Know the Etymology: 61
Place Name of the Day: Saturday, 04 February 2017


Tēkka-vatta, Bulat-vatta, Appuge-vatta, Baňgalā-vatta

தேக்க-வத்த, பு₃லத்-வத்த, அப்புகெ₃-வத்த, ப₃ங்க₃லா-வத்த
Tēkka-vatta, Bulat-vatta, Appuge-vatta, Baňgalā-vatta

Tēkka+vatta
Bulat+vatta
Appu+ge+vatta
Baňgalā+vatta


The teak plantation

The betel-vine garden

The garden/ grove/ residential place of Appu (head servant of a noble person)

The site of the colonial-style residence


Vatta1 (singular), Vatu: (plural and compound) site, place, land; "Vāstuva, Iḍama, Bhūmiya" (Sinhala, Sorata cites Epigraphia Zeylanica Vol I: 194 and Sīgiri Graffiti 6: 71); Vatu-kuṁburu: landed property, gardens and fields (Sinhala, Clough); Vatu-piṭi: landed property (Sinhala, Clough); Vattai: cognate noticed in Eezham Tamil place names; 1. Vatthu: site, ground, field (Pali, CDIAL 11606); Vāstu: the site or foundation of a house, site, ground, building or dwelling place, habitation, homestead, house (Sanskrit, Rig Vedic, M. Williams, CDIAL 11606); settlement having houses and associated lands (Tamil, inscriptions, 1196 CE, SII, v, 708; 1300 CE, SII, vii. 22); 2. Bat: (verb) to live in a place, to rear (Kolami, cognates in 15 Dravidian languages, DED 5372); Baduku: life, property (Kannada, DED 5372); related to Vāḻvu: living, residing, residence (Tamil, DED 5372); Vāḻ: (verb) to exist, live (Tamil, DED 5372); note the Ḻ/ D/ T changes; Ḻ/ Ṣ/ Y change is also a feature noticed in other examples; 3. Vayin: place (Tamil, DED 5549); Vaippu: (noun) place, land, earth, world (Tamil, DED 5549); village (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Akanāṉūṟu, 126: 13); Vai: (verb) to put, place, seat, lay by, (Tamil, cognates in 13 Dravidian languages, DED 5549); Ai/ At change is commonly noticed in southern South Asian languages; 4. Vati: (verb) to dwell, abide, to stay in a place such as a grove (Tamil, DED 5246, Caṅkam diction, Patiṟṟuppattu, 48: 15); (noun) lair, nest (Tamil, DED 5246). See column on Vattai in Eezham Tamil place names
Vatta2 (singular), Vatu: (plural and combination) place where trees, plants etc. are cultivated; "Gasvẹl vẹvū iḍama" (Sinhala, Sorata); garden, place of residence consisting of a garden or grove of coconut and other fruit trees (Sinhala, Clough); prefix to certain species of crops as in Vatu-ińguru, Vatu-kẹkiri etc., may be because they are garden varieties; 1. Vatta2 may be connected to Vatta 1 or may be connected to some other etymon; 2. Vaṭṭai: an enclosed place for cultivation in the jungles (Eezham Tamil usage); coming from the etymon Vaḷai: (verb) to surround; (noun) surrounded region (Tamil, DED 5313); Vāṭa: enclosure (Sanskrit, Pali, CDIAL 11480); Vāṭikā: enclosure, garden (Sanskrit, CDIAL 11480); 3. Pattai, Paṟṟai: thicket, bushes, low shrubbery, underwood, cluster, (Tamil, MTL, usage mostly noticed in Eezham Tamil, from the root Paṟṟu, DED 4034)
Vatta3 residential place, "Vasana iḍama" (Sinhala, Sorata); see Vatta 1
Tēkka teak tree, Tectona grandis (Sinhala, Clough); Tēkku: teak, Tectona grandis (Tamil, DED 3452, Caṅkam diction, Akanāṉūṟu 143: 5, cognates in 9 Dravidian languages)
Bulat betel vine, betel leaf, Piper betle, (Sinhala, Clough); Sorata and CDIAL traces to Tāmbūla: betel, betel leaf (Sanskrit, etymology traced to Austro-Asiatic, CDIAL 5776); Tampalam: betel leaf (Tamil, Caṅkam diction, Kalittokai, 65: 13); 1. The form Bulat is traced from Tabul: > Bulat (CDIAL 5776); Bileiy/ bilet: betel vine, betel leaf (Dhivehi/ Maldivian, DBF); 2. Vetle: betel (spoken Tamil); from Vettilai, Veṟṟilai: betel (Tamil, DED 5515); Baccire: betel (Tulu, DED 5515); Vetle > Betle > Bilat/ Bulat; 3. Ilai: leaf (Tamil, DED 497); betel leaf (Tamil, inscriptions, 878 CE, SII, xiv, 13); Mellilai: betel leaf (Tamil, Piṅkalam, 9: 286, DED 5077+ 497); Mel-ilai: literally meaning chewing leaf; > Bel-ilai (M/ B change) > Bilai > Bilat/ Bulat (Ai/ T change is common in Sinhala and Dhivehi)
Appuge of Appu; Ge, Gē are genitive case endings (Sinhala, Sorata); Appu1: head servant (Sinhala, Clough); "Gevalhi pradhāna mehekaruvā" (Sinhala, Sorata); Appu 2: respectful term for a person working under people of high caste or sons of Mudaliyars who were called Appu-hāmi; "Appuhāmi yannaṭa vaḍā aḍu gauravavāvē vacanayak" (Sinhala, Sorata); Appō: a boy of a high family or high household; "Usas pavulaka lamayā" (Sinhala, Sorata); Appu: father, term of endearment used to little children or inferiors (Tamil, DED 156a); affectionate appellation of boys (Malayalam, Kannada, DED 156a); Appa: father, frequently added to the proper names of men as a term of common respect (Kannada, Tulu, Telugu, DED 156a)
Baňgalā from Bungalow: residential quarters, usually of one storey and built in Bengal-style with a pyramidal roof, for the use of European officers in South Asia and elsewhere in the colonial times (Anglo-Indian English); the usage is noticed in English since 17th century (Hobson Jobson)


