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{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kankesanthurai
| native_name = காங்கேசன்துறை<br/>කන්කසන්තුරේ
| settlement_type = [[Town]]
| pushpin_map = Sri Lanka Northern Province#Sri Lanka
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = [[Sri Lanka]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Sri Lanka|Province]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Sri Lanka|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Jaffna District|Jaffna]]
| subdivision_type4 = [[Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka|DS Division]]
| subdivision_name4 = Valikamam North
| coordinates = {{coord|9|48|55|N|80|02|40|E|region:LK|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Kankesanthurai''' ({{Langx|ta|காங்கேசன்துறை|kāṅgēsanduṟai}}, {{Langx|si|කන්කසන්තුරේ}}, lit. ''Port Kankesan''), colloquially known as '''KKS''', is a port suburb, fishing division and resort hub of the [[Jaffna District]], [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka]]. Formerly an [[Kankesanthurai Electoral District|electoral district]], Kankesanthurai is home to the Kankesanthurai beach, [[Keerimalai]] [[Naguleswaram temple]] (a [[Pancha Ishwarams|Pancha Ishwaram]]) and the [[Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple]]. The port's harbour has served as an arrival and departure point for pilgrims since [[classical antiquity]] and is named after the Sri Lankan Tamil god [[Murukan]]. Kankesanthurai suburb has many fishing villages and [[Grama Niladhari]] (village officers) and is a northern part of [[Valikamam]], one of the three regions of ancient habitation on the [[Jaffna peninsula]], located on the peninsula's northern coast, 12 miles from [[Jaffna]] city, 85 miles from [[Mannar, Sri Lanka|Mannar]] and 155 miles from [[Trincomalee]].

A popular tourist destination for its temples, its [[sand]]y, [[palm tree]] filled coastal stretch of [[beach]] and the [[Keerimalai Springs]], other prominent [[landmark]]s in Kankesanthurai include the suburb's [[natural harbour]], its [[Kankesanthurai fort|fort]] and [[Kankesanthurai Lighthouse|lighthouse]].

==Etymology==
During the 8th century renovation of the [[Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple]] by the Chola-Pandyan princess Mathurapuraveeravalli, the temple's statue of Kankesan (Murugan) was brought via the port of Gayathurai which was later renamed Kankesanthurai in his honour.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Yatawara|first1=Dhaneshi|title=Surge of devotion reverberates the North|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2013/09/01/spe01.asp|work=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)]]|date=1 September 2013|access-date=14 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405123654/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2013/09/01/spe01.asp|archive-date=5 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Kovil|url=http://www.timeout.com/sri-lanka/attractions/maviddapuram-kandaswamy-kovil|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]}}</ref> Thurai means "port" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].

==History==
[[File:Overgrown Statues.jpg|thumb|right|The ancient main gopuram of the Keerimalai Naguleswaram Kovil, Kankesanthurai]]

During the civil war, the port at Kankesanturai was closed by the Sri Lankan Navy. Between 1983 and 1993, the northern part of the [[Valikamam]] region were declared a High Security Zone (HSZ) by the armed forces, where 6000 acres of land was confiscated around Kankesanthurai and all the residents (25,000 Tamil families) expelled, without compensation or return.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brady|first=Brendan|title=Soldiers at Your Service|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/roads/2013/08/sri_lankan_army_goes_into_tourism_business_after_crushing_the_tamil_tigers.html|newspaper=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=30 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|title=High-stakes zones|journal=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|date=18 January 2003|volume=20|issue=2|url=http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl2002/stories/20030131080202600.htm|author-link=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Asia Report No. 220 - Sri Lanka's North II: Rebuilding under the Military|url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/220-sri-lankas-north-ii-rebuilding-under-the-military.pdf|publisher=[[International Crisis Group]]|page=21|date=16 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814184301/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/220-sri-lankas-north-ii-rebuilding-under-the-military.pdf|archive-date=14 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="Lonely Planet, Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Stuart Butler, Iain Stewart 2014">{{cite book|author=Lonely Planet, Ryan Ver Berkmoes, Stuart Butler, Iain Stewart|year=2014|title=Lonely Planet Sri Lanka|publisher=Lonely Planet}}</ref> The temples were inside the HSZ and as a result its priests were evicted by the military.<ref name="NYT150313"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jansz|first1=Frederica|author-link1=Frederica Jansz|title=HSZs rock peace process|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20030105/issues.htm|work=[[The Sunday Leader]]|date=5 January 2003}}</ref> The temple's structures were bombed, most significantly Naguleswaram in 1990, and their contents looted.<ref name="NYT150313"/> Between 2002 and 2005, [[US]] military intelligence and military personnel visited the security zone, including Jaffna Airport and KKS harbour to review and inspect basing opportunities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Palaly: revamping a lifeline|url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/content/palaly-revamping-lifeline|work=[[Tamil Guardian]]|date=5 August 2005}}</ref> Following the end of the [[Sri Lankan civil war|civil war]] the military relaxed some restrictions on entering the HSZ, allowing priests and worshipers to return to the temples.<ref name="NYT150313">{{cite news|last1=Karafin|first1=Amy|title=Sri Lanka, as It Heals From War|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/travel/sri-lanka-as-it-heals-from-war.html?_r=0|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=15 March 2013}}</ref> The Maviddapuram Kandaswamy temple's 108-foot [[gopuram]] has been re-built but much of its 17th century structural renovations were destroyed during the civil war.<ref name="NYT150313"/>

