List of islands of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
Pigeon Island
Nainativu
Bone Island, Batticaloa
Kakaraitivu Island
17th century Dutch map of Sri Lanka with the Dutch names of the Jaffna islands

Sri Lanka is an island country in the Indian Ocean. There are also a number of smaller islands around Sri Lanka, most abundantly in the north and eastern parts of the islands. The most prominent islets are west of the Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province. Many of these islands were given Dutch names during the Dutch colonial period, only a few of these names are still in use today.[1]

Sri Lanka has a total area of 65,610 km2, with 64,740 km2 of land and 870 km2 of water, and a coastline that is 1,340 km long. The main island of Sri Lanka has an area of 65,268 km2 and is the 25th largest island in the world by area.[2] Dozens of offshore islands account for the remaining 342 km2 of area.

List of islands

Island
Province
District
Divisional Secretariat
Coordinates
Area
(km2)[3]
Population
(approx)[4]
Notes
Sri Lanka 65,268 22,157,000 Main island of Sri Lanka.
Ambanttativu North Western Puttalam 8°12′40″N 79°46′06″E / 8.21111°N 79.76833°E / 8.21111; 79.76833 0.17 In Puttalam Lagoon
Sinhala:

Sambanda-doova.

Analaitivu Northern Jaffna Islands North (Kayts) 9°40′01″N 79°46′32″E / 9.66694°N 79.77556°E / 9.66694; 79.77556 4.82 2,200 Dutch: Rotterdam, Annelletivo

Sinhala: annaladoova.

Bone Island Eastern Batticaloa Manmunai North 7°45′12″N 81°41′24″E / 7.75333°N 81.69000°E / 7.75333; 81.69000 0.02 In Batticaloa Lagoon.
Buffalo Island Eastern Batticaloa Manmunai North 7°41′23″N 81°41′58″E / 7.68972°N 81.69944°E / 7.68972; 81.69944 5.18 In Batticaloa Lagoon.
Challitivu Eastern Batticaloa Koralai Pattu North 8°06′40″N 81°27′49″E / 8.11111°N 81.46361°E / 8.11111; 81.46361 0.09 Sinhala: Galdoova
Chirutivu (Sirutivu) Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°38′36″N 80°00′37″E / 9.64333°N 80.01028°E / 9.64333; 80.01028 0.28 Between Mandativu and Jaffna Peninsula.


Sinhala: Hiridoova

Clappenburg Island Eastern Trincomalee Town & Gravets 8°31′50″N 81°12′37″E / 8.53056°N 81.21028°E / 8.53056; 81.21028 0.05 In Koddiyar Bay.
Elephant Island Eastern Trincomalee Town & Gravets 8°31′59″N 81°14′00″E / 8.53306°N 81.23333°E / 8.53306; 81.23333 0.06 In Koddiyar Bay.
Eluvaitivu Northern Jaffna Islands North (Kayts) 9°42′03″N 79°48′38″E / 9.70083°N 79.81056°E / 9.70083; 79.81056 1.40 800

Sinhala: Eluvadoova

Erumaitivu Northern Kilinochchi Poonakary 9°20′15″N 80°03′20″E / 9.33750°N 80.05556°E / 9.33750; 80.05556 1.04 Sinhala: Mahisadoova
Erumaitivu North Western Puttalam 8°16′07″N 79°46′44″E / 8.26861°N 79.77889°E / 8.26861; 79.77889 0.90 In Dutch Bay.

Sinhala: Mahisadoova

Great Sober Island Eastern Trincomalee Town & Gravets 8°32′39″N 81°12′34″E / 8.54417°N 81.20944°E / 8.54417; 81.20944 0.62 Wildlife sanctuary in China Bay.
Henativu/Havativu North Western Puttalam 7°58′22″N 79°49′09″E / 7.97278°N 79.81917°E / 7.97278; 79.81917 0.78 In channel between Puttalam Lagoon and Mundal Lagoon.

Sinhala: Haavadoova.

Ippantivu North Western Puttalam 8°19′49″N 79°48′22″E / 8.33028°N 79.80611°E / 8.33028; 79.80611 0.76 In Dutch Bay.