Vatta/ Vatu is a popular place name component in Sinhala. The toponymic usage of the term is noticed since early medieval times, when Eḷu/ Heḷa or Sinhala has evolved into an identifiable literary language. The term appears in the inscriptions of this period and in Sīgiri graffiti (Epigraphia Zeylanica Vol I: 194; Sīgiri Graffiti 6: 71).

In contemporary Sinhala, Vatta has three shades of toponymic meanings: it means a site, place or land in general (Vāstuva, Iḍama, Bhūmiya); it means a garden, plantation or grove where trees or plants are cultivated (Gasvẹl vẹvū iḍama) and it also means a residential place (Vasana iḍama).

In giving the meanings Sorata implies etymological connections to Vāstu in Sanskrit and Vatthu in Pali. Inscriptional usage in Tamil since 12th century CE could also be cited for the direct use of the Sanskrit term to mean a collection of houses, house and premises and a settlement (see box above).

However, there is a strong probability of the presence of more than one etymon in the usages, especially in coupling garden/ plantation with residence. See boxes above for alternative cognates and verbs such as Bat in Kolomi as verb meaning to live and to rear, corresponding to Vāḻ in Tamil (DED 5372); Vai as verb meaning to lay by and Vayin meaning place (DED 5549), and Vati as verb meaning to dwell and as noun meaning an abode (DED 5246).

