Batticaloa Territory
| Batticaloa Territory மட்டக்களப்புத் தேசம் |
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| Territory of Colonial Ceylon | |||||
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| Capital | Sammanthurai till 1628, Puliyanthivu 1628-1961 | ||||
| History | |||||
| • | Tribal Native and settlements from Tamilakam | ???? | |||
| • | Bifurcated into two districts of Batticaloa District and Ampara District | 1961 | |||
| Population | |||||
| • | 1881 | 105,558 | |||
| • | 1953 | 270,043 | |||
Batticaloa Territory (Tamil: மட்டக்களப்புத் தேசம் Maṭṭakkaḷapput tēcam; also known as Matecalo;Baticalo; in Colonial records, was the ancient region of Tamil Settlements in Sri Lanka. The prior record of that territory can be seen in Portuguese and Dutch Historical documents along with some local inscriptions such as "Sammanthurai Copper epigraphs" written on 1683 CE which also mentions about "Mattakkalappu Desam". Although there is no more the existence of Batticaloa territory, The name "Maṭṭakkaḷapput tēcam" still in practice among the inhabitants of Batti- Ampara Districts and even among the Jaffna and Vanni people.
In most of the historical works belongs to this region, the boundaries of this territory is indicated as Verukal Gangai to the north and Kumbukkan Oya to the south. and some researchers lengthen it from Koneswaram to the north and Katirkamam to the south. The chronicle of Eastern Tamils, Mattakalappu Purva Charithiram describes the history of this territory and its chieftains from before Common Era. It tells that this region was an ancient settlement of Sri Lankan Tribes including Nagar, Thumilar or Iyakkar and Vedar. Etymology researches of some places such as "Nagamunai", "Mantunagan Saalai" (present Mandur) indicates their association with Naga tribe of ancient Sri Lanka.
Mattakalappu Purva Charithiram also states about the settlements arrived this territory from various parts of present India in different time periods. Arrival of Virasaivite Priests for Nagarmunai Subramanya Swami Kovil from Srisailam Mallikarjunapuram is believed to held during the 12th Century CE- the Renaissance period of Vira Saivam sect of Hinduism.
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