from North India, decimated the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in the 13thC, and pushed the Sinhala rulers further and further south – the Jaffna Kingdom first emerged at this time as an entirely separate kingdom;
  • the Portuguese conquered the island in the 16thC; they were followed by the Dutch in the 17thC; and the British governed Ceylon in the 19thC and up to Independence in 1948.

Following Independence, the ethnic conflict between the Tamils (in the northern and north-eastern parts of the island) and the Sinhalese (who dominated the southern, western and central regions) erupted into a Civil War which lasted from the late 1970’s until 2009.

Sri Lanka’s place names are mostly Sinhala and Tamil with many Sanskrit, Pali and colonial influences.

Sri Lanka has been known by many names:

‘Resplendent Isle’  [Ilankai, Tambapanni, Taprobane, Serendip, Eelam/Ilam]

From Skt/Pal: śrī, ‘resplendent’, ‘beautiful’, ‘glorious’ and Skt: laṅkā, ‘island’; and the name of the royal city and island of Rāvaṇa as described in the Sanskrit epic Ramayana.

Tambapanni/Taprobane ‘Copper’

From Skt/Sin: tāmra/tamba, ‘copper’, ‘copper-coloured’; Skt/Pal: varṇī (parṇī)m ‘colour’; Skt/Pal: pāṇi, ‘hand’; or Skt/Pal: pānīya, ‘water’.

According to the legend of the Mahavamsa Prince Vijaya, the founder of the Sinhala dynasty here, grasped the earth of the shore where they landed and his hands turned to a copper-red. The city was named Tambapanni, a name which came to identify the island as a whole. The Greeks called it Tabrobane/Taprobana [Gk: Ταπροβανᾶ/Ταπροβανῆ].

Sarandib/Sinhaladvipa/Sielendipa 

From Sinhala and Skt: dvīpa, ‘island’

Most of the European variations were derived from this form [Lat: Seelan, Por: Ceilão, Spa: Ceilán, Fre: Ceylan, Dut: Zeilan, Eng: Ceylon].

Ceilão was the name given the island by the Portuguese when they arrived in 1505 and under the British this became Ceylon. Sinhala was the name name of the dynasty founded by Prince Vijaya [Skt: siṃha, ‘lion’].

Īḻam/Eeelam

Īḻam/Īḻa-nāṭu is a Tamil name that has been used for Sri Lanka since the Sangam era from the 2nd century BCE. It may simply be a corruption of Sinhala: Sihila>Sîla>Ila>Īlam (Eelam) [DED 550].

It is a name that has been associated in modern times with the separatist Tamil Tigers of Eelam/Eezham and Tam: ilaṅkai (see above) is the Tamil name more commonly used for Sri Lanka.

PROVINCES (Capital):

CP– Central Province (Kandy); EP– Eastern Province (Trincomalee); NP– Northern Province (Jaffna); NCP– North Central Province (Anuradhapura); NWP– North Western Province (Kurunegala); SBP– Sabaragamuwa Province (Ratnapura); SP– Southern Province (Galle); UP– Uva Province (Badulla); WP– Western Province (Colombo).

Aluthgama (SL)

Sin: අලුත්ගම alutgama - Tam: அளுத்கமை alutkamai.  ‘New Village’ Town, WP,  Sri...

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Ambalangoda (SL)

Sin: අම්බලන්ගොඩ ambalangoḍa - Tam: அம்பலாங்கொட ampalāṅkoṭa. ‘Rest-house...

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Ambepussa (SL)

Sin: අඹේපුස්ස ambēpussa ‘Mango Creeper’  -Town, SBP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Ampara (SL)

Sin: අම්පාර - Tam அம்பார ampāra ‘Waterway’ -City/District, EP,  Sri Lanka From...

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Anuradhapura (SL)

Sin: අනුරාධපුර anurādhapura - Tam: அனுராதபுரம் aṉurātapuram ‘Anuradha’s City’ ...

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Arugam Bay (SL)

Tam: அறுகம் குடா aṟukam kuṭā - Sin: ආරුගම් බොක්ක ārugam bokka 'Bermuda Grass...

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Avissawella (SL)

Sin: අවිස්සාවේල්ල avissāvēlla - Tam:அவிசாவள avisāvaḷai 'Impassable Shore' ...

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Badulla (SL)

Sin: බදුල්ල badulla -  Tam: பதுளை batuḷai ‘Marking Nut Tree’  -City/Capital,...