Sinhala: Ibbandoova.

Iranaitivu North Northern Kilinochchi Poonakary 9°17′31″N 79°58′54″E / 9.29194°N 79.98167°E / 9.29194; 79.98167 4.22 Dutch: Enkhuizen.

Sinhala: Erandoova.

Iranaitivu South Northern Kilinochchi Poonakary 9°16′50″N 80°00′04″E / 9.28056°N 80.00111°E / 9.28056; 80.00111 1.71 Dutch Hoorn.

Sinhala: Uoona doova.

Kachchatheevu Northern Jaffna Neduntivu (Delft) 9°23′16″N 79°31′37″E / 9.38778°N 79.52694°E / 9.38778; 79.52694 0.68 Pali: Kachchatheetha.

Sinhala: Kachchadoova.

Kakaraitivu Island Northern Jaffna? Neduntivu (Delft)? 9°26′23″N 79°53′14″E / 9.43972°N 79.88722°E / 9.43972; 79.88722 0.14 Uninhabited Dutch: Calienye.

Sinhala: Sakkaradoova.

Kakkativu Northern Kilinochchi Poonakary 9°19′01″N 80°04′51″E / 9.31694°N 80.08083°E / 9.31694; 80.08083 1.10

Sinhala: Kaakadoova

Kalliaditivu Northern Mannar 8°56′54″N 79°54′42″E / 8.94833°N 79.91167°E / 8.94833; 79.91167 1.71

Sinhala: Galadi doova

Kanantivu Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°37′33″N 79°51′26″E / 9.62583°N 79.85722°E / 9.62583; 79.85722 1.22 Between Kayts and Pungudutivu.

Sinhala: Kaennadoova.

Karaditivu North Western Puttalam 7°54′42″N 79°48′54″E / 7.91167°N 79.81500°E / 7.91167; 79.81500 0.09 In channel between Puttalam Lagoon and Mundal Lagoon.

Sinhala: Karadiva

Karaitivu Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°36′27″N 79°49′48″E / 9.60750°N 79.83000°E / 9.60750; 79.83000 0.97 Adjacent (north) of Pungudutivu.
Karaitivu Northern Jaffna Karaitivu (Karainagar) 9°44′03″N 79°52′33″E / 9.73417°N 79.87583°E / 9.73417; 79.87583 22.95 8,600 Dutch: Amsterdam.
Karaitivu North Western Puttalam 8°27′45″N 79°47′15″E / 8.46250°N 79.78750°E / 8.46250; 79.78750 West of Portugal Bay.
Velanai Northern Jaffna Islands North (Kayts) atuvan&
Islands South (Velanai)
9°39′09″N 79°54′11″E / 9.65250°N 79.90306°E / 9.65250; 79.90306 64.01 16,300 Named Leiden by Dutch.

Sinhala: Uruthota (Kayts); Bellana (Velanai)

Kurikadduvan Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°35′43″N 79°47′40″E / 9.59528°N 79.79444°E / 9.59528; 79.79444 0.38 Adjacent (north west) of Naduturitti.


Sinhala: Kiralakatuvana

Little Sober Island Eastern Trincomalee Town & Gravets 8°32′35″N 81°12′54″E / 8.54306°N 81.21500°E / 8.54306; 81.21500 0.07 Wildlife sanctuary in China Bay.
Mandaitivu Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°36′48″N 79°59′44″E / 9.61333°N 79.99556°E / 9.61333; 79.99556 7.56 900

Sinhala: Mandadoova

Mannar Northern Mannar Mannar Town 9°03′10″N 79°49′42″E / 9.05278°N 79.82833°E / 9.05278; 79.82833 126.46

Sinhala: Mannaram doopatha

Mantivu Eastern Batticaloa Manmunai North 7°42′03″N 81°39′43″E / 7.70083°N 81.66194°E / 7.70083; 81.66194 0.38 In Batticaloa Lagoon.

