Kalpitiya

Kalpitiya Peninsula (Sinhala: කල්පිටිය, Tamil: கற்பிட்டி Kaṟpiṭṭi), historically documented in ancient Sigiri graffiti as Kalapiti-Kuli and Tamil texts as Kalputti meaning 'stone elevation,' represents one of Sri Lanka's most significant marine ecosystems and colonial heritage sites. First colonized by Portuguese in 1544 CE who named it Kardiv Island and granted territory to Jesuits, the peninsula subsequently came under Dutch control from 1659 CE following King Rajasinha II's alliance negotiations. Strategic importance for Dutch East India Company stemmed from controlling external Kandyan trade through the region's substantial Muslim merchant community and commanding entrance to Puttalam Lagoon, major cinnamon cultivation area connected via Dutch-constructed canal system to Colombo. The 14-island peninsula extends into Puttalam Lagoon and Indian Ocean, supporting diverse habitats including bar reefs, mangrove swamps, salt marshes, and vast sand dune formations. Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary, established 1992 CE covering 306.7 km², contains the greatest coral biodiversity around India with 156 coral species and 283 fish species, supporting spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and endangered dugongs. Modern Kalpitiya balances marine conservation with sustainable tourism, offering authentic coastal experiences while protecting ecosystems that have supported local communities for over 500 years.