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Balangoda (SL)

Sin: බළන්ගොඩ baḷangoḍa - Tam: பலாங்கொடை balāṅkoṭai ‘Look-out Hill’ -Town,...

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Bandarawela (SL)

Sin: බණ්ඩාරවෙල baṇḍāravela - Tam: பண்டாரவெல baṇṭāravela ‘Prince’s...

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Battaramulla (SL)

Sin: බත්තරමුල්ල battaramulla - Tam: பத்தரமுல்லை battaramullai ‘Rice Ferry...

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Batticaloa (SL)

Tam: மட்டக்களப்பு  maṭṭakkaḷappu  - Sin: මඩකලපුව maḍakalapuva ‘Muddy Lagoon’...

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Bentota (SL)

Sin: බෙන්තොට - Sin: பெந்தொட bentoṭa   ‘Bemthara Estuary’  -Town/Resort, SP, ...

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Beruwala (SL)

Sin: බේරුවල  bēruvala - Tam: பேருவளை bēruvaḷai  ‘Beru Forest’   Town, WP,  Sri...

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Bibile (SL)

Sin: බිබිලේ  bibilē - Tam: பிபிலை bibilai ‘Spring’    Town, UP,  Sri Lanka...

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Boralesgamuwa (SL)

Sin: බොරලැස්ගමුව boralæsgamuva - Tam: போரலெஸ்கமுவ bōraleskamuva ‘Clay...

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Chavakachcheri (SL)

Tam: சாவகச்சேரி - Sin: චාවකච්චේරි  c(h)āvakaccēri  ‘Java Town’  Town, NP,  Sri...

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Chilaw (SL)

Tam: சிலாபம் c(h)ilāpam - Sin: හලාවත halāvata ‘Pearl Fishery’  Town, NWP,  Sri...

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Chundikkulam Lagoon (SL)

Tam: சுண்டிக்குளம் c(h)uṇṭikkuḷam - Sinhala: කුම්බවැව kumbavæwa  ‘Dried-up...

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Colombo (SL)

Sin: කොළඹ  koḷamba - Tam: கொழும்பு koḻumpu 'Port on the River Kolon' ...

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Dambadeniya (SL)

Sin: දඹදෙණිය dambadeṇiya - Tam: தம்பதெனிய dampateṉiya  ‘Field of Damba Trees’ ...

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Dambana (SL)

Sin: දඹා dambāna ‘Forest Clearing’ -Village, UP, Sri Lanka From  Sin: dambu,...

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Dambulla (SL)

Sin: දඹුල්ල dambulla - Tam: தம்புள்ளை dampuḷḷai  ‘Damba Tree Fountain’  ...

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Dimbulagala (SL)

Sin: දිඹුලාගල dimbulāgala ‘Wood-apple Rock’  [Gunner's Quoin, Gunner;s Rock]...

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Dondra/Devinuwara (SL)

Sin: දෙවිනුවර, දෙවුන්දර devinuvara, devundara - Tam: தேவேந்திரமுனை...

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Elephant Pass (SL)

Tam: ஆனையிறவு āṉaiyiṟavu - Sin: අලිමංකඩ alimankada Elephant Pass  Causeway,...

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Ella (SL)

Sin: ඇල්ල ælla - Tam: எல்ல ella 'Waterfall’  UP  Sri Lanka From Sin: ella,...

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Elpitiya (SL)

Sin: ඇල්පිටිය ælpiṭiya ‘Waterfall Plain’  SP   Sri Lanka From Sin: ella,...

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Embilipitiya (SL)

Sin: ඇඹිලිපිටිය æmbilipiṭiya- Tam: எம்பிலிபிட்டியா empilipiṭṭiyā ‘Embilla...

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Eravur (SL)

Tam: ஏறாவூர் ēṟāvūr - Sin: එරාවූර් erāvūr ‘Keel Town’  EP, Sri Lanka   From...

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Galgamuwa (SL)

Sin: ගල්ගමුව galgamuva - Tam: கல்கமுவ  galkamuva ‘Rocky Village’  NWP,  Sri...

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Galle (SL)

Sin: ගාල්ල gālla - Tam: கால gāli 'Enclosure’  SP, Sri Lanka From Sin: gāla,...

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Gal Oya (SL)

Sin: ගල් ඔය gal oya ‘Rocky River’  EP, UP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: gala, ‘stone,...

