Mannar District மன்னார் மாவட்டம் මන්නාරම දිස්ත්රික්කය | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within Sri Lanka | |
 DS and GN Divisions of Mannar District, 2006 | |
| Coordinates:08°52′N80°04′E / 8.867°N 80.067°E /8.867; 80.067 | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Northern |
| Capital | Mannar |
| DS Division | |
| Government | |
| • District Secretary | C. A. Mohan Ras |
| • MPs | List |
| • MPCs | List
|
| Area | |
• Total | 1,996 km2 (771 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,880 km2 (730 sq mi) |
| • Water | 116 km2 (45 sq mi) 5.81% |
| • Rank | 13th (3.04% of total area) |
| Population (2012 census)[2] | |
• Total | 99,051 |
| • Rank | 24th (0.49% of total pop.) |
| • Density | 52.7/km2 (136/sq mi) |
| Ethnicity (2012 census)[2] | |
| • Sri Lankan Tamil | 80,568 (81.34%) |
| • Sri Lankan Moors | 16,087 (16.24%) |
| • Sinhalese | 1,961 (1.98%) |
| • Indian Tamil | 394 (0.40%) |
| • Other | 41 (0.04%) |
| Religion (2012 census)[3] | |
| • Christian | 56,932 (57.48%) |
| • Hindu | 23,464 (23.69%) |
| • Muslim | 16,553 (16.71%) |
| • Buddhist | 2,066 (2.09%) |
| • Other | 36 (0.04%) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (Sri Lanka) |
| Post Codes | 41000-41999 |
| Telephone Codes | 023 |
| ISO 3166 code | LK-43 |
| Vehicle registration | NP |
| Official Languages | Tamil,Sinhala |
| Website | Mannar District Secretariat |
Mannar District (Tamil:மன்னார் மாவட்டம்Maṉṉār Māvaṭṭam;Sinhala:මන්නාරම දිස්ත්රික්කය) is one of the 25districts ofSri Lanka, the second leveladministrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by aDistrict Secretary (previously known as aGovernment Agent) appointed by thecentral government of Sri Lanka. Thecapital of the district isMannar, which is located onMannar Island.
Between the 5th century BC and 13th century AD, what is now Mannar District was part ofRajarata. Parts Mannar District were thereafter part of the pre-colonialJaffna kingdom.[4] The district then came underPortuguese,Dutch andBritish control. In 1815 the British gained control of the entire island ofCeylon. They divided the island into three ethnic based administrative structures: Low Country Sinhalese, Kandyan Sinhalese and Tamil. The district was part of the Tamil administration. In 1833, in accordance with the recommendations of theColebrooke-Cameron Commission, the ethnic based administrative structures were unified into a single administration divided into five geographic provinces.[5] Mannar District, together withJaffna District and Vanni District, formed the newNorthern Province.[6]
At the time thatCeylon gained independence, Mannar was one of the three districts located in the Northern Province.Manthai East division was transferred to newly createdMullaitivu District in September 1978.
Much of Mannar District was under the control of rebelLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for many years during thecivil war. The entire district was recaptured by theSri Lankan military in 2008.
Mannar District is located in the north west of Sri Lanka in the Northern Province. It has an area of 1,996 square kilometres (771 sq mi).[1]
Murunkan (English = cracked earth) is due to the black clay surface which is cracked while dry, is the place where theGiant's Tank is situated. It hasmontmorillonite clay and is the only place in Sri Lanka where this kind of clay can be obtained. This clay is used in making cement.
Aruvi Aru is the second longest river in Sri Lanka and runs through Mannar andAnuradhapura districts.
Mannar hasartesian springs andaquifers. These water supply comes from Sri Lanka's central areas. TheNorthern Province has a supply of fresh water from aquifers and it was used in successful cultivation. It only exists in the areas where red yellowlatosol exists. These types of aquifers do not exist where reddishbrown earth is found. The rest of the Vanni area is void of perennial supply of fresh water.
Mannar District is unique in its vegetation and wildlife, contrasting with rest of Sri Lanka.
Mannar Island is one of the few places in Sri Lanka wherebaobab trees thrive. Monkeys love the fruit and hence the tree is sometimes known as the monkey-bread tree.[citation needed]
Thedugong is a medium-sized marine mammal which is found in Mannar Bay, Nachchikuda, Jaffna island and nearAdam's Bridge.IUCN conservation status is vulnerable because of over-hunting for food and accidental capture infishing nets.[citation needed]
A critically endangered tarantula species known asPoecilotheria hanumavilasumica was first found from Sri Lanka in Mannar region. This was the first time that the spider was recorded from outside ofIndia[7][8][9]
TheVankalai Sanctuary for birds, internationally recognised as an important area forwetland birds under theRamsar Convention, is on the mainland just to the south of Mannar Island.
