Blog Archives

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 ...