Batticaloa is a city in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. Batticaloa is in the eastern coast of Sri Lanka on a flat coastal plain boarded by the Indian Ocean in the east occupies the central part of the eastern Sri Lanka. Batticaloa is on the 314 km from Colombo. The population of 515,707 consists mainly of Tamils, Moors, Sinhalese, Euro-Asian Burghers (specifically Portuguese Burghers and Dutch Burghers) and indigenous Vedda population.

Rice and coconuts are the two staples of the district, and steamers trading round the island call regularly at the port. The lagoon is famous for its "singing fish," supposed to be shell-fish which give forth musical notes. The district has a remnant of Veddahs or wild men of the wood.

  Land area    2,610 km² (1,008 sq mi)
  Inland water area   244 km² (94 sq mi)
  Total area   2,854 km² (1,102 sq mi)

 

 

 

 Scenic beauty of the Batticaloa is the Lagoons. Batticaloa district has three lagoons such as Batticaloa Lagoon, Valaichchenai Lagoon, and Vakari (Panichchankerni) Lagoon. Among these lagoon, Batticaloa Lagoon is the largest lagoon and has 56km long 162 square km area, extending from Pankudaweli in North and Kalmunai in South. There are several islands within the Batticaloa Lagoon such as Puliayantheevu, Buffaloa Island, Bone Island Many bridges are built across the lagoon connecting the landmasses and the islands. Land for sale in Batticaloa, The Puliayantheevu is the metropolitan place of the city. The biggest bridge of all is Lady Manning bridge located at Kallady, which is the main access path to the city from the southern places of the district. This bridge is also famous for Singing fishes which was considered musical sounds heard in the Kallady lagoon in the full moon day. A priest named Father Lang recorded this musical charm and broadcast it in the 1960s over the SLBC (Sri Lanka Broadcasting Cooperation)

 The Batticaloa city has four main divisions

  • Pullianthivu: Seat of many government department and offices, schools, banks religious places, General Hospital, Weber Stadium and Shops. Nowadays many NGO offices including ICRC, UN, UNICEF, WORLD VISION etc.are located also.
  • Koddamunai:  Schools, Banks, Sri Lanka Telecom regional office for East, Shops and many government offices are located. Two bridges called Perya Palam and Puthuppalam are connect Pulianthivu Island with Koddaminai land mass.
  • Kallady:  Here there are many Government buildings and private industries, schools, hospitals and Eastern University Medical Faculty. Kallady Lady Manning Bridge (the longest bridge in Sri Lanka) connects Kallady and Arasay.
  • Puthur: This is where the domestic airport of Batticaloa is located.

Batticaloa beaches are sandy and located along 4 km shoreline in the city and further extend through the neighboring places. Kallady beach, the popular serene beachfront where large numbers of people gather in the city. Also Batticaloa such as the heavenly beaches of Pasikudah 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. 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's climate is temperate all throughout the year. From March to May the temperature averages around 32 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit) maximum. These periods will be warmest throughout the year. During the monsoon season from November to February heavy rains are recorded, where the average temperature fallen to 15 degrees Celsius .Rainfall in Batticaloa averages around 1,400 millimeter (551 in).
 
Batticaloa News
» Sri Lanka: SLA conducts search operation in Batticaloa
Atleast six hundred soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) conducted a house to house search in Onththachchimadam in Batticaloa district from Sunday morning for several hours. Tension prevailed among residents of the village when the soldiers surrounded the village without allowing any one to leave their houses, sources in Batticaloa said.
» Sri Lanka: SLN constructs new coastal bases in Eastern Province despite protests
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is engaged in constructing many new bases along the coast in the districts of Ampaarai and Batticaloa in Eastern Province disregarding strong protests of local Tamil and Muslim people, sources in Batticaloa. Oluvil Mosque president Abubucker Lebbai Ismail expressed concern that new SLN bases in heavily populated places where there were none even during the war will cause ...
» Sri Lanka: SLA reintroduces checking of vehicles in Batticaloa
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has reintroduced checking of all vehicles passing through the main road in Batticaloa to Vaazhaichcheanai, Kalmunai and Verukal areas. This checking of civilians causes untold hardships during emergency travelling, residents express concern. Despite these checking by police and SLA, paramilitary gangs continue to rob and involve in other crimes, they added.
» Sri Lanka: STF appropriates Tamil land to erect Buddhist temple in Batticaloa
The Special Task Force (STF) in Batticaloa district, after asking the Kannaipuram Tamil villagers in Vellave'li DS division to vacate their lands to construct a Murugan Temple, has reportedly started unloading bricks, cements and sand for the construction of a Buddhist vihare.
» SRI LANKA: Fresh catch brings new life to former conflict zone
Source: IRIN Every day, more than 100 fishing boats launch into the waters off Panichchankerni in eastern Batticaloa District - four times the number when fighting re-erupted four years ago. Security restrictions meant boats could only go out at certain times, but these rules have been relaxed since the end of the war in May 2009.
» Travel industry poised for a spirited upsurge
Underpinning the tourist revival is the fact that Sri Lanka is emerging a popular destination for many seeking to fill their leisure amidst the countrys idyllic setting. The laid-back and the debonair are being increasingly lured to our shores as an assured place for respite or revelry.
» New rail bus service between Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa
The Government will launch a new rail bus service between Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa today under the "Negenahira Navodaya" program.The inauguration will take place at the Polonnaruwa railway station under the patronage of Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa, Transport Minster Kumara Welgama and Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake.
» Sri Lanka: SLA impedes INGOs work in Eastern Province
International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGO) sources say that their work is being hampered due to the interference by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). INGOs have been instructed by the SLA not to use stickers. INGOs use these stickers to identify their institutions to the SLA and other armed groups, sources in Batticaloa said.
» Boost for Northern transport
The North is entering the country's socio-economic mainstream after almost three decades. The Northern people, always industrious and persevering, are restarting their vocations and rebuilding their lives.
» Sri Lanka: SLA soldiers plunder produce of civilians in Batticaloa
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers intimidate the resettled civilians in Paduvaankarai area in Batticaloa district and take away their home produce without paying money, according to complaints made by the affected civilians to Sri Lanka government authorities. Despite complaints to government officials the SLA soldiers continue to rob the poor civilians of what they had managed to produce as no ...