Karaitivu (Jaffna)

Karaitivu (Tamil: காரைதீவு, romanized: Kāraitīvu; Sinhala: කරඩූව Karaḍūva) is an island off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) north-west of the city of Jaffna. Karaitivu means "the island of karai shrubs" in Tamil and is derived from the Tamil words karai (Webera tetrandra, a thorny shrub from the family Rubiaceae) and tivu (island).[3] Known as Amsterdam during Dutch colonial rule, the island has an area of 22.95 square kilometres (8.86 sq mi).[1][4] The island is divided into nine village officer divisions whose combined population was 9,576 at the 2012 census.[2]

Karaitivu
Native name:

காரைதீவு
කරඩූව
Karaitivu
Karaitivu
Geography
Coordinates9°44′03″N 79°52′33″E
Area22.95 km2 (8.86 sq mi)[1]
Administration
ProvinceNorthern
DistrictJaffna
DS DivisionKarainagar
Demographics
Population9,576 (2012)[2]
Pop. density417/km2 (1080/sq mi)
LanguagesTamil
Ethnic groupsSri Lankan Tamils
Additional information
Time zone

Karaitivu is connected to Jaffna peninsula by a causeway and there is a ferry service from Kayts on the neighbouring island of Velanaitivu.[5][6] Karainagar is the main settlement on the island.[7] The popular Casuarina Beach is located on the island.[8]

References
  1. "Table 05 (Geo., Topography) Islands in Sri Lanka". Sri Lanka Statistics. Kusaka Research Institute. 2004.
  2. "Census of Population and Housing 2012: Population by GN division and sex 2012" (PDF). Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka. p. 146.
  3. "Know the Etymology: 68 - Kaaraitheevu (Kaarainakar)". TamilNet. 5 January 2008.
  4. Attygalle, Randima (21 December 2014). "Restoring the Jaffna Fort". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  5. Fernando, Srimal (3 October 2005). "Sights and sounds of Jaffna". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
  6. Sivendran, S. (2 January 2000). "Kayts, a different world". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
  7. Ferdinando, Shamindra (8 May 2013). "Daring response to threat on Elara base". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  8. "Casuarina Beach On Karaitivu Island". The Sunday Leader. 12 August 2012.
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