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Gampaha (SL)

Sin: ගම්පහ gampaha - Tam: கம்பஹா gampahā ‘Five Villages’   WP, Sri Lanka From...

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Gampola (SL)

Sin: ගම්පොල gampola - Tam: கம்பளை gampaḷai ’Riverside Site’  CP, Sri Lanka...

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Habarana (SL)

 Sin: හබරණ  habaraṇa -  Tam: அபரணை aparaṇai ‘Hunter’s Place’  NCP,  Sri Lanka...

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Hakgala (SL)

Sin: හක්ගල hakgala ‘Conch or Jaw Rock’  CP, Sri Lanka From Sin:  hak, ‘conch...

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Hakmana (SL)

Sin:හක්මණ - Tam:ஹக்மண hakmaṇa ‘Conch or Jaw Path’  SP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Hambantota (SL)

Sin: හම්බන්තොට  hambantoṭa - Tam: அம்பாந்தோட்டை ampāntōṭṭai ‘Sampan Harbour’ ...

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Halmillewa (SL)

Sin: හල්මිල්ලෑව halmillǣva ‘Halmilla Lake’  NCP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Hanwella (SL)

Sin: හංවැල්ල haṁvælla -  Tam: ஹன்வெல்லை haṉvellai ‘Sand Junction or Ford’ ...

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Haputale (SL)

Sin: හපුතලේ - Tam: ஹபுதலே haputalē ‘Champak Summit’  UP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Harispattuwa (SL)

Sin: හාරිස්පත්තුව hārispattuva ‘Four Hundred DIvision’  CP,  Sri Lanka From...

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Hatton (SL)

Sin: හැටන් hæṭan - Tam: ஹட்டன் haṭṭaṉ 'Hatton'  CP, Sri Lanka Hatton is...

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Hikkaduwa (SL)

Sin: හික්කඩුව hikkaḍuva - Tam: கிக்கடுவை hikkaṭuvai ‘Indian Ash Island’ ...

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Horana (SL)

Sin: හොරණ horaṇa  - Tam: ஹொரணை horaṇai Horana WP ‘Hora Forest’  WP,  Sri Lanka...

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Ja-Ela (SL)

Sin: ජා-ඇල jā-æla - Tam: ஜா-எல jā-ela  ‘Java Brook’  WP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Jaffna (SL)

Tam: யாழ்ப்பாணம் yāḻppāṇam - Sin: යාපනය yāpanaya ‘Town of the Lyre Minstrels’...

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Kadugannuwa (SL)

Sin: കടക്കരപ്പള്ളി kaḍugannāva ‘Sword-drawing Point’  CP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Kalkudah (SL)

Tam: கல்குடா  kalkuṭā - Sin: කල්කුඪා kalkuḍhā ‘Rock Bay’  EP,   Sri Lanka From...

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Kalmunai (SL)

Tam: கல்குடா kalkuṭā - Sin කල්කුඪා kalkuḍhā ‘Rock Point’  EP,  Sri Lanka From...

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Kalutara (SL)

Sin: කළුතර kaḷutara - Tam: களுத்துறை kaḷuttuṟai ‘Black River Crossing’  ...

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Kandy (SL)

Sin: මහනුවර mahanuvara - Tam: கண்டி kaṇṭi  ‘Mountain Country’  [Kanda Uda...

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Kankesanthurai (SL)

Tam: காங்கேசன்துறை kāṅkēcaṉtuṟai - Sin: කන්කසන්තුරේ kankasanturē ‘Murugan...

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Kantale (SL)

Sin: කන්තලේ kantalē - Tam: கந்தளாய் kantaḷāy  ‘River Reservoir’   EP,  Sri...

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Kataragama (SL)

Sin: කතරගම kataragama - Tam: கதிர்காமம் katirkāmam ‘Desert Village’   UP,  Sri...

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Kathiraveli (SL)

Tam: கதிரவெளி katiraveḷi - Sin: කතිරවෙළිය katiraveḷiya ‘Acacia Plain’   EP,...

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Kattankudy (SL)

Tam: காத்தான்குடி kāttāṉkuṭi - Sin: කාත්තාන්කුඩි kāttānkuḍi ‘Moorish or Vedda...

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Kelaniya (SL)

Sin: කැලණිය kælaṇiya - Tam: களனி kaḷaṉi ‘Auspicious Place’  WP,  Sri Lanka...

