Kayts
Kayts (, ), is one of the important   small island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka. There are number of other villages within the Kayts  Island  such as Allaippiddi, Mankumpan, Velanai, Saravanai, Puliyankoodal, Suruvil, Naranthanai, Karampon and Melinchimunai. Most of the people are Tamils. There are number of Hindu temples as well as  churches and a mosque. The island is also served by a dozen schools. Since 1983 Kayts Island has also been the scene of violence as part of the Sri Lankan Civil War, including the Allaipiddy massacre. On 8 August 1992, Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and Commodore Mohan Jayamaha were killed along with several senior army and navy officers when their Land Rover hit a land mine off Araly Point in Kayts. Etymology 
The name Kayts is of colonial origin. The name is derived from the Portuguese "Caes dos Elefantes" meaning "Elephant's Quay", often just shortened to Cais. It was named such because elephants were shipped from here to India. The present term evolved further as Kayts under Dutch rule. The native Tamil name Ūrkavathurai means "Port which guards the Country". This name is again derived from the original Tamil term Ūrathurai, derived from the Tamil words Uru meaning "ship" or "shooner", and thurai meaning "port". The earliest reference to this is found in two Tamil inscriptions of the 12th century AD, one found in Thiruvalangadu, Tamil Nadu issued by Rajadhiraja Chola II and one found in Nainativu issued by Parakramabahu I. Other scholars derive the name from the Pali name Ūrātota meaning "Pig port", referring to a legend surrounding the Śakra buddhist deity, who swam from India to this place in the form of a pig. Earliest reference to this is found in the Pali chronicle Pujavaliya of the 13th century AD. History 
The earliest inscription mentioning Kayts or Ūrathurai is that of a Tamil Chola inscription of the 12th century AD discovered in Fort Hammenhiel, referring to the 9th century AD Chola general of the King Parantaka Chola II, who died in a battle field in Kayts. The 13th century AD Pali chronicle Pujavaliya, mentions that Mahinda IV vanquished a Tamil king who landed at Hurātota from the Cola country. A Tamil 12th century AD inscription issued by Rajadhiraja Chola II found in Thiruvalangadu, Tamil Nadu also mentions the Chola King taking elephants from Kayts and other places such as Valikamam and Mattivazh. Archeological remains found in Kayts indicates that Kayts was a harbour for foreign vessels. The Tamil 12th century AD inscription of Nainativu issued by Parakramabahu I mentions Kayts as a port where foreigner must first land for trading. Kayts was part of the Jaffna Kingdom. Under the chieftainship of Migapulle Arachchi, did a group of Christians revolt against the Jaffna King Cankili II, who thereupon sought refugee in Kayts and asked the Portuguese for assistance. Places of Worship
 Naranthanai Thanthonri Manonmani Amman Temple
 Naranthanai Saravanai Karnanthoddam Subramaniyaswamy Temple
 Thambaddy Nunipuram Muththumari Amman Temple
 Mankumpan Vellaipputtady Sri Veerakaththi Vinayagar Temple
 Karampon Oluvil Gnana Vairavar Temple
 Karampon Kannaki Amman Temple
 Melai Karampon Murugamoorthy Temple

Education
 Naranthanai Roman Catholic Maha Vithyalayam
 Naranthanai Ganesha Vidyalayam
 Little Flower Convent, Karampon
 Shanmuganatha Vidyalayam, Karampon
 St. Antony's College, Kayts
 Thampaddy Government Tamil Mixed School (தம்பாட்டி அரசினர் தமிழ் கலவன் பாடசாலை)

