# Kayts

Kayts (Tamil: ஊர்காவற்துறை, romanized: Ūrkāvaṟtuṟai, Sinhala: කයිට්ස්, romanized: kayiṭs), is one of the important small island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka. There are a number of other villages within the Kayts Island such as Allaippiddi, Mankumpan, Velanai, Saravanai, Puliyankoodal, Suruvil, Naranthanai, Karampon and Melinchimunai.
Most of the people are Tamils. There are a number of Hindu temples as well as churches and a mosque. The island is also served by a dozen schools.
Since 1983 Kayts Island has also been the scene of violence as part of the Sri Lankan Civil War, including the Allaipiddy massacre. On 8 August 1992, Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and Commodore Mohan Jayamaha were killed along with several senior army and navy officers when their Land Rover hit a land mine off Araly Point in Kayts.

## Etymology

The name Kayts is of colonial origin, derived from the Portuguese "Caes dos Elefantes" meaning "Elephant's Quay", often just shortened to Cais. It was named such because elephants were shipped from here to India. The present term evolved further as Kayts under Dutch rule.
The native Tamil name Ūrkavathurai means "Port which guards the Country". This name is again derived from the original Tamil term Ūrathurai, derived from the Tamil words Uru meaning "ship" or "schooner", and thurai meaning "port". The earliest reference to this is found in two Tamil inscriptions of the 12th century AD, one found in Thiruvalangadu, Tamil Nadu issued by Rajadhiraja Chola II and one found in Nainativu issued by Parakramabahu I.
Other scholars derive the name from the Pali name Ūrātota meaning "Pig port", referring to a legend surrounding the Śakra Buddhist deity, who swam from India to this place in the form of a pig. Earliest reference to this is found in the Pali chronicle Pujavaliya of the 13th century AD.

## History

The earliest inscription mentioning Kayts or Ūrathurai is that of a Tamil Chola inscription of the 12th century AD discovered in Fort Hammenhiel, referring to the 9th century AD Chola general of the King Parantaka Chola II, who was defeated in a battle field in Kayts. The 13th century AD Pali chronicle Pujavaliya, mentions that Mahinda IV defeated a Tamil general who landed at Hurātota from the Cola country. A Tamil 12th century AD inscription issued by Rajadhiraja Chola II found in Thiruvalangadu, Tamil Nadu also mentions the Chola King taking elephants from Kayts and other places such as Valikamam and Mattivazh.
Archeological remains found in Kayts indicates that Kayts was a harbour for foreign vessels. The Tamil 12th century AD inscription of Nainativu issued by Parakramabahu I mentions Kayts as a port where foreigner must first land for trading.
Kayts was part of the Jaffna Kingdom. Under the chieftainship of Migapulle Arachchi, did a group of Christians revolt against the Jaffna King Cankili II, who thereupon sought refugee in Kayts and asked the Portuguese for assistance.

## Places of Worship

* Naranthanai Thanthonri Manonmani Amman Temple
* Naranthanai Saravanai Karnanthoddam Subramaniyaswamy Temple
* Thambaddy Nunipuram Muththumari Amman Temple
* Karampon Oluvil Gnana Vairavar Temple
* Karampon Kannaki Amman Temple
* Melai Karampon Murugamoorthy Temple
* Karampon Ganapatheeswarar Temple
* Paruthiyadaippu Thevankanai Pillaiyar Temple
* Naranthanai St Peter and St Paul's Church
* Our Lady of Lourdes Church
* Karampon St. Sebastian’s Church
* Our Lady of Vellankanni Church (Karampon)
* Christ The King Church (Melinchimunai)

## Education

* Naranthanai Roman Catholic Maha Vithyalayam
* Naranthanai Ganesha Vidyalayam
* Little Flower Convent, Karampon
* Shanmuganatha Vidyalayam, Karampon
* St. Antony's College, Kayts
* Thampaddy Government Tamil Mixed School (தம்பாட்டி அரசினர் தமிழ் கலவன் பாடசாலை)