Vattai is the cognate in Eezham Tamil corresponding to Vatta/ Vatu in Sinhala. But the term is not found in current language use in Eezham Tamil and is noticed only in some place names and locality names, especially in the Jaffna Peninsula. The available toponymic examples show considerable differences in the usage of Vatta in Sinhala and Vattai in Eezham Tamil. Once again, there could be the possibility of the presence of more than one etymon and conflation, or the possibility of meanings differing over time, between a current usage and a surviving usage. See column on Vattai in Eezham Tamil.

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Tēkka, meaning teak tree in Sinhala is a cognate of Tēkku meaning the same in Tamil since Caṅkam times. The term is listed as Dravidian (DED 3452).

"தேக்கு அமல் அடுக்கத்து ஆங்கண்" (அகநானூறு, 143: 5)

"Tēkku amal aṭukkattu āṅkaṇ" (Akanāṉūṟu 143: 5)

On the hill side, where the teak trees grow densely

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Bulat is a common word in Sinhala meaning betel vine as well as betel leaf. The closest cognate in word-form is Bileiy/ Bilet in Dhivehi/ Maldivian, meaning the same. Sorata and CDIAL trace the etymology to Tāmbūla in Sanskrit, which in turn is traced to Austro Asiatic (CDIAL 5776). See box on Bulat for possible alternatives.

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Appu in Sinhala means the head servant of a household. It is a respectful term for a person working under an Appu-hāmi (a person of high caste or a son of a Mudaliyār chieftain). A related word Appō in Sinhala means a boy of a high family or household. The terms correspond to cognates listed as Dravidian in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu and Telugu (DED 156a). The terms basically mean father. The other meanings come by application of the terms in respect or endearment.

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Baňgalā in Sinhala comes from the Anglo-Indian word Bungalow, meaning a type of house introduced in South Asia during the colonial times for the use of European officers, planters etc. It was originally a single-storied house of pyramidal roof. To suit the climate such houses adopted the architecture of Bengal, which was a major hub of European colonialism in the region. When the colonial officers built such houses in other parts of North India, they were called Bangala by others and thus the term Bungalow got into English vocabulary to mean any official or other European residences in the colonial territories.

* * *


Tēkka-vatta is in Kalutara division of Kalutara district.

Bulat-vatta is noticed as a place name in Medadumbara division of Kandy district; Mawathagama division of Kurunegala district and in Hali-Ela division of Badulla district.

Appuge-vatta is a place in Mahara division of Gampaha district.

Baňgalā-vatta comes as a place name in Kesbewa division of Colombo district; Dompe division of Gampaha district and in Bope-Poddala division of Galle district.

* * *


Some related place names:

Vatta: suffix


Maha-vatta: Colombo, Colombo; Jā- Ela, Gampaha; Bandaragama, Kalutara; Kalutara, Kalutara; Kundasale, Kandy; Mawanella, Kegalle

Māligā-vatta: Colombo, Colombo; Mahawewa, Puttama

Paňcikā-vatta: Colombo, Colombo. Paňci: from Pañca: five; may be from one of the related phrases such as Pañca-kula, meaning the five service communities

Kesel-vatta: Colombo, Colombo; Panadura, Kalutara. Kesel, Kehel: banana, plantain, of which there are 53 species and varieties (Sinhala, Clough); Kēl: = Kehel (Sorata); Katali: banana (Tamil, usage noticed after 7th century CE, Campantar, 1: 9: 5); Kadalī: banana (Sanskrit, Pali, etymology traced to Austro-Asiatic, CDIAL 2712)

Sēda-vatta: Kolonnawa, Colombo. Sēda: silk (Clough)

Oṟu-goḍa-vatta: Kolonnawa, Colombo. Oru: boat, canoe (Clough); Uru: small vessel, schooner (Tamil, DED 659); Ūr: (verb) to move slowly (Tamil, DED 749)

Velē-vatta: Kolonnawa, Colombo.

