Sinhala, Malabar & Muslim Villages of the East 1695

This is an amazing map, that is found at the Beeldbank National Archives, the Netherlands. We were astonished to see that more 90% off all villages in Eastern Lanka in the early Dutch era, were in fact Sinhala. More so shocking, when today, the Sinhala population is less than 40%!

• Collection / Archief-Kaartcollectie Buitenland Leupe
• Description
  1. Kaart van het Oostelykste gedeelte van het Eyland Ceylon
  2. Kaart van De Venlo's Baay
  3. Kaart van de Rivier van Baticalo
• Date-1695
• Opmerkingen-Atlas Amsterdam van Isaac de Graaff., met aantekeningen.

We have done our utmost to work out where necessary the Dutch written words but obviously we can manage so much. There are some with question marks, that were very difficult to workout. If anyone manages to work out, what they are. Please inform us!

We have written the Sinhala form of the words, as they are found on this map e.g. Tambalegam-Tambalegama, Wallellewey-Walawe & Pannedive-Pannediva. We have left the Malabar names intact. The ones that cannot be worked out bare question marks next to them.

We must admit though, we were very surprised to see this many Malabar place names in the East, even though they seem to be all within the coastal regions, which suggest fishing villages. In particular in Batacalo but expected as much due the Immigration policy adopted by the Dutch in the mid 1600's!

 

Triquenemale & Cotiar

Riv Van Pato WatjaarI??
Erafmus??
Fort Trinquenemale/Tri Mangala Kotuwa+-Sinhala
D.Oofren Bay??
A. Ooftenburgh??
De Bay Van Tamblegama-Sinhala
Tambelgamme-Sinhala
Soiste Riv Van Cande(Kanda) -Sinhala
Riv Mavila-Sinhala
Siyampantana-Sinhala(Possiblity of a connection with Siam)
Elondentura??
Cotiar-Sinhala
Erkelen hena-(Not sure, as this written as Erkelenche, on another map of the same period).
Riv Verde??
Pannediva*-Sinhala
Chelediva*-Sinhala

 

Batacalo & Panama               

Caddewatta Mudali, a clear Sinhala name is another example of the presence of a Wealthy Sinhala community in this region.

Bay Van Payaneko-Sinhala	Batacalo/Bathkalawa(Bathkalapuwa-Bathkalapu-Battikalapu-Batticoloa)++-Sinhala
By Leggers Book??	Cattecoedexipoe
Venfohe Watentanga??	Poedecoexipoe
Exa Oya-Sinhala	Mahaamuna-Sinhala
Koede Exipoe??	Koedexipoe
Kalamadhu-Sinhala	Karacoelan??
Mangeletive	Ziettyrala-Sinhala
Karawilewanna-Sinhala	Jettadiva*-Sinhala
Jayandiva*-Sinhala	Pirivenawana-Sinhala
Bammadive*-Sinhala	Riv Mandela-Sinhala
Oya Akary-Sinhala	Sookethakella-Sinhala
Mandalakakdiva*-Sinhala	Parrediva*-Sinhala
Riv Van Epita-Sinhala	Oya Eay-Sinhala
Chanlecadde??	Chooroecammena??
Siyampantota-Sinhala(The name suggests a conection the Siam)	Moorsche Tampet-Muslim
Karadiwana-Sinhala	Mattecalapuwa-Sinhala
Walawe-Sinhala	Kaxangoddadiva*-Sinhala
Koetecacdexiyooe	Ambelama-Sinhala
Tricoil+++	Pannogalle-Sinhala
Maddeode-Sinhala	Talwitta-Sinhala
Galwana-Sinhala	Kottanhena-Sinhala
Koederipoe	Comp Thyun??(Might be Burmese, after all Gona Kanda was in controled by Arakan Priests).
Chinnecalette Delle-Sinhala(Might have a Chinese connection).	Milinasohona-Sinhala
Pandexipoe	Kalmuna++++-Sinhala/Malabar
Sangamaran-Sinhala	Karregtive
Penni gath thena-Sinhala	Bemoida-Sinhala
Riv Van Sinhepada-Sinhala	Watapattechina-Sinhala(Might have a Chinese connection).
Rakama-Sinhala	Thalwila-Sinhala
Kaliampatta-Sinhala	Surenewanniam
Kalawanga-Sinhala/Malabar, we think.

 

*Dive or Diva is Sinhala for Island.

+Trinquenemale, during the Portuguese era makes it quite clear of Sinhala Buddhist population and make 'NO' mention of a Tamil population. In fact they give great details regarding the Buddhist temple at Gona Kanda, which today by deception has been taken by Tamil Hindus and is called a 4000yr old Tamil Kovil.

The Dutch also make 'NO' mention of a Tamil people but mentions the Sinhalese.

The French, who were actively present at Gona, for a period of 3yrs, again make 'NO' mention of Tamil people but make clear references to the fact that the Sinhala people in the area, cannot give them enough food due to the Dutch destroying their paddy fields.

++According to 18th Century French sources, Batecalo is derived from the Sinhala word for Rice..'Bath'.

+++Tricoil or Thirkkovil....The earliest records of the site and temple is of the Portuguese. Queyroz(p65), the greatest authority of this period gives the details of this site.

The correct it seems is 'Tuncoule', meaning a three storied Pagoda. Apparently all three had Idols and alters for worship.

This Pagoda lasted till General D. Jeronimo de Azevedo who destroyed it and captured and killed the Ganezes(These are Buddhist priests, who had married), the persons dedicated to its services.

This shows that, in the 1600's, this site was a great centre of Sinhala Buddhits!

For more info, including maps and names of villages in and around tricoil in 1695..Please Click here...Yala to Tricoil.

++++Administration report, 1898;

In Kalmunai an organissed attack by Muslims on the Sinhalese, has driven many away. Today though, it is Sinhalese that are blamed for the first Sinhala-Muslim issues in 1915.

 

These maps are a perfect example of the changes that were taking place due the arrival of Tamil immigrants, since the mid 1600's. Changes of names and delibrate use of Tamil words is but a few but was the start. This is clear, in especailly Mattecalapuwa, where even the Dissave in 1602 is a Sinhala by the name of Inegedara.

In 1786, Van Sanden, the head representative of the Dutch at Trincomalee, gives names of the headman of these regions;

Cotiar....Irroemarooewentoega Ideewirasinha Nallemapane

Tamblegama....Don Fransisco Kannegerandge Kannegeritna

Kattukolompatuwa....Don Joan Sandere Seegere Mapane

Another good example of what was happening during this period is names like Karawilewana and Pirivenawana. Both these names have been written slightly Tamilized as Pierrewannewannam. Pierrewanne or Pirivena is not a Tamil word. The same is Karrewylewannam. Karawile is not a Tamil word.

It is shameful and quite disgusting that such an action was takening place, even though this is what Colonialism did....Divide and Conquer!

Home page Architecture Place Names   Population fact sheet..jpeg/pdf Referencdes   8 Question's for an Eelamist? Please Refresh..Keep updated!