Uduvil

Uduvil (Tamil: உடுவில்) is an agricultural village of about 32.7 square kilometers situated along the KKS Road at about five miles to the North of Jaffna city, Sri Lanka.

[1][2][3][4] From ancient time until the mid - 20th century, Maruthanār Madam junction had been the assembly place for bullock carts from the villages in the north, south and west of the junction to start their long journey to Vanni and the south.

The inhabitants of Uduvil (also called 'Uduvilār') are proud of their strong educational and cultural base.

dress, attire, put on cloths;a boatman's pole; ditch round a fort; a tree- Mimosa etc.

Thus the composite word 'Uduvil' could mean 'Enlightened (Udu) place or house (il)' and 'Place of people with cloth.'

This is the reason why we find a number of Kannaki Kōvils in the North and East of Ceylon.

In the Sinhala literature 'Vayanthimālaya' that describes the early life of Kannaki and Kōvalan also, we find stanzas that praise Buddha, Dhamma and Sanga placed at the beginning.

Compared to other populated villages of the Jaffna peninsula, there are only a few big Saiva Kōvils and Churches.

The 'Murugamōrthy Kōvil' situated at Malvam, Panchamuka Pillaiyār Kōvil in the North of Uduvil Girls' College, Nāgamāl temple along the Ambalavānar Road and Pēchchi Amman temple at Kollan Ōlai were built recently.

A lot of wealthy businessmen from other parts of Jaffna too have chosen to live in Uduvil for the purpose of giving better education for their children.

Before the establishment of Police Station at Chunnākam in 1947, village administration of Uduvil was under 'Police Vidāne.'

The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the proportional representation electoral system for electing members of Parliament.

The Valikāmam South Divisional Secretariat[9] is situated near Periya-mathavaddy in Uduvil North.

The Valikāmam South Pradēshya Sabhā main office is now being shifted to its new building in Uduvil (between Maruthanār Madam and Roddyālady on the KKS Road).

Due to politics, in the night just before the ceremonial opening of the building, waste black oil was thrown all over its front walls and pillars.

The Education Department Office for the Uduvil Division is situated near the Rāmanāthan College on the Kaithady - Mānipāy Road.

All types of vegetables, chilli, lentils, grains and tobacco are cultivated in the other seasons.

The mango, jack, plantain, coconut and palmyrah trees grow freely.

Availability of underground water, tank, fertility of the soil, long stretch of agricultural field etc.

Uduvil has a big vegetable and fruits market at Maruthanār Madam Junction.

There is a small vegetable and fish market called 'Kīlichchanthai' at Kalaviyawatthai along the Dutch Road.

There are no hotel facilities, cultural centre, sport stadium and cinema theatre in Uduvil.

There are three Guest Houses and lodgings having rooms with or without air conditions and meals situated in between 'Periya Mathavady' and 'Maruthnār Madam' Junction along the KKS Road.

New high voltage transmission lines and sub - stations are being constructed to connect Jaffna peninsula with the main grid.

It is situated half a kilometer from Maruthanār Madam Junction towards Urumpirāi along the Manipāy - Kaithady Road.

From Paranthan, Vavuniya along the A-9 road, Eastern towns and places of the Central Region could be reached.

Almost all the main places in the Jaffna Peninsula could be reached by local buses plying along the K.K.S.

A bus service from Maruthanār Madam to Kārainagar along the Dutch Road has been operating from last year.

Another bus service from Kodikāmam to Manipāy (No 811) via Chavakacheri, Kaithady, Urumpirāi, Maruthanār Madam junction Uduvil, also operate along Manipāy-Kaithady Road.

Two-wheel and three-wheel land vehicles with trailers are available for transport of goods.