Kopay (Tamil: கோப்பாய், romanized: Kōppāy) is a town about 4 km from the city of Jaffna along Point Pedro road. An agricultural town consisting mainly of vegetable farms, paddy fields and coconut gardens. The suburb Kopay is blessed with several scholars because of very strong schooling system. Arumuka Navalar established the school managed by Suwaminathan is famous for this. Arrival of Church Missionary Society (CMS) strengthened the educational system. Kopay Christian College is one of the oldest schools in Jaffna with 150 years of service remain unbeaten in producing quality scholars.
Kopay
கோப்பாய் කෝපායි
Town
From top left to right: Vada Kovai Verakaththi Vinayakar Kovil, Kopay St Mary's Church, Kuthiyadi Kulam – A royal swimming pool, Jaffna National College of Education, Divisional Secretariat Building
During the Sri Lankan civil war, Kopay was also known as the place where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) built their first war cemetery (known as Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam) for their dead fighters when they controlled the Jaffna peninsula in the early 1990s. This cemetery was destroyed by the Sri Lankan armed forces in 1996 after they captured the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE. The cemetery was then rebuilt in 2002 during the ceasefire period. However, after the end of the Sri Lankan civil war, the Sri Lankan armed forces completely demolished the cemetery in July 2010, and also built an army base on the site of the cemetery.
Kopay was the 2nd capital of the Jaffna Kingdom while Nallur was the capital. The name Kopay derives from the two Tamil words kō meaning "king" and pāy meaning "seat", which it gained because the kings of Aryacakravarti dynasty of Jaffna Kingdom had their residence here.[1] King Cankili I had his stronghold at the fort previously located in Kopay.[2]
History
The Arya Cakravartti, Kings of Jaffna, for the purpose of defending their country against all enemies had forts erected at Nallur and Kopay. Kopay fort lies on the Point Petro Road, 150m, North of Kopay junction and at the end of a lane which goes on the right-hand side of the main road. According to Ponnampalam Ragupathy (Early Settlements in Jaffna), historiographical literature and chronicles, Kopay was a second capital for the Kings of Jaffna where they had a fort and residence. It is only about 4 km from Nallur, a place known from the Chola times and which was the capital of the Kings of Jaffna till the advent of Portuguese. The word Kopay may possibly render a meaning the residence of the King (Ko-king; Pay-seat).[3]
In the 16th century, during the struggle between the Arya Cakravartti, Kings of Jaffna, and the Portuguese, the Arya Cakravarttis used the Kopy fort as their main defence centre, especially during the period of King Cankili Raja (I) Segarasasekaram. He stationed one section of his troops at Nallur, as he feared that the Portuguese might invade the Kingdom again. The strategic position of Kopay made the King to choose it as an important defence centre in times of war. According to Joao Ribeiro (Army Captain) the Portuguese historian and Sir Paul E. Pieris, in 1560 when King Cankili Raja (I) Segarasasekaram’s forces launched repeated onslaughts against the fort at Kopay, they used ladders made of arecanut trees to scale the walls of the citadel.[3]
Later fortress at Kopay was also captured and destroyed by the Portuguese. Both Nallur and Kopay are along the Upparu lagoon.[3] The site of the Palace inside the Kopay fort, marked with archaeological remains, was known as "Raasa Maaligai" (Royal Palace). Kopay fort had some remains of foundations and some small dilapidated walls. At present everything has been erased and place has been transformed into a place of cultivation of crops. The evidences of bricks and stones, found at the place confirm that a building structure existed there earlier and the adjacent tank which was renovated from time to time, now lies as a waste plot covered with shrubs, bushes and other plants.[3]
Education
Kopay Christian College
Teachers Training College, Kopay
Kopay Christian College was founded in 1852 and it is one of the oldest High Schools in Sri Lanka established by the Church Missionary Society (CMS). This is the school where many old leaders studied in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Renowned philosopher and theologian Nallur Late. Srilasri Arumuga Navalar (1822–1879) is the founder of Kopay Navalar Boys School in 1872. Late.Murugasar Swaminathan J.P. was the founder of Kopay Saraswathy Girls' School in (1910). Later, both Swaminathan and Hon.C. W. Thamotharampillai who he was a High Court Judge and a renowned poet, amalgamated two schools in 1915 and named as Navalar Hindu Tamil Mixed School in Kopay.[4]
National College of Education (NCOE) is renovated in a donated land of Hon. Dharmalingam Siddarthan, Member of Parliament in 2001. Ministry of Education Sri Lanka is approved the proposal to establish a building with the funding of World Bank for 465 million Sri Lankan rupees. But the World Bank is refused to provide the total sum because of the Sri Lankan Civil War and provided 35 million rupees to the NCOE. With the financial help of Dr Aaru Thirumurugan along with Sivayogam Trust – London Muthumari Amman Temple, and donation from former Hindu Affairs Minister T. Maheswaran, NCOE is re-established in December 2004.[5]
Kopay Teachers' Training college is formerly known as 'Central Teachers College' which is established by Late.Murugesar Swaminathan.J.P in 1881.