Mannar District is divided into 5Divisional Secretary's Division (DS Divisions), each headed by a Divisional Secretary (previously known as an Assistant Government Agent).[10] The DS Divisions are further sub-divided into 153Grama Niladhari Divisions (GN Divisions).[10]
| DS Division | Main Town | Divisional Secretary | GN Divisions [10] | Area (km2) [10][11] | Population (2012 Census)[12] | Population Density (/km2) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lankan Tamil | Sri Lankan Moors | Sinhalese | Indian Tamil | Other | Total | ||||||
| Madhu | Madhu | F. C. Sathiyasothy | 17 | 553 | 6,793 | 559 | 273 | 5 | 1 | 7,631 | 14 |
| Mannar | Mannar | Paramadoss | 49 | 212 | 40,865 | 8,982 | 953 | 131 | 6 | 50,937 | 240 |
| Manthai West | Adampan | S. Ketheeswaran | 36 | 608 | 12,993 | 1,123 | 337 | 177 | 0 | 14,630 | 24 |
| Musali | Chilawathurai | K.S. Vasanthakumar | 20 | 475 | 3,042 | 4,818 | 147 | 2 | 0 | 8,009 | 17 |
| Nanaddan | Nanaddan | Manikkavasakar Sriskanthakumar | 31 | 148 | 16,875 | 605 | 251 | 79 | 34 | 17,844 | 121 |
| Total | 153 | 1,996 | 80,568 | 16,087 | 1,961 | 394 | 41 | 99,051 | 50 | ||
Mannar District's population was 99,051 in 2012.[2] The population of the district is mostly Sri Lankan Tamil.
The population of the district, like the rest of the north andeast of Sri Lanka, has been heavily affected by the civil war. The war killed an estimated 100,000 people.[13] Several hundred thousand Sri Lankan Tamils, possibly as much as one million,emigrated to theWest during the war.[14] Many Sri Lankan Tamils also moved to the relative safety of the capitalColombo. Most of the Sri Lankan Moors and Sinhalese who lived in the district fled to other parts of Sri Lanka or were forcibly expelled by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, though most of them have returned to the district since the end of the civil war.
| Year | Tamil[a] | Muslim[b] | Sinhalese | Other | Total No. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
| 1881 Census | 14,415 | 67.52% | 6,635 | 31.08% | 142 | 0.67% | 156 | 0.73% | 21,348 |
| 1891 Census | 16,098 | 65.68% | 7,643 | 31.18% | 592 | 2.42% | 178 | 0.73% | 24,511 |
| 1901 Census | 16,848 | 67.59% | 7,715 | 30.95% | 201 | 0.81% | 162 | 0.65% | 24,926 |
| 1911 Census | 16,731 | 65.35% | 8,092 | 31.61% | 639 | 2.50% | 141 | 0.55% | 25,603 |
| 1921 Census | 16,949 | 66.25% | 8,002 | 31.28% | 538 | 2.10% | 93 | 0.36% | 25,582 |
| 1946 Census | 19,623 | 62.22% | 10,410 | 33.01% | 1,186 | 3.76% | 319 | 1.01% | 31,538 |
| 1963 Census | 40,140 | 66.70% | 17,260 | 28.68% | 2,262 | 4.35% | 160 | 0.27% | 60,180 |
| 1971 Census | 53,353 | 68.50% | 20,878 | 26.81% | 3,568 | 4.58% | 83 | 0.11% | 77,882 |
| 1981 Census | 68,178 | 63.75% | 28,464 | 26.62% | 8,710 | 8.14% | 1,588 | 1.48% | 106,940 |
| 2000 Estimate | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 96,667 |
| 2001 Estimate[c] | 92,911 | 94.84% | 5,038 | 5.14% | 16 | 0.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 97,965 |
| 2002 Estimate | 86,153 | 93.52% | 5,934 | 6.44% | 31 | 0.03% | 0 | 0.00% | 92,118 |
| 2003 Estimate | 92,129 | 93.24% | 6,649 | 6.73% | 35 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% | 98,813 |
| 2004 Estimate | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 102,135 |
| 2005 Estimate | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 103,936 |
| 2006 Estimate | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 103,671 |
| 2007 Estimate | 95,560 | 92.16% | 8,073 | 7.79% | 55 | 0.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 103,688 |
| 2008 Estimate | 67,503 | 89.11% | 8,214 | 10.84% | 38 | 0.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 75,755 |
| 2009 Estimate | 80,781 | 85.97% | 13,144 | 13.99% | 36 | 0.04% | 0 | 0.00% | 93,961 |
| 2011 Enumeration | 78,789 | 82.56% | 16,130 | 16.90% | 455 | 0.48% | 56 | 0.06% | 95,430 |
| 2012 Census | 80,962 | 81.74% | 16,087 | 16.24% | 1,961 | 1.98% | 41 | 0.04% | 99,051 |
| Year | Christian[d] | Hindu | Muslim | Buddhist | Others | Total No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
| 1981 Census | 44,689 | 42.07% | 28,895 | 27.20% | 29,161 | 27.45% | 3,363 | 3.17% | 127 | 0.12% | 106,235 |
| 2012 Census | 56,932 | 57.48% | 23,464 | 23.69% | 16,553 | 16.71% | 2,066 | 2.09% | 36 | 0.04% | 99,051 |
Mannar is a predominantly Catholic Christian area. There was equal amount of Muslim population and a few Sinhalase before 1990. Portuguese rule introduced Christianity and Hindu temples were simply changed into Catholic Churches and Forts. The whole of southern coastal India and western coast of Sri Lanka is a Catholic stronghold from the time of Portuguese colonisation. Now, Sri Lanka's western coast is predominantly Buddhist while most coastal regions of India practise Hinduism except Goa. Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam may be present in small patches.