==Historical Sites==
[[Naguleswaram temple]] is a famous [[Hindu temple]] of Kankesanthurai. One of the oldest shrines of the region, it is the northernmost shrine on the island of the [[Pancha Ishwarams]] of Lord [[Shiva|Siva]], venerated by Hindus across the world from classical antiquity.<ref name=TimeOut>{{cite web|title=Naguleswaram Temple|url=http://www.timeout.com/sri-lanka/attractions/naguleswaram-temple|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|date=3 March 2015}}</ref> Hindus believe its adjacent [[water tank]], the Keerimalai Springs, to have curative properties.<ref name=TimeOut/> Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple is towards the south of the harbour.
[[File:Keerimalai Springs.jpg|thumb|right|Keerimalai springs, Kankesanthurai]]
Freshwater at [[Keerimalai Springs]] is sourced from underground. "Maasi Magam" and “Aadi Amaavaasai” festival days, the latter falling during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month of “Aadi”]] (mid July-mid August) brings Hindu pilgrims to the town to carry out rituals for their forefathers and take a divine dip in the [[natural spring]]s. These rituals are usually carried out by men. Keerimalai is particularly famous for this festival.<ref name=TimeOut/>

[[Kankesanthurai fort]] was a small fort, built by the [[Dutch Ceylon|Dutch]] in the town. The fort was destroyed sometime after and there are no visible remains. Unlike other Dutch forts in Sri Lanka, there are no maps and little information remaining on the fort.<ref>{{cite book | author1=Nelson, W. A. | title=The Dutch Forts of Sri Lanka – The Military Monuments of Ceylon | publisher=Sri Lanka Netherlands Association | date=2004 | author2=De Silva, R. K. | pages=105}}</ref>

[[Kankesanthurai Lighthouse]],<ref name=UNC>{{Cite rowlett|lka|date=13 February 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kankesanturaï Light|url=http://wlol.arlhs.com/lighthouse/SLI12.html|publisher=[[Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lighthouse Explorer: Kankesanturai Light|url=http://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=6414|publisher=[[Lighthouse Digest]]}}</ref> built in 1893, is {{Convert|22|m|ft}} tall and has an octagonal masonry tower with lantern and gallery.<ref name=UNC/> Located deep inside the Sri Lankan military's Valikamam North High Security Zone and next to the naval base, the lighthouse was heavily damaged during the Sri Lankan Civil War and is inactive.<ref name=UNC/>

Kankesanthurai beach is acclaimed as one of the top two beaches of the Northern Province. A family-orientated sandy beach with palm trees and cool waters, the beach is non-crowded and natural from where views of the villagers' [[fisheries]] at the harbour, medieval architecture and the lighthouse are possible.<ref>{{cite web|title=KKS Beach Jaffna|url=http://www.timeout.com/sri-lanka/attractions/kks-beach-jaffna|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|date=9 Jan 2017}}</ref>