It is one of the largest training college for teachers in the country.[6]
List of Educations in Kopay
National College of Education, Jaffna
Teachers Training College, Kopay
Kopay Christian College
Religion
Vada Kovai Verakaththi Vinayakar Temple
Kopay St Mary's Church, 1854
Kopay has traditionally been Hindus belonging the Shaivite tradition with a large number of Hindu temples along with small but influential number of Catholics. The well-known Kopay Palanai Kanagai Amman Kovil (AD 135), Vada Kovai Verakaththi Vinayakar Kovil and St. Mary's Church (AD 1854) are examples of these.
Several temples have been established in Kopay by the Aryacakravarti dynasty of Jaffna Kingdom. There is a history from the book of Cenkuttuvan that the King who ruled Sri Lanka from AD 113 to 135 was brought Kannagi Amman statues from the Chola Kingdom and established Kopay Palani Kannagai Amman temple in the year of AD 135.
Ministry of Health Sri Lanka operates the Public hospitals and clinics in Kopay. Kopay Base Hospital transformed as Kopay Divisional Hospital along with full facilities, and there is a Government Veterinary Office also functioning in Kopay.
kopay, tamil, romanized, kōppāy, town, about, from, city, jaffna, along, point, pedro, road, agricultural, town, consisting, mainly, vegetable, farms, paddy, fields, coconut, gardens, suburb, blessed, with, several, scholars, because, very, strong, schooling, . Kopay Tamil க ப ப ய romanized Kōppay is a town about 4 km from the city of Jaffna along Point Pedro road An agricultural town consisting mainly of vegetable farms paddy fields and coconut gardens The suburb Kopay is blessed with several scholars because of very strong schooling system Arumuka Navalar established the school managed by Suwaminathan is famous for this Arrival of Church Missionary Society CMS strengthened the educational system Kopay Christian College is one of the oldest schools in Jaffna with 150 years of service remain unbeaten in producing quality scholars Kopay க ப ப ய ක ප ය TownFrom top left to right Vada Kovai Verakaththi Vinayakar Kovil Kopay St Mary s Church Kuthiyadi Kulam A royal swimming pool Jaffna National College of Education Divisional Secretariat BuildingSeal of KopayMotto Dedicated Public ServiceKopayCoordinates 9 41 0 N 80 03 0 E 9 68333 N 80 05000 E 9 68333 80 05000Country Sri LankaProvinceNorthernDistrictJaffnaDS DivisionValikamam EastGovernment TypeValikamam East Pradeshiya SabhaElevation5 m 16 ft Population Total10 128Time zoneUTC 5 30 Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone During the Sri Lankan civil war Kopay was also known as the place where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE built their first war cemetery known as Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam for their dead fighters when they controlled the Jaffna peninsula in the early 1990s This cemetery was destroyed by the Sri Lankan armed forces in 1996 after they captured the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE The cemetery was then rebuilt in 2002 during the ceasefire period However after the end of the Sri Lankan civil war the Sri Lankan armed forces completely demolished the cemetery in July 2010 and also built an army base on the site of the cemetery Kopay Divisional Secretariat Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Education 4 Religion 5 Healthcare 6 Notable people 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksEtymology EditKopay was the 2nd capital of the Jaffna Kingdom while Nallur was the capital The name Kopay derives from the two Tamil words kō meaning king and pay meaning seat which it gained because the kings of Aryacakravarti dynasty of Jaffna Kingdom had their residence here 1 King Cankili I had his stronghold at the fort