Venna-vatta: Kolonnawa, Colombo. Ven: Verala (Sorata notes with a question mark)

Koṭikā-vatta: Kolonnawa, Colombo. Koṭikā: areca nut

Kuruṇiyā-vatta: Kolonnawa, Colombo

Kaju-gaha-vatta: Kolonnawa, Colombo. Kaju: cashew nut tree, Anacardium occidentale (Sinhala, Clough, from Portuguese, Caju, in turn from acajū in Tubian of Brazil)

Kaju-gas-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Kaju-dūva-vatta: Kalutara, Kalutara

Rag-gaha-vatta: Kaduwela, Colombo

Vệ-kē-vatta: Kaduwela, Colombo

Kumārage-vatta: Kaduwela, Colombo

Raja-mal-vatta: Kaduwela,Colombo

Hēna-vatta: Homagama, Colombo

Habara-kaḍa-vatta: Homagama, Colombo

Gala-vila-vatta: Homagama, Colombo

Kuruńdu-vatta: Homagama, Colombo; Thimbirigasyaya, Colombo; Mirigama, Gampaha; Kalutara, Kalutara; Harispattuwa, Kandy; Yatinuwara, Kandy; Balapitiya, Galle; Galle Four Gravets, Galle; Okewela, Hambantota

Kańdana-vatta: Homagama, Colombo

Ẹs-vatta: Seethawaka, Colombo

Uk-vatta: Seethawaka, Colombo; Dodangoda, Kalutara; Galle Four Gravets, Galle

Miris-vatta: Seethawaka, Colombo; Divulapitiya, Gampaha; Bandaragama, Kalutara; Walallavita, Kalutara; Bentota, Galle; Welivitiya-Divithura, Galle; Beliatta, Hambantota; Padiyathalawa, Ampara. Miris: pepper in general, chillies (Sinhala, Clough); Marīca: peppercorn (Sanskrit, Austro Asiatic origin noted, CDIAL 9875); Marica: pepper (Pali, CDIAL 9875); Miḷaku: black pepper (Tamil, DED 4867); Ḷ/ R; K/ S change possible; Miriyal: pepper (Tamil, Piṅkalam, 6: 623); Meṇasu, Meḻasu: pepper (Kannada, DED 4867)

Valav-vatta: Seethawaka, Colombo; Mirigama, Gampaha; Galle Four Gravets, Galla

Kos-vatta: Seethawaka, Colombo; SJ Pura, Colombo; Pallepola, Matale; Neluwa, Galle; Bingiriya, Kurunegala; Panduwasnuwara West, Kurunegala; Rideegama, Kurunegala; Nattandiya, Puttalam; Kalawana, Ratnapura

Aruk-vatta: Padukka, Colombo

Pol-vatta: Maharagama, Colombo; Divulapitiya, Gampaha; Minuwangoda, Gampaha; Harispattuwa, kandy; Hatharaliyadda, Kandy; Pallepola, Matale; Yatawatta, Matale; Ambalangoda, Galle; Weligama, Matara; Rideegama, Kurunegala; Meegahakivula, Badulla

Kuppiyā-vatta: Thimbirigasyaya, Colombo. Kuppāyam: hamlet of the Roḍiya tribe; "Roḍīn vasana kuḍā gama" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kuppam, Kumpai: small village of communities that are low in caste hierarchy (Tamil, DED 1732); Koppa: hut of a people lowest in caste hierarchy (Tulu, DED 1732); Kuppī: hut (Kolomi, DED 1732)

Vẹlla-vatta: Thimbirigasyaya, Colombo; Hikkaduwa, Galle

Mal-vatta: Dehiwala, Colombo; Attanagalla, Gampaha; Kalutara, Kalutara; Kandy Four Gravets, Kandy; Matale, Matale; Godakawela, Ratnapura; Yatiyanthota, Kegalle

