Stories Behind Names of Places in Sri Lanka: HALAWATHA – By Dr. Nimal Sedera
Source : Dæhæna – Monthly e-Newsletter October 2022
“Halawatha” is a famous city in the North -Western province of Sri Lanka. This is one of the few cities that received a different name in English due to the pronouncing difficulties of the white rulers that invaded Sri Lanka. They called this city CHILAW, like calling the city “kanda” KANDY and Megamuwa” NEGAMBO. HALAWATHA the coastal city is well known for fishing. The birth of the name to this place is linked to the time the country was under the Sri Lankan Kings. There had been a provincial ruler appointed by the King who happened to be born to a Muslim mistress of the King. Understandably, the Sinhala people did not like to be ruled by a leader with a different cultural background.
To overcome this situation astrologers were consulted and they advised to perform some pooja and offerings to
deities. But the provincial leader did not want to get the Sri Lankan black magic people to perform this task as they were not faithful to him and decided to get the help from black magic people in a place called SALA in India. So, he sent people to contact them. But they refused the invitation.
The provincial leader was so keen to get them, that he performed a trick. He knew that the people who refused to come were fond of gambling. So, to motivate them he arranged gambling, and the information was sent to them. This time they accepted the offer and arrived in Sri Lanka.
The place where people from SALA arrived was identified as “Sala Ava”. Over time, it evolved to be HALAWATHA.
Dr. Nimal Sedera
Dr. Sedera is a journalist, poet, motivational speaker and an author of over 70 books