Sinhala: Maandoova

Mantivu North Western Puttalam 7°55′57″N 79°49′12″E / 7.93250°N 79.82000°E / 7.93250; 79.82000 0.50 In channel between Puttalam Lagoon and Mundal Lagoon.

Sinhala: Maandoova

Maripututivu North Western Puttalam 8°10′33″N 79°44′59″E / 8.17583°N 79.74972°E / 8.17583; 79.74972 0.10 In Puttalam Lagoon.


Sinhala: Maliputhu diva

Marthand Eastern Batticaloa Koralai Pattu North 8°06′51″N 81°26′34″E / 8.11417°N 81.44278°E / 8.11417; 81.44278 0.18

Sinhala: Malkadola.

Mattutivu North Western Puttalam 8°13′02″N 79°47′00″E / 8.21722°N 79.78333°E / 8.21722; 79.78333 0.12 In Puttalam Lagoon.

Sinhala: Maddu doova

Nachuvantivu Eastern Batticaloa Koralai Pattu 7°56′13″N 81°32′18″E / 7.93694°N 81.53833°E / 7.93694; 81.53833 2.11 In Vandeloos Bay.

Sinhala: Naapitadoova.

Naduturitti Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°35′05″N 79°47′54″E / 9.58472°N 79.79833°E / 9.58472; 79.79833 0.88 Adjacent (south west) of Pungudutivu.


Sinhala: Madduriththa

Nainativu Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°36′15″N 79°46′04″E / 9.60417°N 79.76778°E / 9.60417; 79.76778 4.22 2,700 Dutch: Haarlem

Sinhala: Naga Deepa.

Neduntivu Northern Jaffna Neduntivu (Delft) 9°30′48″N 79°41′22″E / 9.51333°N 79.68944°E / 9.51333; 79.68944 47.17 4,200 Dutch: Delft.

Sinhala: Maedundoova.

Neduntivu North Western Puttalam 8°14′06″N 79°46′45″E / 8.23500°N 79.77917°E / 8.23500; 79.77917 0.10 In Dutch Bay.

Sinhala: Maedundoova.

Oddakarentivu North Western Puttalam 8°16′37″N 79°45′54″E / 8.27694°N 79.76500°E / 8.27694; 79.76500 0.20 In Dutch Bay.

Sinhala: Uddakadoova.

Palaitivu Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°37′22″N 79°49′10″E / 9.62278°N 79.81944°E / 9.62278; 79.81944 0.16 Adjacent (north) of Pungudutivu.
Palaitivu Northern Kilinochchi Poonakary 9°28′39″N 80°00′45″E / 9.47750°N 80.01250°E / 9.47750; 80.01250 1.81 Named Galue by Dutch.

Sinhala: Paludoova.

Paratitivu Northern Jaffna Islands North (Kayts) 9°41′06″N 79°47′32″E / 9.68500°N 79.79222°E / 9.68500; 79.79222 0.38 Uninhabited Between Analativu and Eluvaitivu.

Sinhal: Sinhala: Paludoova.

Periya Arichchal North Western Puttalam 8°17′59″N 79°47′45″E / 8.29972°N 79.79583°E / 8.29972; 79.79583 0.32 In Dutch Bay.

Sinhala: Maha Arakgala.

Periya Kayankerni (Periyawattava) Eastern Batticaloa Koralai Pattu 7°57′20″N 81°32′20″E / 7.95556°N 81.53889°E / 7.95556; 81.53889 1.81 In Vandeloos Bay.

Sinhala: Kaayamkaenna.

Periyativu Eastern Batticaloa Manmunai South West 7°38′22″N 81°43′39″E / 7.63944°N 81.72750°E / 7.63944; 81.72750 0.13 In Batticaloa Lagoon.

Sinhala: Mahadoova.

Periyativu North Western Puttalam 7°56′57″N 79°48′58″E / 7.94917°N 79.81611°E / 7.94917; 79.81611 1.10 In channel between Puttalam Lagoon and Mundal Lagoon.

Sinhala: Mahadoova.

