Preliminary Survey of Tsunami-affected Monuments and Sites in the Maritime Region of Sri Lanka

PART SEVEN The Eastern Province

Prof. S. Maunaguru and

The Faculty of Arts and Culture Eastern University of Sri Lanka

March 2005

INTRODUCTION The Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara Districts, affected by the tsunami of 26 December 2004 lie on the East Coast. If the three affected districts on the East Coast are taken together, they account for more then 50 percent of the total displacement that occurred along the Sri Lankan coastline as a result of the tsunami. According to official figures up to January 2005, the largest number IDPs are from the Batticaloa and Ampara Districts. The Eastern University of Sri Lanka, which is located in Vantharumoolai, Batticaloa, was indirectly affected mostly because the students and staff of the Faculty of Arts and Culture were badly affected by the disaster. One third of the students were severely affected and some of them still live in camps for displaced persons. Of the members of the academic staff, 12 were severely affected and some are still living away from their homes. It took awhile for the staff to be able to get involved in academic work again. Due to this very difficult situation, the survey of damaged cultural property was not possible till March according to the request made by ICOMOS, Sri Lanka. This is also due to difficulties with transport as many roads and bridges are still in a dilapidated condition and the roads towards the coast in some places are still blocked by piles of garbage created by the tsunami. However, we were able to cover the three districts recently but need to emphasize that this is not a comprehensive survey covering all the sites in the three districts since we were unable to travel along the coastline of 267 kilometers, which is more than one third of the total coastline of Sri Lanka within the short time stipulated. The sites, which are covered in Trincomalee District, are those in and around the town. The places north and south of this area have not been listed in this survey. In the Ampara District, the sites, which are situated between Arugam Bay and Panama, have not been listed. Hence, these limitations should be noted by any agencies that would like to use this survey. This survey was carried out with the help of Ms. S. Ponniah and Mr. S. Varnagulasingam of the Department of Geography and Mr. B. Sugumar and Mr. Thayaparan of the Department of Fine Arts.

Trincomalee District Kandasamy Kovil District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Villoonry 244E Distance from the sea: 150m Damage shows a water mark of 1 foot.

Pathira Kali Amman Kovil District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Town Street Distance from the sea: 500m The temple was not damage much, a water mark of 2 feet remains. It was built in 1898.

Kannaki Amman Kovil District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: 242A Sally Distance from the sea: 10m Water mark: 4 ft Damage: Though the temple is very close to the sea it seems that the waves did not affect the temple.

Verukalambathy Kandasamy Kovil District: Trincomalee DS Division: Echilampattu GS Division: Verukal Distance from the sea: 1 km Old Commissioner Office District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Manayavely 244F Distance from the sea: 60 meters Shows a watermark of 2ft. It was built in 1940 and has been derelict for some time.

Old Library District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Manayavely 244F Distance from the sea: 10 m Address: Trincomalee. Has a watermark of 4ft and the building has suffered some damage. At present it has been functioning as an elders’ home. It was built in 1950.

MPCS Ltd Store District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Villoonry 244E Distance from the sea: 10 m Address: Trincomalee. The building has a watermark of 4ft and some damage. It was built in 1730 and is now derelict.

Museum (D.S Office) District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Villoonry 244E Distance from the sea: 20 m It is located on Inner Harbour Road, Trincomalee. There is a watermark of 2ft in the building which was built in 1820.

Christian Cemetery District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Villoonry 244E Distance from the sea: 750 m Located on Dockyard Road, Trincomalee it was built in 1790.

Old G.A Bungalow District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Manayavely 244F Distance from the sea: 80 m Built in 1945

Town Hall District: Trincomalee. DS Division: Town and Gravette GS Division: Manayavely 244F Distance from the sea: 50 m It is located on Fort Road, Trincomalee. The building suffered some damage and has a watermark of 2 ft. It was first built in 1940.

Batticaloa District The Old Lighthouse or Moddai Kori DS Division: Manmunai North. GN Division: Palameen Madu Grama Niladari unit (No: 1)

The Moddai Kori is located 350 meters from the sea. The sea is on the north east of the monument. The structure is built of red brick and lime with an iron girder placed on top. The height is about 25 feet. The monument is partly damaged. On the western side, close by, lies Thirai Madu which has been selected as a resettlement area to build permanent shelters for those displaced due to the tsunami. The structure itself is situated on private land.

