Much of Mannar District was under the control of rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for many years during the civil war.

Aruvi Aru is the second longest river in Sri Lanka and runs through Mannar and Anuradhapura districts.

[citation needed] The dugong is a medium-sized marine mammal which is found in Mannar Bay, Nachchikuda, Jaffna island and near Adam's Bridge.

IUCN conservation status is vulnerable because of over-hunting for food and accidental capture in fishing nets.

[citation needed] A critically endangered tarantula species known as Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica was first found from Sri Lanka in Mannar region.

The population of the district, like the rest of the north and east of Sri Lanka, has been heavily affected by the civil war.

Portuguese rule introduced Christianity and Hindu temples were simply changed into Catholic Churches and Forts.

The whole of southern coastal India and western coast of Sri Lanka is a Catholic stronghold from the time of Portuguese colonisation.

Now, Sri Lanka's western coast is predominantly Buddhist while most coastal regions of India practise Hinduism except Goa.

Alleged recent human rights violations by Sri Lanka Army and the LTTE attacks have brought it to the media attention internationally.

The new Thiruketheeswaram is built after the independence and it houses all the archeological finds of Hindu artefacts unearthed in the area.

In 1503, Vasco Da Gama expelled all the Muslims during his rule of Indian Portuguese Territory as part of the war against Turkey and its allies.

Human tragedy of 1990 involved in the expulsion resulted in Muslims walking 50 kilometers to the safety of Puttalam through Wilpattu National Park.

The strategic advantages derive from obtaining a navigable sea route close to the coast, with a reduction in travel distance of more than 350 nautical miles (650 km) (for larger ships).

The Tamil Nadu Government has announced its proposal to develop 13 minor ports, including Ennore, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thondi, Valinokam, Kolachel and Kanyakumari.

Development of the canal and ports is also expected to provide increased maritime security for Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

As such a hundred million dollar project needs to be started to build a modern harbour in Mannar to compete.