# Jaffna > capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka **Wikidata**: [Q215277](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q215277) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaffna) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jaffna ## Summary Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, located in the Jaffna District. It is a historically significant urban center with a population of 88,138 as of 2012, and serves as both a regional administrative hub and a cultural landmark. The city covers an area of 20.2 square kilometers and is known for its distinct Tamil heritage and coastal geography. ## Key Facts - Jaffna was founded in 1621. - Population: 88,138 (as of 2012). - Area: 20.2 square kilometers. - Elevation: approximately 5 meters above sea level. - Coordinates: 9.6647° N, 80.0167° E. - Timezone: UTC+05:30. - Capital of the Northern Province and Jaffna District. - Located in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. - Official languages include Tamil. - Native labels: யாழ்ப்பாணம் (Tamil), යාපනය (Sinhala). - Pronunciation audio available in Tamil: [LL-Q5885 (tam)-Sriveenkat-யாழ்ப்பாணம்.wav](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/LL-Q5885_(tam)-Sriveenkat-யாழ்ப்பாணம்.wav) - Official website: [jaffna.mc.gov.lk](https://jaffna.mc.gov.lk/) - Jaffna is referenced in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and has an entry in Encyclopædia Britannica Online under "place/Jaffna-Sri-Lanka". - Jaffna is known by several names including Yalpanam, Yalpanapattinam, 贾夫纳, Yazhpanam, Jafanapatão, Jaffnapatam, and جفنا (Sri Lanka). - Hosts a subreddit: [r/Jaffna](https://www.reddit.com/r/Jaffna) (established 2013-09-20). - Notable IDs: GeoNames ID 1242833, Freebase ID /m/0266536, VIAF ID 168085174, GND ID 4436804-5, FAST ID 1213731. - Jaffna is categorized under various encyclopedic and library systems including Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF), Library of Congress, and others. - Jaffna is featured in multiple languages on Wikipedia, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Tamil. ## FAQs ### What is the history of Jaffna? Jaffna was established in 1621 and has since grown into a significant cultural and administrative center in Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Northern Province and Jaffna District, and has a rich history tied to Tamil culture and colonial influences. ### What are the official names and languages of Jaffna? Jaffna is officially known as "யாழ்ப்பாணம்" in Tamil and "යාපනය" in Sinhala. The primary spoken language is Tamil, reflecting the city's cultural identity. ### What is the geography and climate of Jaffna? Jaffna is located at 9.6647° N, 80.0167° E, with an area of 20.2 km² and an elevation of about 5 meters above sea level. It lies in the UTC+05:30 timezone. ### What is the population of Jaffna? As of 2012, the population of Jaffna was 88,138. ### What are the major identifiers and references for Jaffna? Jaffna is identified by GeoNames ID 1242833, Freebase ID /m/0266536, and is listed in multiple international databases including the Library of Congress, VIAF, and BnF. ### What is the administrative structure of Jaffna? Jaffna serves as the capital of both the Northern Province and Jaffna District. The city's official website is [jaffna.mc.gov.lk](https://jaffna.mc.gov.lk/). ### What is the cultural and linguistic significance of Jaffna? Jaffna is a hub of Tamil culture, with Tamil as its official language. It is also home to a diverse array of cultural and linguistic influences, reflected in its aliases and historical references. ### What is the digital presence of Jaffna? Jaffna has a subreddit (r/Jaffna) and is featured in multiple language versions of Wikipedia. It also has a dedicated page on OpenStreetMap and is referenced in numerous encyclopedias and knowledge bases. ## Why It Matters Jaffna holds significant historical, cultural, and administrative importance in Sri Lanka. As the capital of the Northern Province, it is a focal point for regional governance and cultural identity. The city is also a repository of Tamil heritage, with its own linguistic, religious, and educational institutions. Its historical resilience, particularly through conflict and reconstruction, underscores its role in national reconciliation and cultural preservation. ## Notable For - Being the capital of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. - Its historical founding in 1621. - Serving as a cultural epicenter for Tamil communities. - Hosting a diverse population of 88,138 as of 2012. - Its low elevation and coastal location. - Presence in multiple international databases and encyclopedias. - A subreddit community established in 2013. - Pronunciation guides and native language identifiers in both Tamil and Sinhala. - A city with a rich cartographic and administrative history. ## Body ### History Jaffna was founded in 1621 and has since played a central role in the cultural and administrative life of Sri Lanka's Northern Province. The city's history is deeply interwoven with Tamil traditions, colonial influences, and its strategic coastal location. It has been referenced in historical texts such as the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and continues to be a subject of global encyclopedic interest. ### Geography and Demographics Jaffna is located at 9.6647° N, 80.0167° E, and covers an area of 20.2 square kilometers. It lies just 5 meters above sea level, making it a low-lying coastal city. The city's population was recorded as 88,138 in 2012. It is the capital of both the Northern Province and Jaffna District. ### Language and Culture Tamil is the official language of Jaffna, with native names including "யாழ்ப்பாணம்" (Tamil) and "යාපනය" (Sinhala). The city's cultural identity is preserved in its linguistic heritage, with pronunciation guides and educational resources available in Tamil. Jaffna also hosts a subreddit community (r/Jaffna) and is featured in multiple language versions of Wikipedia. ### Administrative and Digital Presence Jaffna is the administrative capital of the Northern Province and Jaffna District. It maintains a digital presence through its official website [jaffna.mc.gov.lk](https://jaffna.mc.gov.lk/) and is cataloged in international databases such as GeoNames (ID 1242833), Freebase (/m/0266536), and the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF ID 168085174). It is also listed in the Library of Congress (n81063327) and Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF ID 131774271). ### International Recognition Jaffna is recognized globally through its inclusion in the Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Universalis, and the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana. It is also listed in the Great Russian Encyclopedia (ID 1951697) and has a dedicated entry in the BBC Things database (ID bccfc8db-9e84-443f-81f8-f3e056b79031). ### Related Entities and Identifiers Jaffna is known by various names including Yalpanam, Yalpanapattinam, 贾夫纳, Yazhpanam, Jafanapatão, and Jaffnapatam. It is referenced in the Quora topic "Jaffna-Sri-Lanka" and is associated with the Curlie ID for regional categorization in Asia/Sri Lanka/Northern/Jaffna. The city is also linked to the Groves Art Online (ID T043220) and Who's On First (ID 421195701). ## References 1. [Source](https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/samuel-james-velupillai-s-j-v-chelvanayakam-fonds) 2. BnF authorities 3. Virtual International Authority File 4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 5. GeoNames 6. BBC Things