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Batticaloa ( in the eastern province of Sri Lanka . GEOGRAPHY Batticaloa is situated 314 Km (195 Miles) from Colombo on the east coast. It occupies the central Part of Eastern Sri Lanka and covers a land area of approximately 2633.1 Square Km.The District accounts for 3.8% of the Countries Total Land area. In Batticaloa an ocean comes into the main land and the city it self surroundes by the water. This place is stands on a long, sandy spit of land pointing northward and separated from the mainland by a large brackish lagoon(களப்பு/Kallappu in Tamil) traverses through the district extending 73.5 km. to Verugal in the North from Batticaloa Town and also extending from the Town 35.2 km. from the South up to Thuraineelavanai .(near Mandur/மண்டூர் temple).The lagoon confluences with the Indian ocean at Muhaththuvaram (முகத்துவாரம்) near Amirthakallay Mamangeshwarar temple. ;Ezuvan Karai & Paduvan Karai The eastern part of the lagoon is called "Ezuvan Karai"(எழுவான் கரை) which literally means the land situated at the direction where sun rises. This area consists paddy fields where the popular Batticaloa rice or Eastern rice and coconuts cultivated in large scale.Also resoviours,tanks and channels constructed for irrigation can be seen. This is where the one of charmful beaches of the country is located. The western part of the lagoon is called "Paduvan Karai"(படுவான் கரை) which literaly means the land situated at the direction where sun sets. This area consists poultry farms,tropical trees and the unique vareity(Vamparai/வம்பரை) of honey trees. These Vampari honey was gained enormous amount and it was used as a building material when Dutch fort was built in Pullianthivu ;Climate In the costal area, the climate is typically tropical with an average temperature of 25 degree Celsius. In the western region it can be bit cool with temperatures going down to 20oC at an altitude of 60 meters. Bright, sunny warm days are the rule and are common even during the height of the monsoon. MODERN BATTICALOA CITY The city has five main divisions.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS In 19th century Swami Vipulananda Adigal , the eminent Ramakrishna Mission Swamiji who contributed so much for the promotion of Tamil Language and Hindu Culture. His contributions are very well renowned by the Tamil society in India and other countries. The Eastern University Of Sri Lanka , a significant educational institute in the whole eastern province of Sri Lanka, is located in Batticaloa. This is one of the universities in the country leading in its researches and excellence in teaching carrier which supports the countries growth in economical point of view.Eastern University has been played the key role in gathering information of the victims affected by Tsunami and helped other humanitarian organizations to be involved in relief activities during period of Tsunami devastation. Swami Vipulananda Isai Nadana Kalluri(Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies)a premier institution established in 1981 by the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Hindu Culture is now affiliated with Eastern University which are consisting varoius departments for Caranatic Music, Dance, Drama & Theatre Arts and Visual and Technological Arts. It also houses St.Michael's College, St.Cecilias Convent, Hindu College, St.Vincent Girls High School and Methodist Central College,Shivananda Maha Vidyalayam which are the national schools located in the city’s. Michael's College is a well known school in the country which produced a large number of excellent basket ball and tennis players who have been awarded in local as well as international competitions. Schools of Batticaloa are also well known for its performance Eastern and Western based dramas, cultural events and Tamil Literature research. Nowadays many Information Technology institutions which have arrieved in many parts of the district. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Rice and coconuts are the two staples of the district, and steamers trading round the island call regularly at the port. The lagoon is famous for its "singing fish," supposed to be shell-fish which give forth musical notes. The district has a remnant of Veddahs or wild men of the wood. The average annual rainfall is 551 in.; the average temperature 80.4 °F. Prior to the civil war, there were large scale shrimp farms as well as fish and rice processing activities. Currently the economic activities are related to trading due to the effect of the civil war. DEMOGRAPHY See Also: Demography of Batticaloa district Batticaloa is on the East coast, 314 km from Colombo . The population of 515,707 consists mainly of Tamil s, Moors , Sinhalese , Euro-Asian Portuguese Burghers and indigenous Vedda population. Earlier census data show more Sinhalese than today; but their population, as well as the Muslim population has decreased with the rise of the LTTE which engaged in ethinic cleansing against non-Tamil groups. The Civil War In Sri Lanka has also led to many Sinhalese, Muslims and even Tamils to move to the south. Thus the 1981 census gave a figure of 10,646 Sinhalese , while the 2000 census records only about 150 Sinhalese. Similarly, the 76,000 Moors in 1981 has reduced to about 47,000 in the 2000 census. By contrast, the Tamil population of about 234,000 in 1981 has increased to about 353,000 by 2000. HISTORY See Also: History of Batticaloa Arrival of Mutkkuvar According to Mattakallappu Manmiyam (மட்டக்களப்பு மான்மியம்) Mattakkalappu Poorva Sariththiram Place in the current civil war See Also: Sri Lankan civil war Karuna Amman TMVP The Batticaloa is claimed by Tamils organization like the LTTE as part of their Tamil Homeland, Tamil Eelam . The city has witnesses countless murders, rapes, Mass Massacres And Wholesale Disappearance of civilians, especially after Black July and the subsequent Sri Lankan Civil War . Batticaloa is the primary focus of attention of Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, better known as 2007 , ousted the Tamil Tigers from their last stronghold of Thoppigala (Batticaloa province) in Eastern Sri Lanka.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6895809.stm 2004 TSUNAMI The town was also one of the worst hit during the Tsunami of Dec 26, 2004. The water rose up to 4.7 meters ( 15 feet ) within 90 minutes of the beginning of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake . SEE ALSO
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