Catholic Church - Kappalanthi Matha Kovil DS Division: Manmunai North. GN Division: Amirthakali GN Unit. (27) This monument is located within 800 meters of the sea and 15 meters from the Batticaloa Lagoon. The church was built in 1808 and rebuilt as a larger structure in 1822. It is built of red brick, limestone and various other materials. It was damaged before the tsunami. However the tsunami waves also affected the church and further damage has been caused.

Kadalaachi Amman Kovil DS Division: Manmunai North. GN Division: Navalady-171 A. The kovil is located 100 meters from the sea and 250 meters from the lagoon. It is situated between the sea and the lagoon on a small strip of land, and faces the sea. The temple was built in 1941. The temple is completely destroyed; the statues, pillars and other parts of the temple have been thrown all over the vicinity. The deity in this temple has been considered as the guardian goddess of the sea. This temple is a “sadangu kovil” which “opens the door” once a year.

Batticaloa Fort DS Division: Manmunai North. GN: Puliyanthivu North Unit (12) 1000 meters from the sea and 35 meters from the lagoon, the sea and the lagoon are on the eastern side of the Fort. The water level of the lagoon rose due to the tsunami and came up to the walls, but there was no damaged as the Fort is very well built. The Kachcheri Office of the District Secretary is situated within the Fort. Some parts of the building have already been altered for office use.

Koddaimunai Avuliya - (Burial Site of a Muslim Saint) D.S Division: Manmunai North G.N Division: Arasady –177a This mosque is situated about a kilometer from the sea on Lady Manning Drive, Batticaloa. It is 20 meters away from the Batticaloa Lagoon in which the tsunami caused waves and a corresponding rise in the water level. Water came into the compound and outer hall. This monument was built about 200 years ago. According to the oral history, the land had been given by an old woman who was living in the vicinity to bury the saint’s body. Later another Tamil who was living there built the structure. The site lies in a Muslim-Tamil neighbourhood. It is worshipped by both Muslims and Tamils. Unlike in mosques, flowers and oil lamps are used here to worship. Women also enter the outer hall of the mosque. This monument is a rare multicultural site. Extent of Damage: Due to the waves and the rise of the water level in the lagoon, the water came into the building. The paint on the walls has been damaged.

Arasady Pillaiyar Kovil DS Division: Manmunai North MN GN Division: Arasady 177a This kovil is situated near the Batticaloa market on the corner of Market Road and Arasady Pillaiyar Kovil Road. It is one kilometer from the sea and 100 meters north-west of the Batticaloa lagoon. The temple was built over ninety years ago. The history of the temple is interwoven with the history of the settlement of people from Jaffna near the market. Damage: water came into the temple. There is a water mark on the outer wall of the temple office.

Nagathambiran Kovil DS Division: Manmunai Pattu GN Division: Kirankulam North -24 The kovil is situated on Beach Road, Kirankulam, and 1500 meters away from the sea. The temple is about 60 years old according to local villagers. It is built with red brick, cement and clay. Damage: water came into the temple. It has been partly damaged.

Kallup Pillaiyar (Statue) DS Division: Manmunai South Eruvil Pattu GN Division: Kurukkal Madam North –24 This statue is situated on the Kalmunai Road, Kurukkal Madam. It is located about 600 meters from the sea. The statue measuring 3 feet and 9 inches was excavated about 50 years back when the ground was prepared for beetle leaf cultivation. In the same vicinity there were 10 stones measuring 2 feet in height. Three round stones were also found. Despite the distance from the sea, water came into the site.

Mariamman Kovil within the Sithy Vinayagar Temple Complex DS Division: Kaluvanchikudi GN Division: Cheddipalayam North-43 The kovil is situated on the Main Road, Cheddipalayam in Kaluvanchikudi and is located 300 meters away from the sea. It was built about 75 years ago. This building measures 12 feet by 12 feet and is 20 feet tall. Damage: About 2 feet of water came into the temple. It seems that the water struck with such force that the foundation was broken.

Periya Thampiran Kovil DS Division: Kalmunai GN Division: No: 1. The kovil is situated at Central Road, Periya Nilavanai, and 300 meters from the sea. Damage: Sea water about 6 feet in height came into the site. The parapet walls and the madappalli have been completely damaged.

BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS The unique environmental features of the eastern coast are the many lagoons, rivers, kallapus and thonas. From the early 20th century onwards a number of bridges, causeways and culverts have been constructed to facilitate road transport. During the tsunami these have been extensively damaged and the landscapes have also been altered. Oddamavadi Bridge District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu West, Valaichnai. GS Division: Ottamavady 208B, Distance from the sea: 700 meter This was built in 1922 and functions as a part of the A11 road.

Jetty Kalkudah Jetty District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu, Valaichnai. GS Division: Kalkudah 204 One of the oldest jetties, it was built in 1901. Even before the tsunami this jetty was not maintained and had been damaged. Further damage has been caused by the tsunami.

Lady Manning Bridge / Kallady Bridge DS Division: Manmunai North GS Division:

This bridge is the longest bridge in Sri Lanka built in 1922. It is part of the New Kalmunai Road which is a major road in the Eastern Province.

Extent of Damage: Huge waves passed through the bottom of the bridge which must have impacted on the pairs of pillars at the base of this bridge. Sand has also been dug out from the earth mounds which hold both sides of the bridge up. The impact of the waves would have added to the condition of the bridge, which has not been properly maintained for the past 25 years due to the war situation that prevailed in the district. An urgent impact assessment is needed to assess the damage.

Old Jetty, Kallady DS Division: MN GS Division: Kallady-171 This was built in the same year as the Fort. This jetty has not been in use since1922 since the building of the Kallady Bridge.

Verukal Pilliayar Kovil District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu North, Vakarai. GS Division: 212A Vakarai. North, Distance from the sea: 50 m The watermark in the temple is 16ft. Extensive damage has been caused by the tsunami. The temple had been constructed in 1912 and 1942.

Paalcheni Periyaswamy Kovil District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu North, Vakarai. GS Division: 212A Vakarai. North, Distance from the sea: 100 m Has a watermark of 10 ft and shows extensive damage but the inner sanctum remains intact. The temple is covered with tents at present. This temple was built in 1930.

St. Peter’s Church District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu North, GS Division: 212A Vakarai. North, Distance from the sea: 5 m Building shows a watermark of 20ft and extensive damage. Built in 1855, it was renovated in 1990 and again in 2003.

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Methodist Church District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu, Valachchenai. GS Division: Kalkudah 204, Distance from the sea: 125 m Address: Valachchenai. The church shows a watermark of 10ft and is damaged. It was built in 1920.

Munai Murugan Kovil District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu, Valachchenai. GS Division: Kalkudah 204, Distance from the sea: 100 m Address: Valachchenai. Has a watermark of 6ft and shows some damage. It was built in 1915. Shri Manikkap Pilliayar Kovil District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu, Valachchenai. GS Division: Kalkudah 204, Distance from the sea: 250 m The temple shows a watermark of 4 ft and some damage. It was built in 1946. Kalkudah Lighthouse District: Batticaloa DS Division: Koralaipattu, GS Division: Kalkudah 204, Distance from the sea: 10 m Has a watermark of 10 ft and suffered some damage. It was built in 1890 Puliyam Pokkal Avuliya District: Batticaloa DS Division: Manmunai North GS Division: Kallady Uppodai - 171B The distance from the sea is 1 km but, the mosque is situated on the Puliyam Pokkal Road very close to the Batticaloa lagoon.

It is situated in an entirely Tamil neighborhood opposite an abandoned military point. The land for the mosque was given by a Tamil family residing next to the site. The people consider this as very old and very powerful shrine. The ritual for the annual festival is conducted by the Muslims, but Tamils contribute money and participate in the festival.

Burial of the saint.

Ampara District

HOUSES House - 1 District :Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thambiluvil 1 Distance from the sea: 300 meters This house is situated on the Pottuvil main road. This two storied house would have been built in the 1940s. The house has front and back verandahs and wooden pillars. This is an L shape building measuring 39x35 feet. Both sides have stair cases leading to the 2nd floor which is made of wood. The upper floor is also built of wood. The building at present has been used as a shop. The house has not been maintained for a number of years. The water came into the building but did not cause any damage.

House- 2 District: Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thambiluvil-2-west Situated on School Road, it is located 75 meters from the sea. This is a very old house built in 1907. It is 40x28 feet and L shaped in plan. The front and right side verandahs have pillars made of brick. There is extensive wood work in the Calicut tiled roof. There is extensive damage to this house.