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Kilinochchi (SL)

Tam: கிளிநொச்சி kiḷinocci - Sin: ගිරානික girānika ‘Parrot Fort (Walls)’ ...

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Kiribathgoda (SL)

Sin: කිරිබත්ගොඩ kiribatgoḍa - Tam: கிரிபத்கொடை kiripatkoṭai  ‘Milk Rice...

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Kitulgala (SL)

Sin: කිතුල්ගල kitulgala -  Tam: கித்துள்கலை kittuḷkalai ‘Jaggery Palm Rock’ ...

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Koggala (SL)

Sin: කොග්ගල koggala - Tam: கொக்கலை kokkalai ‘Crane Rock’  SP,  Sri Lanka From...

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Kokkilai (SL)

Tam: கொக்குளாய் kokkuḷāy - Sin: කෝකිලායි kōkilāyi  ‘Cuckoo (Lagoon)’  NP,  Sri...

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Kolonnawa (SL)

Sin: කොලොන්නාව kolonnāva - Tam: கொலன்னாவ kolaṉṉāva ‘Kelani Plain’  WP,  Sri...

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Kuchchaveli (SL)

Tam: குச்சவெளி kuccaveḷi -  Sin: කුච්චවේලි kuccavēli ‘Kusha Grassland’ ...

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Kuliyapitiya (SL)

Sin: කුලියාපිටිය kuliyāpiṭiya - Tam: குளியாப்பிட்டிய kuḷiyāppiṭṭiya ‘Hiring...

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Kurundugahetekma (SL)

Sin: කුරුඳුගහහැතැප්ම kurun̆dugahahætæpma ‘Cinnamon Tree Milepost’  SP,  Sri...

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Kurunegala (SL)

 Sin: කුරුණෑගල kuruṇǣgala - Tam: குருணாகல் kuruṇākal ‘Small Elephant Rock’ ...

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Madampe (SL)

Sin: මාදම්පේ mādampē - Tam: மாதம்பே mātampē ‘Plum Grove’  NWP, Sri Lanka From...

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Madhu (SL)

Tam: மடு maṭu ‘Lake’  NP, Sri Lanka From Tam: maṭu, ‘pond, pool, reservoir’....

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Maduru Oya (SL)

Sin: මාදුරු ඔය māduru oya  ‘Caraway Stream’  EP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: māduru,...

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Maharagama (SL)

Sin: මහරගම maharagama - Tam: மகரகம makarakama ‘Rampart Village’   WP,  Sri...

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Mahiyangana (SL)

Sin: මහියංගණය mahiyaṅgaṇaya ‘Great Plain’    UP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: maha,...

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Maho/Mahawa (SL)

Sin: මහව mahava - Tam: மாகோ mākō ‘Great Lake’  NWP,  Sri Lanka From: Sin:...

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Malabe (SL)

Sin: මාළබේ māḷabē - Tam: மாலபே mālapē ‘Flower Grove’  WP, Sri Lanka  From Sin:...

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Mankulam (SL)

Tam: மாங்குளம் māṅkuḷam - Sin: මන්කුලම mankulama ‘Deer Tank’  NP,  Sri Lanka...

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Maskeliya (SL)

Sin: මස්කෙළිය maskeḷiya ‘Leaping Fish’  CP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: mas, ‘fish’;...

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Matara (SL)

Sin: මාතර mātara - Tam: மாத்தறை māttaṟai Matara SP ‘Great Seaport’  SP, Sri...

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Matugama (SL)

Sin: මතුගම matugama - Tam: மத்துகம mattukama ‘Upper Village’  WP,  Sri Lanka...

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Maviddapuram (SL)

Tam: மாவிட்டபுரம் māviṭṭapuram - Sin: මාවිට්ටපුරම් māviṭṭapuram  ‘Vanished...

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Mihintale (SL)

Sin: මිහින්තලය mihintalaya ‘Mihinda Hill’  NCP,  Sri Lanka From Mihinda and...

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Minuwangoda (SL)

Sin: මිනුවන්ගොඩ minuvangoḍa - Tam: மினுவந்கொட miṉuvankoṭa ‘Crown Jewel...

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Mirissa (SL)

Sin: මිරිස්ස - Tam: மிரிஸ்ஸ mirissa ‘Chilli Point’  SP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Monaragala (SL)

Sin: මොණරාගල moṇarāgala - Tam: மொனராகலை moṉarākalai ‘Peacock Rock’  UP,  Sri...