Kaṭu-kuruńdu-vatta: Ratmalana, Colombo

Rāvatā-vatta: Moratuwa, Colombo. Rāvuta: horseman (Sorata); Rāvuttaṉ: horseman (Tamil, usage noticed only around 13th century CE, MTL traces etymology to Raut in Urdu); Rāutta: warrior (Prakrit, CDIAL, 10682); Rāuta: a Kṣtriya clan, soldier (Oriya, CDIAL, 10682); Rajaputra: king's son (Sanskrit, CDIAL 10682)

Us-vatta: Moratuwa, Colombo; Kalutara, Kalutara; Ja-Ela, Gampaha;

Villōrā-vatta: Moratuwa, Colombo

Egoḍa-vatta: Kesbewa, Colombo; Chilaw, Puttalam

Pẹlẹn-vatta: Kesbewa, Colombo

Ẹvari-vatta: Katana, Gampaha; Wattala, Gampaha; Agalawatta, Kalutara. Ẹvari: "Āvaraṇaya, Pẹlali, Gasvesesak" (Sorata)

Baṇḍāra-vatta: Katana, Gampaha

Kasa-gaha-vatta: Katana, Gampaha

Sirińga-pāta-vatta: Divulapitiya, Gampaha

Ēkala-kuruńdu-vatta: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Ōvala Pol-vatta: Matale, Matale

Siri-mal-vatta: Kundasale, Kandy

Hal-gaha-vela-vatta: Divulapitiya, Gampaha

Toṭṭilla-gaha-vatta: Divulapitiya, Gampaha. Toṭilla: a tree, Spathodea indica and Bignonia indica (Clough)

Assẹnnā-vatta: Divulapitiya, Gampaha

Vil-vatta: Mirigama, Gampaha

Pamuṇu-vatta: Mirigama, Gampaha

Utuvan-bō-gaha-vatta: Mirigama,Gampaha

Kitāna-vatta: Mirigama, Gampaha. Kittan: marline, tow, hemp (Clough); jute

Bora-goḍa-vatta: Minuwangoda, Gampaha

Pīlla-vatta: Minuwangoda, Gampaha

Kōpi-vatta: Minuwangoda, Gampaha; Mahara, Gampaha. Kōpi: coffee (from English to Sinhala and Eezham Tamil; Kōppi in Eezham Tamil)

Aṁba-gaha-vatta: Minuwangoda, Gampaha; Bope-Poddala, Galle

Ẹṭaṁba-gaha-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Hẹḷaṁba-gaha-vatta: Naula, Matale

Vīdiya-vatta: Minuwangoda, Gampaha; Gampaha, Gampaha

Āracci-vatta: Minuwangoda, Gampaha

Kuňjā-vatta: Wattala, Gampaha. 1. Kuñja: "Gas vẹl vẹvī guhāvak men vū tẹna" (Sorata); 2. Kuňcu: small (Tamil, see Kuñcu related place names)

Ẹlēhi-vatta: Wattala, Gampaha

Palliya-vatta: Wattala, Gampaha

Galla-vatta: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Viśākā-vatta: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Kapu-vatta: Ja-Ela, Gampaha; Dambulla, Matale; Welipitiya, Matara

Us-vatta: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Baṭu-vatta: Ja-Ela, Gampaha; Galigamuwa, Kegalle

Tē-vatta: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Kẹṭagē-vatta: Ja-Ela, Gampaha

Kōla-vatta: Attanagalla, Gampaha

Raṁbuṭan-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha. Raṁbuṭan: a tree native of the Malay islands, Nephelium lappaceum (Clough)

Ẹṭaṁba-gaha-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Alliya-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha. Note Alliya-vattai in Kōpāy

Bō-gaha-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha; Bandaragama, Kalutara; Bulathsinhala, Kalutara; Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya; Balapitiya, Galle

Tal-gas-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Kiri-mẹṭiya-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Vẹli-kẹṭiya-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Badu-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Mī-gaha-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha; Kelaniya, Gampaha; Biyagama, Gampaha;

Dēga-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Kiṁbul-vila-vatta: Dompe, Gampaha