CEMETARY Most of the cemeteries on the sea coast have been damaged very badly by the tsunami. Sinnamuhattuvaram cemetary DS District: Ampara DS Division: Aalaiyadi vembu GS Division: Aalaiyadi vembu – 9 Distance from the sea 25 meters An old cemetery situated on the Pottuvil Road it is used by both Catholics and Hindus. Catholics are buried on the left side and the Hindus are on the right side. It has many monuments but is extensively damaged.

Sinnamuhattuvaram Causeway District: Ampara DS Division: Aalaiyadi vembu GS Division: Aalaiyadi vembu – 9 Distance from the sea is 10 meters. Situated on the Pottuvil Road at a distance of 10 meters from the sea, it has Thampatti on one side and Thampiluvil on the other side. It was constructed 75 years back but has now been damaged. Periyamuhathuvaram District: Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thambiluvil Distance from the sea: 10 meters Situated on the Pottuvil Road, this is a very beautiful place. However on the right side of the causeway there are big holes in the ground. An impact assessment is needed.

Vera Latherer Kovil District: Ampara DS Division: Karaitivu GS Division: Karaitivu - 2 Distance from the sea 100 meters. Situated on the Vipulananda School Road this kovil has suffered extensive damage.

Sittanaikkuti Kovil District: Ampara DS Division: Karaitivu GS Division: Karaitivu - 3 Distance from the sea is 300 meters. Situated on Beach Road, this temple is dedicated to a yogi Sittanaikutti Sami. The kovil is named after him. On the left side in the same compound are situated Kaliamman and Murugan temples. The Kaliamman temple is the oldest of the temples here.

Sithy Vinayagar Kovil DS District: Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thampatti-2 The kovil is situated on the Pottuvil Road at a distance of 300 meters from the sea. The people in the vicinity informed us that the sea had taken away the old temple. The new temple that was built about ten years ago still remains. According to our informants, a total number of 138 women and children were killed in the vicinity of the kovil.

Thampatti Murugan Kovil District: Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thampatti-1 Distance from the sea: 50 meters. The kovil is situated on the Pottuvil Road. This is a very old temple and is 5x4 meters in extent. A new temple has been built adjoining it. The water came up to 7 feet inside the temple. Across the road, 10 meters from the sea is a huge Bo tree, which used to provide shade where people gathered during the temple festival season. Many people climbed up on the tree and survived the waves. However, the tree died and what remains now is the dried tree trunk.

Thalaiyadi Sivan Temple District: Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thambiluvil North Distance from the sea: 50 meters. Situated on the Pottuvil Road, eight feet of water came in to the temple. The temple has been completely damaged & destroyed. It was built in 1945. Kaluthavalai Sivalingap Pillaiyar Kovil District: Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thambiluvil 01 Distance from the sea: 200 meters. Situated on the Pottuvil Road, six feet of water came in to the temple. Halls, walls, the well and the madam have been damaged. The kovil was built in the 1950s.

Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman Kovil District: Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thambiluvil - 2 Distance from the sea: 350 meters. It is situated on the Pottuvil Road. This is a very popular old temple dedicated to Goddess Pathini. The temple still retains the old rituals during the “sadangu”- annual festival. The priest of the temple said that many women with children climbed the roof of the kovil to escape from the water which rose to about 5 feet inside the temple.

Thirukkovil Sithira Velayuthar Kovil District: Ampara DS Division: Thirukkovil GS Division: Thirukkovil Distance from the sea: 50 meters This is a very popular temple connected with the history of migration in the east. Huge waves struck the temple. There are cracks in the walls .The parapet walls had been completely destroyed and rebuilt by the temple trustee. Many houses around, including an open air theater in front of the temple have been damaged extensively. However, people believe that the temple is unharmed and that this is due to the power of god Murugan/Skandha. There are stone inscriptions within the temple which have been read earlier by Sri Lankan historians. They have been exposed by the tsunami.

Aaladippilliar Kovil District: Ampara DS Division: Pottuvil DS Division: Vatuveli Distance from the sea is 700 meters and the temple is situated in the middle of villages in which Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese live. Built in the 1950s the temple is very popular among the people who live around it.

Kadatkarai Palli Vaasal (Beach Mosque) District: Ampara DS Division Kalmunai GS Division : Kalmunai -2 This is situated in the Kalmunaikudi village about 25 meters from the sea. One of the oldest mosques in the area its history is related to a saint. It is believed to have been built about 168 years ago.