Nilaveli

Nilaveli
—  Town  —
Nilaveli
Coordinates: 8°41′0″N 81°12′0″E / 8.683333°N 81.2°E / 8.683333; 81.2
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Eastern
District	Trincomalee
DS Division	Kuchchaveli

Nilaveli (Pronounced Nilaa-Veli, Tamil translation Open-land of the moon-shine) is a coastal resort town located about 20 km North-West of Trincomalee, Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka. It used to be a popular tourist destination, however due to 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Sri Lankan Civil War tourist numbers have declined.

History

10th century inscription

The 10th century CE Tamil Nilaveli inscriptions mention the Koneswaram temple as having received a land grant in the Tamil country of one thousand seven hundred and ten acres (two hundred and fifty four vèli) of dry and wet land to meet its daily expenses - revealing the temple's role in providing various services to the local community by 900-1000 CE.^[1][2]

See also

• Koneswaram temple
• Kinniya
• Thiriyai
• Pasikudah - Batticaloa District
• Kalkudah - Batticaloa District
• Arugam Bay - Ampara District

References

1. ^ Journal of Tamil studies. Tamil Nadu: International Association of Tamil Research, International Institute of Tamil Studies. 1980. p. 33. ISSN 0022-4855. OCLC 1773647. 
2. ^ Pathmanathan, S. (1978). The Kingdom of Jaffna. 1. University of London/Colombo : Arul M. Rajendran. pp. 56. OCLC 6530926. "The Nilaveli inscription describes the land grant to the Maccakesvaram (another name for Koneswaram) temple of Konamamalai from the localities Urakirikamam, Kirikanta and Kirikamam" 

Further reading

• Gunasingham, S. (1975). A Tamil slab inscription at Nilaveli. 1. Colombo: The Ceylon Journal of the Humanities. pp. 61–71. 

Coordinates: 8°41′0″N 81°12′0″E / 8.683333°N 81.2°E / 8.683333; 81.2