The Poothathamby Arch, Known as Sangili Toppu in Jaffna
The Poothathamby Arch, Known as Sangili Toppu in Jaffna
The Poothathamby Arch, popularly known as Sangili Toppu, is one of the historical landmarks of Jaffna. It is a significant site connected with centuries of history, local traditions, and historical research.
Located approximately 900 metres from the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple on the Point Pedro Road in Jaffna, this arch is currently maintained under the care of a preservation authority.
The Entrance Gate of King Sangili’s Palace?
According to a widely held belief among local people, this arch is the remaining part of the entrance gate of the palace of King Sangili (Sangiliyan), the last ruler of the Jaffna Kingdom.
Although this site is associated with King Sangili, who ruled the Jaffna Kingdom during the early 16th century, there are differing opinions among historians regarding the availability of definite historical evidence to support this claim.
The Background Behind the Name Poothathamby Arch
According to another historical interpretation, this arch may have originally been part of the mansion of Poothathamby, a wealthy Tamil administrative official who lived during the Dutch period.
For this reason, the site is also known as the “Poothathamby Arch.”
In studies relating to the history of Jaffna, some have identified this arch as a remnant of King Sangili’s palace, while local historians have suggested that it may instead be connected with the residence of Poothathamby.
The Story of Poothathamby: History or Drama?
A popular story exists among the people regarding the life and death of Poothathamby.
According to this story, Poothathamby was falsely accused following a conflict with a Dutch official and was sentenced to death.
It is said that this story became more widely known through a dramatic work composed in the 19th century by the poet Parimalam. Later, in 1905, the book “Handbook to the Jaffna Peninsula” by S. Kathiresu recorded the history of Poothathamby with influences from this dramatic version of the story, according to researchers.
The View of Historical Researchers
In John H. Martyn’s research work “Notes on Jaffna”, published in 1923, questions were raised regarding the historical reliability of the stories connected with Poothathamby.
Based on Dutch records, Martyn examined and compared information relating to Poothathamby and the Dutch official Don Manuel Andrado. He pointed out that the stories preserved among the people may contain a mixture of historical facts and later additions or imagination.
An Unforgettable Symbol of Jaffna
Today, Sangili Toppu, also known as the Poothathamby Arch, remains one of the important historical symbols of Jaffna.
Whether it was the entrance gate of King Sangili’s palace or the remains of the mansion of the Dutch-period administrator Poothathamby, the arch continues to be preserved as an important monument reflecting the political, social, and cultural history of Jaffna.
Translation by Hari
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