Vavuniya

The gateway town of the northern dry zone, a busy crossroads between the Sinhalese south and the Tamil north, ringed by ancient temples and tranquil reservoirs.

Overview

Vavuniya is the main town of the northern dry zone and the first major stop on the A9 highway and the northern railway line as they head towards Jaffna. Long a meeting point of Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese communities, its bustling market streets are overlooked by a landmark mosque, a colourful Murugan kovil and a small but rewarding archaeological museum. Around the town lie ancient Buddhist ruins at Madukanda and a scatter of large irrigation tanks that draw waterbirds at dawn and dusk. Less a destination in itself than a friendly base and transit hub, Vavuniya offers an authentic taste of everyday life in Sri Lanka's Vanni region.

History

Vavuniya takes its name from the 'Vanni' forests that once covered this thinly settled frontier, historically governed by local Vanni chieftains between the Sinhalese kingdoms of the south and the Tamil kingdom of Jaffna. Its significance grew with the building of the northern railway and the A9 road, which made it the principal town of the Vanni. During the long civil conflict it became a heavily militarised border and transit point between government- and rebel-held territory, and since the war's end in 2009 it has re-emerged as a busy commercial crossroads and the administrative centre of Vavuniya District.