==Governance==
Kankesanthurai was an [[electoral district]] of [[Sri Lanka]] between [[1947 Ceylonese parliamentary election|August 1947]] and [[1989 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|February 1989]]. The district was named after the town. The [[Constitution of Sri Lanka|1978 Constitution]] of Sri Lanka introduced the [[proportional representation]] electoral system for [[Elections in Sri Lanka|electing]] [[Member of Parliament|members]] of [[Parliament of Sri Lanka|Parliament]]. The existing 160 mainly [[Plurality voting system|single-member]] electoral districts were replaced with 22 [[multi-member]] [[electoral district]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.lk/about_us/electoral_system.jsp |title=The Electoral System |publisher=[[Parliament of Sri Lanka]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127041829/http://parliament.lk/about_us/electoral_system.jsp |archive-date=2010-11-27 }}</ref> Kankesanthurai electoral district was replaced by the [[Jaffna Electoral District|Jaffna multi-member electoral district]] at the [[1989 Sri Lankan parliamentary election|1989 general elections]], the first under the PR system, though Kankesanthurai continues to be a polling division of the multi-member electoral district. Prominent [[Ceylon Tamil]] lawyer and politician [[S. J. V. Chelvanayakam]] stood as the [[All Ceylon Tamil Congress]] (ACTC) candidate for Kankesanthurai at the [[1947 Ceylonese parliamentary election|1947 parliamentary election]]. He won the election and entered [[Parliament of Ceylon|Parliament]].<ref name="pe47">{{cite web|url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/general-election-results/general-election-1947.pdf|title=Result of Parliamentary General Election 1947|publisher=Election Commission of Sri Lanka}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Economy and industry===
Kankesanturai was the site of fishing and manufacture industry in the 1900s, with the establishment of a [[cement factory]] that served the country. The factory commenced operations in 1950 under the Department of Industries and was converted to a Public Corporation in 1956, being named the [[Kankesan Cement Works]]. The factory closed its productions in 1991 due to the raging Northern war. In 2016, MPs from the [[Northern Provincial Council]] have expressed interest in reviving the plant with a green cement factory concept, using environmentally friendly cement technologies, with Sri Lanka Cement Corporation, the [[UAE]]-based Ras Al Khaimah and the [[South Korea]]n AFKO Group GMEX all linked to invest. Near the cement factory, the [[Koolair Power Station]], a pollutant fuel oil-run thermal power station that was moved to Kankesanthurai following noise complaints elsewhere, was similarly decommissioned following artillery damage during the war.<ref name=SundayTimes2002>{{cite news|title=Power drama in Jaffna peninsula: Dispute over insurance claim affects electricity supplies|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/020203/busm.html|access-date=8 November 2015|publisher=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|The Sunday Times]]|date=3 February 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Electricity shortage in Jaffna|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?artid=23780|access-date=8 November 2015|publisher=[[TamilNet]]|date=15 November 2007}}</ref>

[[Banana]] production, [[milk]] production at the [[yoghurt]] factory, [[Chili pepper|chilli]] and [[onion]] farming, market trade, hotel administration and boat journeys between Jaffna islets also generate income in the suburb but are all currently run as military businesses that have negatively impacted local enterprise through competitive pricing; The [[Society for Threatened Peoples]] notes that profit is returned to the MoD in Sri Lanka which pays soldiers' salaries in KKS.<ref>{{cite news|title=Under the Military's Shadow-Local Communities and Militirization on the Jaffna Peninsula |url=https://assets.gfbv.ch/downloads/bericht_jaffnafinal_low.pdf|access-date=29 January 2017|publisher=[[Society for Threatened Peoples]]|date=October 2016}}</ref>

Underwater [[shipwreck]]s have also impeded ship movements within the port's harbour.<ref name="R.K. Radhakrishnan">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2281691.ece|title=India, Sri Lanka MoU to re-build port|work=THE HINDU|author=R.K. Radhakrishnan|date=2011-07-21|access-date=2011-07-27}}</ref> Under an agreement signed in 2011, India has assisted in dredging the Kankesanthurai harbour to deepen it, remove the wrecks and turn Kankesathurai harbour international.<ref name="Patrick Peebles 2015 199">{{cite book|author=Patrick Peebles|year=2015|page=199|title=Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka|publisher=Rowman and Littlefield}}</ref>
[[File:Maviddapuram Kandaswamy temple.JPG|thumb|right|[[Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple]], whose eighth century [[Murukan]] statue gave the port district its name]]

==Geography and climate==
Kankesanthurai is on the north coast of the [[Jaffna Peninsula]], near [[Point Pedro]], the northernmost point in Sri Lanka. Its port is to the north, facing the [[Bay of Bengal]] in the [[Indian Ocean]].

