Poonakary: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 9°30′N 80°12′E / 9.500°N 80.200°E / 9.500; 80.200
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{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pooneryn
| name = Pooneryn
| native_name = பூநகரி<br>පූනෙරිය
| native_name = {{lang|ta|பூநகரி விமான நிலையம்,}}<br>{{lang|si|පූනෙරිය}}
| settlement_type = [[Village]]
| settlement_type = [[Village]]
| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka Northern Province
| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka Northern Province
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}}
}}


'''Pooneryn''' (''Poonakari'') is a strategically important [[village]] in the northern province of [[Sri Lanka]] situated just below the [[Jaffna Peninsula]]. <ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/CE/31/Pooneryn.html Maps of Pooneryn]</ref>
'''Poonakary''' or '''Pooneryn''' ({{lang-ta|பூநகரி|translit=Pūnakari}}; {{lang-si|පූනෙරිය|translit=Pūneriya}}),<ref>{{cite news |title=Pū-nakari, Kuru-nakar, Pūjā-nagaraya, Devi-nuvara, Poḷon-naruva, Gan-noruva|url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=98&artid=23317|publisher=TamilNet |date=September 21, 2007}}</ref> is a strategically important [[village]] situated on the [[Jaffna Lagoon]], directly across from the [[Jaffna Peninsula]] in the [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern Province]] of [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/CE/31/Pooneryn.html Maps of Pooneryn]</ref>


[[Pooneryn fort|A fort]] was built in the Pooneryn area of northern portion of the island, at first by the Portuguese to protect its possessions in Jaffna. It was later taken and expanded by the Dutch, and in 1770 it was recorded that it was square-shaped with two bastions at opposite corners; the rampart on each of the sides was about 30 metres, it was garrisoned until the late 18th century. The British built a rest house in 1805.
Situated in the [[Vanni (Sri Lanka)|Vanni region]], the town was colonized by the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] in the 15th century and a [[Pooneryn Fort|fort]] was constructed in the town due to its strategic location on the Jaffna Lagoon. It was later taken and expanded by the [[Dutch Ceylon|Dutch]]. According to 1770 records, it was square shaped with two [[Bastion|bastions]] at opposite corners. The [[Rampart (fortification)|ramparts]] on each of the sides were about 30 metres in length. It was garrisoned until the late 18th century. The British built a rest house there in 1805.


Since 1983, due to the [[Sri Lankan Civil War|civil war]], it was garrisoned by the Sri Lankan Army from 1983 until the Sri Lankan military withdrew from the Pooneryn area in 1991. The fort was recaptured in 2009. Ruins of the fort remains, though in bad condition.<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/081123/Plus/sundaytimesplus_08.html Pooneryn’s past, By Prof. K. D. Paranavitana]
Since 1983, and due to the [[Sri Lankan Civil War|Civil War]], the town was garrisoned by the [[Sri Lanka Army|Sri Lankan Army]]. In 1993, the town was the site of a [[Battle of Pooneryn|major battle]] during the civil war. During the battle, the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|LTTE]] attacked and failed to take the town. They did however managed to capture equipment such as assault rifles, ammunition, machine guns, mortars and even two [[T-54/T-55|T-55]] tanks which proved to be vital to their forces. The town was later evacuated by the Sri Lankan Army due to [[Withdrawal (military)|tactical reasons]] in 1996. The LTTE occupied the town and maintained a garrison due to its strategic location. The fort was used during the [[Second Battle of Elephant Pass]], where the LTTE bombed [[Elephant Pass]] from Poonakary and bombed soldiers who retreated to [[Jaffna]]. The town was recaptured by the Sri Lankan Army on November 15, 2008. The LTTE was [[Eelam War IV|beginning to collapse]]. The town has since then been garrisoned by the Sri Lankan Army. The fort itself has been abandoned and left to the elements. The fort is accessible to the public. <ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/081123/Plus/sundaytimesplus_08.html Pooneryn’s past, By Prof. K. D. Paranavitana]
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{{NorthernLK-geo-stub}}
{{NorthernLK-geo-stub}}


[[Category:Towns in Poonakary DS Division]]
[[Category:Towns in Kilinochchi District]]
[[Category:Poonakary DS Division]]

Latest revision as of 16:31, 3 April 2024

Pooneryn
பூநகரி விமான நிலையம்,
පූනෙරිය
Pooneryn is located in Northern Province
Pooneryn
Pooneryn
Coordinates: 9°30′0″N 80°12′0″E / 9.50000°N 80.20000°E / 9.50000; 80.20000
CountrySri Lanka
ProvinceNorthern
DistrictKilinochchi
DS DivisionPoonakary

Poonakary or Pooneryn (Tamil: பூநகரி, romanized: Pūnakari; Sinhala: පූනෙරිය, romanized: Pūneriya),[1] is a strategically important village situated on the Jaffna Lagoon, directly across from the Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.[2]

Situated in the Vanni region, the town was colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century and a fort was constructed in the town due to its strategic location on the Jaffna Lagoon. It was later taken and expanded by the Dutch. According to 1770 records, it was square shaped with two bastions at opposite corners. The ramparts on each of the sides were about 30 metres in length. It was garrisoned until the late 18th century. The British built a rest house there in 1805.

Since 1983, and due to the Civil War, the town was garrisoned by the Sri Lankan Army. In 1993, the town was the site of a major battle during the civil war. During the battle, the LTTE attacked and failed to take the town. They did however managed to capture equipment such as assault rifles, ammunition, machine guns, mortars and even two T-55 tanks which proved to be vital to their forces. The town was later evacuated by the Sri Lankan Army due to tactical reasons in 1996. The LTTE occupied the town and maintained a garrison due to its strategic location. The fort was used during the Second Battle of Elephant Pass, where the LTTE bombed Elephant Pass from Poonakary and bombed soldiers who retreated to Jaffna. The town was recaptured by the Sri Lankan Army on November 15, 2008. The LTTE was beginning to collapse. The town has since then been garrisoned by the Sri Lankan Army. The fort itself has been abandoned and left to the elements. The fort is accessible to the public. [3] [4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Pū-nakari, Kuru-nakar, Pūjā-nagaraya, Devi-nuvara, Poḷon-naruva, Gan-noruva". TamilNet. September 21, 2007.
  2. ^ Maps of Pooneryn
  3. ^ Pooneryn’s past, By Prof. K. D. Paranavitana
  4. ^ Poonakari website

9°30′N 80°12′E / 9.500°N 80.200°E / 9.500; 80.200