15 Islands of Sri Lanka

This is a list of islands of Sri Lanka. There are number of islands around Sri Lanka. The most prominent islets are west of the Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province. These group of islands also had Dutch names during the Dutch colonial period but only a few of those names are still in use today.

Sri Lanka, formerly called "Ceylon", is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, southeast of the Indian subcontinent, in a strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes. The nation has a total area of 65,612 km², with 62,707 km² of land and 2,905 km² of water. Its coastline is 1,340 km (830 mi) long. The main island of Sri Lanka has an area of 65,268 km²; it is the twenty-fifth largest island of the world by area. Dozens of offshore islands account for the remaining 342 km² area. The largest offshore island, Mannar Island, leads to Adam's Bridge.

Analaitivu is an island off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of the city of Jaffna. Known as Rotterdam during Dutch colonial rule, the island has an area of 4.82 square kilometres (1.86 sq mi). The island is divided into two Village Officer Divisions whose combined population was 1,781 at the 2012 census.

Eluvaitivu is an island off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 22 kilometres (14 mi) west of the city of Jaffna. Eluvaitivu has several meanings in Tamil including "the island of landmark" which is derived from the Tamil words elu, vai (land) and tivu (island). The island has an area of 1.4 square kilometres (0.5 sq mi) and had a population of 555 at the 2012 census.

Iranaitivu is an island of Sri Lanka, located in the Gulf of Mannar and part of Kilinochchi District within the Northern Province. The site of a Sri Lanka Armed Forces base since 1992, the island is being repopulated by former inhabitants, who began returning in 2018.

Karaitivu is an island off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) north-west of the city of Jaffna. Karaitivu means "the island of karai shrubs" in Tamil and is derived from the Tamil words karai and tivu (island). Known as Amsterdam during Dutch colonial rule, the island has an area of 22.95 square kilometres (8.86 sq mi). The island is divided into nine village officer divisions whose combined population was 9,576 at the 2012 census.

Mandaitivu is an island off the coast of the Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) south of the city of Jaffna. The island has an area of 7.56 square kilometres (2.92 sq mi) and is divided into three village officer divisions whose combined population was 1,524 at the 2012 census.

Mannar Island, formerly spelled as Manar Island, is part of Mannar District, Sri Lanka. It is linked to the main island of Sri Lanka by a causeway. It has an area of about 125 square kilometres, mainly covered with vegetation and sand. Adam's Bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals, between Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, off the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar Island, off the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka. Geological evidence suggests that this bridge is a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka.

Nainativu, is a small but notable island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The name of the island alludes to the folklore inhabitants, the Naga people. It is home to the Hindu shrine of Nagapooshani Amman Temple; one of the prominent 64 Shakti Peethas, and the Buddhist shrine Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya.

Neduntheevu or Nedunthivu is an island in the Palk Strait, northern Sri Lanka. This island is named as Delft in the Admiralty Chart unlike the other islands, whose names are Tamil. The island's area is 50 km² and it is roughly oval-shaped. Its length is 8 km and its maximum width about 6 km.

Puliyanthivu is an island of Sri Lanka and part of Batticaloa town. It has important infrastructures such as government buildings, banks, schools, religious worship places and historical importance places, notably Batticaloa Fort.

Puliyantivu is an island off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, located approximately 26 kilometres (16 mi) west of the city of Jaffna. The island has an area of 0.44 square kilometres (0.17 sq mi).

Pungudutivu is a small island composed of number villages that is just west of the Jaffna Peninsula in Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Northern Province. It is divided into 12 wards internally, each corresponding a major settlement. The island was named as Middleburg by the Dutch colonial rulers during their occupation of then Ceylon. Most of the residents of the Island are Tamils with majority being Hindus and a minority of Christians. There are a lot of Hindu temples in this region along with some Christian churches. Nearly 15 Tamil schools exist there for the benefits of the place. Government hospitals and some private clinics are also available. Pungudutivu is connected by road with mainland Jaffna. SLTB and private buses travel through the island along the Jaffna - Kurikattuvan route. People take a boat from Kurikattuvan to reach Nainativu, which is celebrated for its religious popularity.

Taprobane Island, originally called "Galduwa", is a private island with one villa, located just off the southern coast of Sri Lanka opposite the village of Weligama. The island was renamed after the old Greek word for Sri Lanka, by its most famous owner, Maurice Talvande, who sighted it around 1925 after a long search for an earthly paradise. He built its villa and replanted the island to create a private Eden. The islet passed on to the American author and composer Paul Bowles and then the Sri Lankan born former United Nations Chief Prosecutor Sir Desmond Lorenz de Silva before it came to the ownership of the Australian businessman Geoffrey Dobbs.

Velanai Island, also known as Leiden in Dutch, is a small island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in the North of Sri Lanka. There are number of villages within the island such as Allaipiddy, Mankumpan, Velanai, Saravanai, Puliyankoodal, Suruvil, Naranthanai and Karampan.