The climate of Jaffna peninsula is considered to be tropical monsoonal with a seasonal rhythm of rainfall. The temperature ranges from 26 C to 33 C. Annual precipitation ranges from 696 mm to 1125 mm. The north east monsoon rain (October to January) accounts for more than 90% of the annual rainfall.

==Population==
A 2007 Department of Census and Statistics government report on population figures in the Jaffna district notes that Kankesanthurai Centre, Kankesanthurai West and Kankesanthurai South, as well as Naguleswaram and Maviddapuram are "High Security Zones" where there are no civilians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Basic Population Information on Jaffna District - 2007|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/Preliminary%20Reports%20Special%20Enumeration%202007/Basic%20Population%20Information%20on%20Jaffna%20District%202007.pdf|publisher=Department of Census and Statistics|access-date=2017-01-21|archive-date=2018-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123172335/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/Preliminary%20Reports%20Special%20Enumeration%202007/Basic%20Population%20Information%20on%20Jaffna%20District%202007.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2012, some return of internally displaced people and civilian life in the Valikamam North DS division was documented by the [[Northern Provincial Council]] in their statistics report, detailing dry ration issues, mine injuries and welfare centres in Kankesanthurai.<ref>{{cite web|author=R. Wijialudchumi|title=Statistical Information -2012 Provincial Planning Secretariat Northern Province|url=https://www.np.gov.lk/pdf/statinfor2012.pdf|publisher=Department of Census and Statistics}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Rail===
[[Kankesanthurai railway station]] is the terminus of the [[Northern Line (Sri Lanka)|Northern Line]] on the [[Sri Lanka Railways]] network. Until 1990, Kankesanthurai was the terminus of the [[Yal Devi]] service.<ref name="Dailynews">{{cite news | title =Dailynews | url =http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/03/24/news02.asp | work =President requests patriotic citizens: Join us in building Northern rail track | date =2009-03-24 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121021043821/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/03/24/news02.asp | archive-date =2012-10-21 }}</ref> During the war, trains terminated at [[Vavuniya]], leaving Kankesanthurai isolated from the national railway network. Kankesanthurai railway station was re opened in early 2015 and is functioning at present.

===Port===
The Port at Kankesanturai was closed during the war. In 2011, India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement to revive the port by clearing sunken ships and deepening the harbour. This should significantly lower the transit time of goods to and from the east coast of [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], and [[Myanmar]], and propel economic activity in the north.<ref name="R.K. Radhakrishnan" /> In October 2023 ferry service between the Kankesanturai Port and [[Nagapattinam]], [[Tamil Nadu]], began. The [[HSC Cheriyapani]] carries up to 150 passengers between India and Sri Lanka, making one round trip per day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 October 2023 |title=Commencement of passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka- A new landmark in regional connectivity |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/37188 |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=Ministry of External Affairs |agency=Government of India}}</ref>

===Air===
[[Jaffna International Airport]] {{Airport codes|JAF|VCCJ}} is an [[Military airbase|air force base]] and [[international airport]] in [[Palali, Sri Lanka|Palaly]] in northern [[Sri Lanka]] near Kankesanthurai.<ref>{{cite web|title=VCCJ KANKESANTURAI / Jaffna|url=http://www.airport.lk/AIS/62.htm|publisher=Aeronautical Information Services of Sri Lanka, Airport & Aviation Services|access-date=2017-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214195211/http://www.airport.lk/AIS/62.htm|archive-date=2013-12-14|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=JAF - Airport|url=http://www.gcmap.com/airport/JAF|publisher=Great Circle Mapper}}</ref> Located approximately {{Convert|16|km|miles|abbr=on}} north of the city of [[Jaffna]], the airport is also known as Palaly Airport and SLAF Palaly. Originally built by the [[Royal Air Force]] during [[World War II]], it served as the country's second [[international airport]] before being taken over by the [[Sri Lanka Air Force]]. [[Jaffna International Airport]] is the 3rd international airport in [[Sri Lanka]] after [[Bandaranaike International Airport]] in [[Colombo]] and [[Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport]] in [[Hambantota]].

==Education==
* Kankesanthurai Nadeswara College

==See also==
* [[List of ports in Sri Lanka]]
* [[Railway stations in Sri Lanka]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ports of Sri Lanka}}

[[Category:Towns in Jaffna District]]
[[Category:Valikamam North DS Division]]

Kankesanthurai - Revision history

imported>Obi2canibe: Undid revision 1295033912 by 2402:4000:2080:F248:10D6:65CA:882A:3E26 (talk) Removing unsourced content