Karaitivu (Tamil: காரைதீவு, romanized: Kāraitīvu; Sinhala: කාර දිවයින Kãra Divaina) is an island off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) north-west of the city of Jaffna.

This island is referred to in the 12th-century Rameswaram Sinhala inscription of King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.) as "Kãra Divaina".

[3] The Nampota, an ancient Sinhala text written after the 14th century also mentions this island as Kãra Divaina.

[1][7] Extended in an area of 22.95 square kilometres (8.86 sq mi), the island is divided into nine village officer divisions whose combined population was 9,576 at the 2012 census.

[2] Karaitivu is connected to Jaffna peninsula by a causeway and there is a ferry service from Kayts on the neighbouring island of Velanaitivu.