Kilinochchi

Kilinochchi is a town in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative capital of Kilinochchi District and serves as the divisional secretariat for the area. The town lies inland in the Jaffna Peninsula region, along major road networks that connect Jaffna with the rest of the island. Historically part of the Kingdom of Jaffna, Kilinochchi gained prominence during the Sri Lankan Civil War, when it became the de facto political and logistical center of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and a symbol of LTTE administration. The town and surrounding area suffered heavy damage during the conflict; government forces captured Kilinochchi in 2009, marking a turning point in the war.

Since the end of the war, Kilinochchi has undergone reconstruction and resettlement. Public infrastructure, roads, and public services have been rebuilt, and the area has seen investment aimed at restoring agriculture and local trade. The population is predominantly Tamil, with communities engaged in farming and small-scale commerce. Kilinochchi serves as a local service center for the district, hosting government offices, markets, and educational facilities that serve surrounding villages. The town is connected by road to Jaffna, Vavuniya, and other towns, with rail services available in larger nearby towns. Ongoing development programs continue to address housing, healthcare, and economic diversification in the post-war period.