Introduction

Northern Province is a province of Sri Lanka. Its capital is Jaffna. It is one of 2 provinces of Sri Lanka that has an overwhelming non Sinhalese population. It is the bastion of the Tamil minority and was part of the former independent Jaffna Kingdom. The current civil war has its roots in this province. Majority of the people earn their livelihood as farmers, fishers and professionals in the civil and business sectors. It is known for its institutions of higher education. Small scale industry such as chemical, light manufacturing and textiles were present before the civil war. Jaffna peninsula itself is irrigated by underground aquifers fed by wells where as the rest of the province has irrigation tanks.

Some of the tourist attractions of the Northern Province are beaches such as Wannakanveli, Sinna Muhattuvaram, Urindimunai, Periya Muhattuvaram; ruins such as Motagala, Madhuvihare, Kotavehera, Sinna Muhattuvaram, Kiwulewela Vihare and religious sites such as Nagapooshani Amman Kovil. Jaffna is justly famous for the deliciousness of its mangoes and toddy from the palmyrah palm. The Dutch 'star' fort in Jaffna is said to be Asia's best example of Dutch fortification.

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