Batticaloa

Batticaloa

Batticaloa is the English name for “Mattak Kalappu” the regional capital of eastern in srilanka. The Dutch that ruled the maritime provinces of srilanka after defeating the Portuguese called the eastern capital town batticaloa. In dutch then the English letter “M” was used as “B” batticaloa is situated 314km (195 Miles) from Colombo on the east coast. It occupies the central part of eastern  Sri lanka and covers a land area of approximately 2633.1 squre km the district accounts for 3.8% of the countries total land area. The precent ‘mattak Kalapu’ town was not the original ‘Mattak Kalapu’ the old town was situated 30 miles a way in south.

Batticcaloa stands on a long , sandy spit of land pointing northward and separated from the mainland by a large brackish lagoon which extends southward for many kilometers. The charms of Batticaloa souch as the heavenly beaches of passikudah and kalkudah have rarely been molested. Pasikudah is a bay protected from the ocean. The significance of pasikudah is that its bed is flat and sandy and has a pleasant effect on the feet. this can be experienced up to nearly 150 to 200 meters from the shore .the sea bed is short on rock deposits, however it consists of sea cucumbers, which resemble a baby pool. if one has to get his chest or neck wet, he or she might  have to walk for more than 100 meters outward. Pasikudah is an ideal location for those who wish to learn swimming. Pasikudah is in perfect harmony with its stunning natural setting on the island’s eastern tip. With its atmosphere of rarefied tranquility, it is a place for relaxation and renewal.

Batticaloa is famous for its singing fish- the musical sound are heard in the lagoon near the kaladyleady meaning bride wean the night is lit by a near full moon and minimum win a priest name farther lank recoded this musicale charm and broadcast it in the 1960s over the SLBC (sri lanka broadcasting corporation ) if you are lucky. On a moon light , night you may hear the singing fish which are heard to sing in the night in the baticola lagoon which traverses though the district extending 73.5km.to verugal in the north from baticolo town and all so extending from the town 35.2km. From the south up to thuraineelavanai. A major part of the population is concentrate in the narrow district between the see and the lagoon. The western potion of the lagoon is sparsely populated and 90% of the paddy lands are found in this area. A major potion of the population is coppice seconded place in the social structure. How ever, lagoon fishing as well as coastal fishing take and impotent place in the day to day lives of the people.

Baticolo lagoon presents unique opportunities for boating, fishing and bird watching. Moreover their is the added attraction that the forbidding crag of friar’s hood dominates the surrounding scenery. Although it is not the largest lagoon in sri lanka area wise, its navigable for a longer distance than any other.