Pigeon Island
(Large & Small)
Eastern Trincomalee Kuchaveli 8°43′20″N 81°12′15″E / 8.72222°N 81.20417°E / 8.72222; 81.20417 0.01 Uninhabited One of the two marine national parks of Sri Lanka.
Puliyanthivu Eastern Batticaloa Manmunai North 7°42′37″N 81°41′41″E / 7.71028°N 81.69472°E / 7.71028; 81.69472 1.56 7,034 Batticaloa city

Sinhala: Kotidoova.

Puliyantivu Northern Jaffna Islands North (Kayts) 9°38′52″N 79°46′28″E / 9.64778°N 79.77444°E / 9.64778; 79.77444 0.44 Adjacent (south east) of Analativu.

Sinhala: Kotidoova.

Puliyantivu Northern Mannar 8°57′19″N 79°54′01″E / 8.95528°N 79.90028°E / 8.95528; 79.90028 0.90

Sinhala: Kotidoova.

Pullupiddi North Western Puttalam 8°11′21″N 79°46′40″E / 8.18917°N 79.77778°E / 8.18917; 79.77778 0.11 In Puttalam Lagoon.

Sinhala: Kotipitiya.

Pungudutivu Northern Jaffna Islands South (Velanai) 9°35′08″N 79°50′05″E / 9.58556°N 79.83472°E / 9.58556; 79.83472 22.56 3,600 Dutch: Middleburg.

Pali/Sinhala: Punguthdeepa

Round Island Eastern Trincomalee Town & Gravets? 8°30′46″N 81°13′34″E / 8.51278°N 81.22611°E / 8.51278; 81.22611 0.04 In Koddiyar Bay.
Serayativu Eastern Batticaloa Manmunai West 7°39′08″N 81°42′04″E / 7.65222°N 81.70111°E / 7.65222; 81.70111 0.46 In Batticaloa Lagoon.

Sinhala: Seradoova

Sinna Arichchal North Western Puttalam 8°17′02″N 79°47′32″E / 8.28389°N 79.79222°E / 8.28389; 79.79222 0.16 In Dutch Bay.

Sinhala: Podi Arakgal.

Siriyativu Eastern Batticaloa Manmunai Pattu 7°38′06″N 81°43′55″E / 7.63500°N 81.73194°E / 7.63500; 81.73194 0.03 In Batticaloa Lagoon.

Sinhala: Seruvadoova.

Thimilathiu West Eastern Batticaloa 7°42′17.40″N 81°40′37.40″E / 7.7048333°N 81.6770556°E / 7.7048333; 81.6770556 Location of SLAF Batticaloa.

Sinhala: Kevuldoova

Thorattapputti Northern Jaffna Valikamam West (Chankanai) 9°44′55″N 79°54′23″E / 9.74861°N 79.90639°E / 9.74861; 79.90639 0.14 Between Karaitivu and Jaffna Peninsula.

Sinhala: Doratumukka.

Udayurputi North Western Puttalam 8°10′07″N 79°48′31″E / 8.16861°N 79.80861°E / 8.16861; 79.80861 0.42 In Puttalam Lagoon.

Sinhala: Udukurupoththa.

See also

References

  • Bassett, Ralph Henry. "12 The Islands". Romantic Ceylon: its history, legend, and story. pp. 274–310. ISBN 81-206-1274-4.
  • Yapa, Vijitha (1996). Francis Dorai (ed.). Insight Pocket Guides: Sri Lanka. APA Publications (HK). ISBN 962-421-644-4.
  • "Sri Lanka – Island". SatelliteViews.net.
  • "LK0000956 DISTRICT : Jaffna DS Division : Velanai" (PDF). Administrative Map. UN OCHA. 13 August 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2007.
  • "LKM0088 DISTRICT : Jaffna DS Division : Kayts" (PDF). Administrative Map. UN OCHA. 20 May 2008.
  1. ^ Dutch heritage of Sri Lanka
  2. ^ "Joshua Calder's World Island Info – Largest Islands of the World". Worldislandinfo.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Table 05 (Geo., Topography) Islands in Sri Lanka". Sri Lanka Statistics.
  4. ^ "Statistical Handbook 2009". Jaffna District Secretariat. Archived from the original on 26 March 2010.