previously located in Kopay 2 History EditThe Arya Cakravartti Kings of Jaffna for the purpose of defending their country against all enemies had forts erected at Nallur and Kopay Kopay fort lies on the Point Petro Road 150m North of Kopay junction and at the end of a lane which goes on the right hand side of the main road According to Ponnampalam Ragupathy Early Settlements in Jaffna historiographical literature and chronicles Kopay was a second capital for the Kings of Jaffna where they had a fort and residence It is only about 4 km from Nallur a place known from the Chola times and which was the capital of the Kings of Jaffna till the advent of Portuguese The word Kopay may possibly render a meaning the residence of the King Ko king Pay seat 3 In the 16th century during the struggle between the Arya Cakravartti Kings of Jaffna and the Portuguese the Arya Cakravarttis used the Kopy fort as their main defence centre especially during the period of King Cankili Raja I Segarasasekaram He stationed one section of his troops at Nallur as he feared that the Portuguese might invade the Kingdom again The strategic position of Kopay made the King to choose it as an important defence centre in times of war According to Joao Ribeiro Army Captain the Portuguese historian and Sir Paul E Pieris in 1560 when King Cankili Raja I Segarasasekaram s forces launched repeated onslaughts against the fort at Kopay they used ladders made of arecanut trees to scale the walls of the citadel 3 Later fortress at Kopay was also captured and destroyed by the Portuguese Both Nallur and Kopay are along the Upparu lagoon 3 The site of the Palace inside the Kopay fort marked with archaeological remains was known as Raasa Maaligai Royal Palace Kopay fort had some remains of foundations and some small dilapidated walls At present everything has been erased and place has been transformed into a place of cultivation of crops The evidences of bricks and stones found at the place confirm that a building structure existed there earlier and the adjacent tank which was renovated from time to time now lies as a waste plot covered with shrubs bushes and other plants 3 Education Edit Kopay Christian College Teachers Training College Kopay Kopay Christian College was founded in 1852 and it is one of the oldest High Schools in Sri Lanka established by the Church Missionary Society CMS This is the school where many old leaders studied in the late 19th century and early 20th century Renowned philosopher and theologian Nallur Late Srilasri Arumuga Navalar 1822 1879 is the founder of Kopay Navalar Boys School in 1872 Late Murugasar Swaminathan J P was the founder of Kopay Saraswathy Girls School in 1910 Later both Swaminathan and Hon C W Thamotharampillai who he was a High Court Judge and a renowned poet amalgamated two schools in 1915 and named as Navalar Hindu Tamil Mixed School in Kopay 4 National College of Education NCOE is renovated in a donated land of Hon Dharmalingam Siddarthan Member of Parliament in 2001 Ministry of Education Sri Lanka is approved the proposal to establish a building with the funding of World Bank for 465 million Sri Lankan rupees But the World Bank is refused to provide the total sum because of the Sri Lankan Civil War and provided 35 million rupees to the NCOE With the financial help of Dr Aaru Thirumurugan along with Sivayogam Trust London Muthumari Amman Temple and donation from former Hindu Affairs Minister T Maheswaran NCOE is re established in December 2004 5 Kopay Teachers Training college is formerly known as Central Teachers College which is established by Late Murugesar Swaminathan J P in 1881 It is one of the largest training college for teachers in the country 6 List of Educations in Kopay National College of Education