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Mannar is part of the 'Catholic Belt' extending fromNegombo toJaffna.Portuguese first arrived inColombo and establishedCatholicism in areas aroundChilaw and further expanded their rule into Nagar Kovil,Kanyakumari andTuticorin area. Thus the whole ofGulf of Mannar could be called a Catholic Belt.
The ancient Madu Church is one of the ancient churches in Asia and located near Murunkan. An ancient Kali Temple was demolished by Portuguese to construct the Catholic Church on the same location.
Pesalai Catholic Church is one of the largest church in Sri Lanka, which was rebuilt after year-2000. Alleged recent human rights violations bySri Lanka Army and the LTTE attacks have brought it to the media attention internationally. (see2006 Mannar massacres)
Vidathaltheevu St James Church also one of the big church in Mannar Diocese . It has a history of more than 400 years. Now also there are some ancient materials inside the church boundary which were protected and maintained by the very people who live in the suburb. Now the Church is being reconstructed by the village people.
There are also few Protestant/Christian Churches in Mannar. Methodist is one of a Senior church started in Mannar in the history and the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission is second to it. The Gospel Grace Church was started in 1984. My Saviour's Church, Philedephiya Full Gospel Church, Assemble of God & Christian Fellowship Church are also old churches in Mannar more than 10 years.
Two great Sivan temples in Mannar were demolished by Portuguese. The new Thiruketheeswaram is built after the independence and it houses all the archeological finds of Hindu artefacts unearthed in the area. Several Hindu celebereties have visitedThiruketheeswaram includingAppar,Sundarar andSambanthar.
Mannar had a largeMoor population for a long time before the forced expulsion of Muslims by the LTTE in 1990. Muslims did not support a separateTamil Eelam.
In 1503,Vasco Da Gama expelled all the Muslims during his rule of Indian Portuguese Territory as part of the war against Turkey and its allies. At that timeHindu kings were ruling Jaffna Kingdom and Muslim refugees who fled from Portuguese rule were accepted in Mannar as a safe haven.Mukkuvars who were at war with Portuguese also came fromKerala andCochin to escape the ethnic cleansing by Portuguese. Mannar also had a Muslim Member of Parliament. Human tragedy of 1990 involved in the expulsion resulted in Muslims walking 50 kilometers to the safety of Puttalam throughWilpattu National Park.
Mannar District has 5local authorities of which one is an Urban Council and the remaining 4 are Divisional Councils (Pradesha Sabhai or Pradeshiya Sabha).[10]
| Local Authority | Area (km2) [10] | Population (2011) [16] | Registered Electors (2011) | Elected Members (2011) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TNA[e] | UPFA | SLMC | Total | ||||
| Mannar Divisional Council | 189.35 | 25,393 | 24,658 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| Mannar Urban Council | 27.85 | 22,183 | 15,979 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Manthai West Divisional Council | 1,181.33 | 19,395 | 18,707 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| Musali Divisional Council | 474.74 | 8,212 | 13,151 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| Nanaddan Divisional Council | 256.10 | 20,247 | 16,421 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Total | 2,129.37 | 95,430 | 88,916 | 24 | 17 | 5 | 46 |
Mannar has an ancient port which needs to be expanded into a large harbour like Rameshwaram Harbour. The present 'Sethusamudram Project' by theIndian Government will bring 90% of the shipping traffic very near to the Mannar Harbour.
The strategic advantages derive from obtaining a navigable sea route close to the coast, with a reduction in travel distance of more than 350 nautical miles (650 km) (for larger ships). The project is expected to provide a boost to the economic and industrial development of coastal Tamil Nadu. The project will be of particular significance to Jaffna, Kankesanthurai, Mannar, Point Pedro and Tuticorin harbour. Tuticurin has the potential to transform itself into a nodal port. The Tamil Nadu Government has announced its proposal to develop 13 minor ports, including Ennore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thondi, Valinokam, Kolachel and Kanyakumari.
Development of the canal and ports is also expected to provide increased maritime security for Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
All the other harbours of Sri Lanka will get bypassed by the ships and Indian harbours will be servicing the shipping traffic. As such a hundred million dollar project needs to be started to build a modern harbour in Mannar to compete. The location of such a harbour can be on the northern side and southern side of Mannar as both the sides can cater for deep sea vessels.
The project has been criticised by some environmentalists.[18]
| Central Province |  | |
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| Eastern Province | ||
| North Central Province | ||
| Northern Province | ||
| North Western Province | ||
| Sabaragamuwa Province | ||
| Southern Province | ||
| Uva Province | ||
| Western Province | ||
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