Tellippalai or Thellippalai (Tamil: தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai[1]) also known as Tillypalli (தில்லைப்பள்ளி) is a small town in the northern Jaffna District of Sri Lanka.

It is located about 15 kilometers north of Jaffna town along the Kankesanthurai road In the middle part of 20th century Tellippallai town had become an administrative and commercial hub for the surrounding villages of Ampanai, Kollangkaladdi, Veemankamam, Varuthalaivilan and Mathanai.

An Indian princess from Tamil Nadu Maaruthap Piravaakavalli or Maruthapura Veeravalli got cured of her disease at Keerimalai springs Naguleswaram temple and settle down at Tellippalai for some time.

During the time of King Thondaiman in Tamil Nadu, three families with following family names apparently settled down at Tellippalai: Sampaka mappanan, Santhirasekara maappanan and Kanakarayan [2] The province of Belligamme [Valligamam] has 14 Churches, the chief where-of is Telipole a large structure, with a double row of Pillars; the House thereunto belonging is the work of the Jesuits, beautifyeo with a pleasant Garden, handsome Court and most delicious Vineyards affording most sorts of Indian Fruits, and water’d with several springs .

American Ceylon Mission established number of churches and Christian schools in Jaffna District which provided western education.

[4] The First English School of Jaffna, which led to Union College, Tellippalai was founded in Dutch Hall in 1816 by the Rev.

At that time, the bitter consequences of the War of 1812 had soured the feelings of the governor of the British colony of Ceylon, Robert Brownrigg, against all Americans.

Samuel Newell arrived on 7 September 1813 on the Jaffna peninsula and occupied the Tellippilai Union premises, which at that time consisted of dilapidated and snake-infested structures dating back to the Portuguese of the 16th century.

He was a Professor of Tamil at University of Peradeniya and University of Jaffna Tellipalai Rajaratnam or Wanarajah Rajaratnam, former Supreme Court judge and Member of Parliament I. P. Thurairatnam, principal of Union College, Tellippalai between 1935-1964.

He developed the school to one of the top schools in Jaffna Pandit Thangamma Appakutty, former teacher of Union College, Tellippalai and the key person in developing the Sri Durgadevi Temple of Tellippalai,[10][11] Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, former Member of Parliament D. T. Niles Niles became general secretary of the National Christian Council of Ceylon.