Jaffna Teachers Training College Kopay Kopay Christian CollegeReligion Edit Vada Kovai Verakaththi Vinayakar Temple Kopay St Mary s Church 1854 Kopay has traditionally been Hindus belonging the Shaivite tradition with a large number of Hindu temples along with small but influential number of Catholics The well known Kopay Palanai Kanagai Amman Kovil AD 135 Vada Kovai Verakaththi Vinayakar Kovil and St Mary s Church AD 1854 are examples of these Several temples have been established in Kopay by the Aryacakravarti dynasty of Jaffna Kingdom There is a history from the book of Cenkuttuvan that the King who ruled Sri Lanka from AD 113 to 135 was brought Kannagi Amman statues from the Chola Kingdom and established Kopay Palani Kannagai Amman temple in the year of AD 135 List of Temples in Kopay Vadakovai Verakaththi Vinayakar Kovil Palani Kannagai Amman Kovil 7 Makilady Ukkira Vayiravar Kovil Kopay Kanthasuwamy Kovil Kopay Selva Vinayagar Kovil Kopay Gana Vairavar Kovil St Mary s Church Kopay Kopay Kirushnan Kovil Kopay Muthumari Amman Kovil Irupalai Katpaga Pillayar Kovil 8 Veerapathirar Kovil Vellerukku Pillayar Kovil Kopay Naachimar KovilHealthcare Edit Divisional Hospital Kopay Ministry of Health Sri Lanka operates the Public hospitals and clinics in Kopay Kopay Base Hospital transformed as Kopay Divisional Hospital along with full facilities and there is a Government Veterinary Office also functioning in Kopay Notable people EditKing Singai Pararasasegaram King of Jaffna S Kathiravelupillai Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer politician and Member of Parliament D M Swaminathan 2nd Governor of Western Province C Sittampalam Sri Lankan Tamil politician and Minister of Posts and Telecommunication Hon Coomaraswamy Vanniasingam Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer Member of Parliament Murugesu Balasundaram Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer Member of Parliament C Arulampalam Politician and Member of Parliament Arumugam Murugesu Alalasundaram Politician and Member of Parliament Dr Aaru Thirumurugan 9 Renowned Speaker Pundit and Hindu Social Activist Shenthuran 10 11 Peace Ambassador for Sri LankaSee also EditKopay Electoral District Playground of Kopay Christian College and backside of St Mary s Church KopayReferences Edit Ragupathy Ponnampalam 1987 Early Settlements in Jaffna An Archaeological Survey Thillimalar Ragupathy p 212 Silva O M Da 1994 Fidalgos in the Kingdom of Jafanapatam Sri Lanka 1543 1658 The Portuguese in Jaffna Harwoods Publishers pp 7 9 a b c d The Kingdom of Jaffna The Royal Family of Jaffna www jaffnaroyalfamily org Retrieved 7 July 2021 Kopay Navalar Hindu Tamil Mixed School Kopay Jaffna Srilanka 1872 wikimapia org Retrieved 8 July 2021 Jaffna National College of Education jaffnancoe lk Retrieved 8 July 2021 Kopay Teachers Training College 1911 wikimapia org Retrieved 9 July 2021 கண னக அம மன Archived from the original on 9 August 2014 Retrieved 8 August 2014 Katpaga Pillayar Kovil Sri Lanka Telecom Rainbowpages May Thai Pongal pave the way to resolve our people s problems Aaru Thirumurugan www omlanka net Retrieved 7 July 2021 Dr Maheswaran Shenthuran GPI Ambassadors 9 July 2021 Archived from the original on 9 July 2021 Retrieved 9 July 2021 Shenthuran Maheswaran Peace Ambassador for Sri Lanka Global Peace Challenge 2020 7 July 2021 Archived from the original on 7 July 2021 Retrieved 7 July 2021 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kopay DS Kopay District Secretariat Kopay See it on google Coordinates 9 41 N 80 03 E 9 683 N 80 050 E 9 683 80 050 This Northern Province Sri Lanka location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kopay amp oldid 1105130942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
