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Geological Features at Kudiramalai (2006) |
Kudiramalai (Sinhala: කුදිරමලය; Tamil: குதிரைமலை) is a cape and an ancient seaport on the western coast within the Wilpattu National Park in Puttalam District, Sri Lanka. The famous Battalangunduwa Island is located nearly 10 km west of this cape point.
History
According to the great chronicle Mahavamsa, Prince Vijaya (6th century B.C.) who set sail from India with his followers arrived in Sri Lanka at a place where the soil is copper colour (Wimalaratana, 2023). After resting on the shore, they noticed that their palms were a copper colour due to the copper-colored soil (Goonatilake, 2006; Wimalaratana, 2023). Therefore, they named the island "Tambapanni" because of the color (Wimalaratana, 2023). The soil near the shore at Kudiramalai is also copper-colored, hence it is firmly believed that the place where Prince Vijaya first set foot in Sri Lanka was between the Kudiremalai point and Moderagam Ara mouth (Goonatilake, 2006; Thanh & Asanka, 2025; Wimalaratana, 2023). The chronicle further says that Vijaya met Kuweni, a Yakkha tribe princess who is believed to be lived in Kalavillu (see: Kuveni Palace Ruins) presently located within the Wilpattu National Park (Goonatilake, 2006; Thanh & Asanka, 2025).
The first capital of Sri Lanka, established by Prince Vijaya, was known as Tambapanni (Brodie, 1853). Brodie noted that the site was located about six to eight miles east of Puttalam, where only a few rough pillars and slabs scattered randomly (Brodie, 1853). The area also served as a natural harbour opening into the Gulf of Mannar, which was once world-renowned for its pearl banks and was referred to by the ancient Greeks as the harbour of "Hipporus" [(composed of the Greek words Hippos, a horse, and oros, a mountain) Goonatilake, 2006; Wimalaratana, 2023].
The Roman historian Pliny the Elder (23/24-79 A.D.) mentions about the "Hipporus" harbour and about a settlement in close vicinity to a hill, which is most likely the Kudiramalai Mountain (Thanh & Asanka, 2025; Wimalaratana, 2023). During the reign of King Candamukha Siva (43-52 A.D.) of Anuradhapura, a freedman of Annius Plocamus, who managed the Red Sea customs for his Emperor Claudius Caesar (41-54 A.D.), was blown off course by northern monsoon winds while sailing along Arabia (Brohier, 1929; Weerakkody, 1987). After passing Carmania, he reached Hippuros on the fifteenth day (Goonatilake, 2006; Thanh & Asanka, 2025; Weerakkody, 1987; Wimalaratana, 2023). The king is said to have treated him kindly and later sent several representatives to meet the Roman Emperor (Weerakkody, 1987).
Kudiramalai is recorded in the Portuguese sources as Grudumale (Ribeiro, 1999).
Legends
According to local legends, a princess named Allirani or Alliarasani ruled the Kudiramale area (Brohier, 1929).
Terrorist Attack
Since the 1980s, the Kudiramalai area was under the influence of the cadres of LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), a militant group designated as a terrorist organization by a number of countries including Sri Lanka, India, the USA and the EU. On 16 March 1994, approximately 10 boats that had gone for fishing close to Kudiramale Point were attacked by LTTE, killing 17 Sinhalese fishemen and wounding 3 (Bandara, 2002). LTTE was finally defeated by the government forces in 2009.
Geology
Kudiramalai Cape is a high cliff about 225 m tall consisting of two strata of tertiary sandstone in the upper layer (Goonatilake, 2006). It is overlaid with littoral sands forming some dunes, and interspersed with rich alluvial earth (Goonatilake, 2006). Towards the interior, the rocks change in character from Jaffna limestone to Vijayan series, which is a complex conglomerate of super-crystal rocks, including crystalline limestone and granitic gneiss (Goonatilake, 2006).
Remnants of Ancient Structures
Broken bricks, pottery, building materials, and remnants of old buildings can be seen in the Kudiramalai site and surrounding areas (Wimalaratana, 2023). However, most of the ruins were washed away by frequent high waves (Wimalaratana, 2023). Towards the north from Kudiramalai, there is a dilapidated structure. According to locals, it is the ruins of a statue of a man on horseback. Also a structure of about 40 ft long which is said to be a tomb of Muslim prophet is found near the shore.
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References
Books, Journal Articles
1) Bandara, C.M., 2002. Lionsong: Sri Lanka's Ethnic Conflict. Sandaruwan Madduma Bandara. p.255.
2) Brodie, A. O., 1853. Statistical Account of the District of Chilaw and Puttalam, North-Western Province, Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, II (6): 123-141.
3) Brohier, R.L., 1929. Notes on an ancient habitation near Kudiramalai. The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, 31(82), pp.388-397.
4) Goonatilake, W.L.D.P.T.S. de A., 2006. Archaeologically important sites in Vilpattu National Park: present status and new findings. National Archaeological Symposium 2006: Papers submitted to the National Archaeological symposium. 1. pp.58,66.
5) Ribeiro, J., 1999. The Historic Tragedy of the Island of Ceilāo. Asian Educational Services. p.5.
6) Thanh, D.T. and Asanka, H.G.L., 2025. Deforestation an ditsimpacton tourism in WillPattu National Park. Holist. Appr. Ment. Health Wellness, 1, pp.1-28.
7) Weerakkody, D.P.M., 1987. Sri Lanka and the Roman Empire. Modern Ceylon Studies, Vol. 2 ,No. 1 & 2, 1987, pp.21-32.
8) Wimalaratana, W., 2023. Cultural Tourism Potential in the Northwestern Province of Sri Lanka. Colombo Economic Journal (CEJ) Volume 1 Issue 1.
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Attribution
To Whom
LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Mr Kithsiri Gunawardena for providing the necessary photographs (published in www.wilpattu.com) required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