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Moratuwa (SL)

Sin: මොරටුව moraṭuva - Tam: மொறட்டுவை moṟaṭṭuvai ‘Senna Plain’  WP,  Sri Lanka...

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Morawaka (SL)

Sin: මොරවක - மொறவக்க moṟavakka ‘Peacock Bend’  SP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Mullaittivu (SL)

Tam: முல்லைத்தீவு mullaittīvu- Sin: මූලදූව mūladūva  ‘Jasmine Island’ ...

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Nawala (SL)

Sin: නාවල - Tam: நாவல nāvala ‘Elephant Jungle’  WP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Nawalapitiya (SL)

Sin: නාවලපිටිය nāvalapiṭiya - Tam: நாவலப்பிட்டி nāvalappiṭṭi ‘Ironwood Forest...

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Negombo (SL)

Sin: මීගමුව mīgamuva - Tam: நீர்கொழும்பு nīrkoḻumpu ‘Honey Village’  WP,  Sri...

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Nikaweratiya (SL)

Sin: නිකවැරටිය nikaværaṭiya ‘Heap or House of Cow Dung’   NWP,  Sri Lanka From...

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Nilaveli (SL)

Tam: நிலாவெளி nilāveḷi - Sin: නිලාවැලි nilāvæli ‘Moonlit Land’  EP,  Sri Lanka...

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Nivithigala (SL)

Sin: නිවිතිගල nivitigala ‘Spinach Rock’  SBP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: nivithi,...

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Nugegoda (SL)

Sin: නුගේගොඩ nugēgoḍa - Tam: நுகேகொடை nukēkoṭai ‘Banyan Village’   WP,  Sri...

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Nuwara Eliya (SL)

Sin: නුවර එළිය nuvara eḷiya - Tam: நுவரெலியா nuvareliyā 'City on the Plain’ ...

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Panadura (SL)

Sin: පානදුර pānadura- Tam: பாணந்துறை pāṇantuṟai ‘Rocky Harbour’  WP,  Sri...

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Pasikuda (SL)

Tam: பாசிக்குடா pāsikkuṭā - Sin: පාසිකුඩා pāsikuḍā ‘Green Bay’  EP,  Sri...

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Pattipola (SL)

Sin: පට්ටිපොල paṭṭipola - Tam: பட்டிபொல paṭṭipola ‘Cattle Site’  CP,  Sri...

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Peradeniya (SL)

Sin: පේරාදෙණිය pērādeṇiya - Tam: பேராதனை pērātaṉai ‘Guava Plain’ CP,   Sri...

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Pinnawala (SL)

Sin: පින්නවල pinnavala -பின்னவலை piṉṉavalai ‘Hill Glory Bower Wood’  SBP,  Sri...

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Polonnaruwa (SL)

Sin: පොළොන්නරුව poḷonnaruva - Tam: பொலன்னறுவை polaṉṉaṟuvai 'Pulastya's City' ...

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Pottuvil (SL)

Tam: பொத்துவில் pottuvil - Sin: පොතුවිල potuvila ‘Rush Pond’  EP, Sri Lanka...

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Pussellawa (SL)

 Sin: පුස්සැල්ලාව pussællāva - Tam: புசல்லாவ pusallāva ‘Creeper Falls’  CP, ...

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Puttalam (SL)

Tam: புத்தளம் puttaḷam - Sin: පුත්තලම puttalama ‘New Saltpans’  NWP,  Sri...

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Puttur (SL)

Tam: புத்தூர் puttūr ‘New Town’  NP,  Sri Lanka From Tam: puththu/puttu,...

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Puwakpitiya (SL)

Sin: පුවක්පිටිය puvakpiṭiya ‘Areca Nut Field’   CP,  Sri Lanka From Sin:...

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Rambewa (SL)

Sin: රඹෑව rambǣva - Tam: இறம்பாவை iṟampāvai ‘Plantain Tank’  NCP,  Sri Lanka...

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Rambukkana (SL)

Sin: රඹුක්කන rambukkana - Tam: ரம்புக்கனா rampukkaṉā ‘Cane Thicket’  SBP,  Sri...

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Rangala (SL)

Sin: රංගල raṁgala ‘Gold Rock’  CP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: ran, ‘gold’; and gala,...

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Ratnapura (SL)

Sin: රත්නපුර ratnapura - Tam: இரத்தினபுரி irattiṉapuri ‘Gem City’  SBP,  Sri...

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Rumassala (SL)

Sin: රූමස්සල rūmassala ‘Golden Coral’  SP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: ru, ‘gold,...

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Sammanthurai (SL)

Tam: சம்மாந்துறை sammāntuṟai - Sin: සම්මාන්තුරේ sammānturē Town, EP , Sri...

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Seeduwa (SL)

Sin: සීදුව sīduva  -  Tam: சீதுவ sītuva  ‘Lion Island’  WP,  Sri Lanka From...

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Sigiriya (SL)

Sin: සීගිරිය sīgiriya - Tam: சிகிரியா sikiriyā ‘Lion Rock’  CP,  Sri Lanka...

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Talawakele (SL)

Sin: තලවාකැලේ talavākælē - Tam: தலவாக்கலை talavākkalai ‘Jungle Meadow’ ...

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Tanamalvila (SL)

Sin: තණමල්විල taṇamalvila - Tam: தணமல்வில taṇamalvila ‘Grass Flower Marsh’ ...

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Tangalle (SL)

Sin: තංගල්ල taṅgalla - Tam: தங்கல்லை taṅkallai ‘Grass Rock’  SP,  Sri Lanka...

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Tantirimale (SL)

Sin: තන්තිරිමලේ tantirimalē - Tam: தந்திரிமலை tantirimalai ‘Tantra Rock’ ...

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Thammannawa (SL)

Sin: තම්මැන්නාව tammænnāva ‘Tammana Tank’  NCP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: tammana,...

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Thirukkovil (SL)

Tam: திருக்கோவில் tirukkōvil ‘Holy Temple’  EP,  Sri Lanka. From Tam: t(h)iru,...

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Thulhiriya (SL)

 Sin: තුල්හිරියා tulhiriyā ‘Bulrush’ WP, Sri Lanka. From Sin: thunhiriya,...

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Tissamaharama (SL)

Sin: තිස්සමහාරාමය tissamahārāmaya - Tam: திஸ்ஸமஹாராம tissamahārāma ‘Tissa’s...

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Trincomalee (SL)

Tam: திருகோணமலை tirukōṇamalai -  Sin: ත්‍රිකුණාමලය trikuṇāmalaya ‘Sacred Rock...

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Udawalawe (SL)

Sin: උඩවලව uḍavalava ‘Upper Walawe’  SBP,  Sri Lanka  From Sin: uda, ‘upper,...

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Unawatuna (SL)

Sin:උණවටුන uṇavaṭuna  ‘Bamboo Port’  SP,  Sri Lanka From Sin: uṇa, ‘bamboo’...

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Uppuveli (SL)

Tam: உப்புவெளி uppuveḷi  ‘Brackish Land’  EP,  Sri Lanka From Tam: uppu,...

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Vakarai (SL)

Tam: வாகரை vākarai  - Sin: වාකරේ vākarē ‘Windy Shore’  EP,  Sri Lanka From...

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Valvettithurai (SL)

Tam: வல்வெட்டித்துறை valveṭṭittuṟai - Sin: වල්වෙට්ටිතුරෙයි valveṭṭitureyi...

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Vavuniya (SL)

Tam: வவுனியா vavuṉiyā, Sin: වවුනියාව vavuniyāva ‘End of the Forest’  NP,  Sri...

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Walapane (SL)

Sin: වලපනේ valapanē ‘Forest Village’  [Wathumulla] CP,  Sri Lanka. From Sin:...

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Wariyapola (SL)

Sin: වාරියපොල vāriyapola ‘Indigo Place’  NWP,  Sri Lanka. From Sin: nili...

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Wattala (SL)

Sin: වත්තල vattala  - Tam: வத்தளை vattaḷai ‘Garden Plain’   WP,  Sri Lanka....

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Wattegama (SL)

Sin: වත්තේගම vattēgama - Tam: வத்தேகம vattēkama ‘Garden Village’  CP,  Sri...

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Weligama (SL)

Sin: වැලිගම væligama  - Tam: வெலிகாமம் velikāmam ‘Sandy Village’  SP,  Sri...

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Yakalla (SL)

Sin: යකල්ල yakalla - Tam: யகல்ல yakalla ‘Devil’s Rock'   NCP,  Sri Lanka. From...

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