Maha-vala-vatta: Dompe, gampaha

Tal-vatta: Biyagama, Gampaha; Kandy Four Gravets, Kandy; Katuwana, Hambantota

Pệliya-goḍa-vatta: Kelaniya, Gampaha. The garden or settlement attached to Pệliya-goḍa

Siyaṁbalā-pē-vatta: Biyagama, Gampaha

Miriya-vatta: Panadura, Kalutara

Toṭa-vatta: Panadura, Kalutara

Vēra-vatta: Panadura, Kalutara

Pin-vatta: Panadura, Kalutara

Hal-toṭiyā-vatta: Horana, Kalutara

Koṭṭiyā-vatta: Ingiriya, Kalutara. Koṭi: enclosure

Rayi-gam-vatta: Ingiriya, Kurunegala

Yahala-vatta: Bulathsinhala, Kalutara

Vaga-vatta: Ingiriya, Kalutara

Demōdara-vatta: Bulathsinhala, Kalutara. The plantation/ garden/ settlement attached to the place Demōdara

Gamagē-vatta: Bulathsinhala, Kalutara

Vēra-vatta: Madurawela, Kalutara

Del-dora-vatta: Millaniya, Kalutara

Jā-vatta: Kalutara, Kalutara. Probably Yā-vatta

Iḷuk-vatta: Kalutara, Kalutara; Yatinuwara, Kandy

Raja-vatta: Kalutara, Kalutara

Marakkalaha-vatta: Beruwala, Kalutara

Kādiya-vatta: Beruwala, Kalutara

Sīna-vatta: Beruwala, Kalutara

Sapu-gaha-vatta: Dodangoda, Kalutara

Yaṭa-dōḷa-vatta: Mathugama, Kalutara

Agala-vatta: Kalutara, Kalutara

Veda-vatta: Walallavita, Kalutara

Pẹla-vatta: Walallavita, Kalutara; Bope-Poddala, Galle; Imaduwa, Galle; Kotaola, Matara; Narammala, Kurunegala

Gulana-vatta: Wallallavita, Kalutara

Kaňkoṭa-vatta: Walallavita, Kalutara

Akkara-vatta: Thumpane, Kandy

Gallena-vatta: Thumpane, Kandy

Pālu-kōpi-vatta: Thumpane, Kandy

Dehi-vatta: Pujapitiya, Kandy; Seruvila, Trincomalee

Yak-dehi-vatta: Nivithigala, Ratnapura

Divāna-vatta: Pujapitiya, Kandy

Kaha-vatta: Pujapitiya, Kandy; Doluwa, Kandy; Beliatta, Hambantota; Elapatha, Ratnapura; Kahawatta, Ratnapura. Kaha: turmeric (Clough); Kasāya: yellowish red, astringent (Sanskrit, non-IA origin suggested); Kai: (verb) to be astringent (Tamil, DED 1249); Kayar, Kacar: astringency (Tamil, DED 1249)

Kasā-vatta: Akurana, Kandy. Kasā: = Kaha (Clough)

Telaṁbu-gaha-vatta: Akurana, Kandy

Mola-goḍa-yā-vatta: Pathadumbara, Kandy

Mī-gama-vatta: Pathadumbara, Kandy

Kaḷu-gala-vatta: Pathadumbara, Kandy

Pallē-vatta: Minipe, Kandy

Uḍa-vatta: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya

Gala-baḍa-vatta: Medadumbara, Kandy

Raňgala Aḷut-vatta: Medadumbara, Kandy

Aṁba-koṭaya-vatta: Kundasale, Kandy

Pūrṇa-vatta: Kandy Four Gravets, Kandy

Bō-vala-vatta: Kandy Four Gravets, Kandy

Ala-galla-vatta: Yatinuwara, Kandy

Kirimẹṭiya-vatta: Yatinuwara, Kandy

Karuvala-vatta: Yatinuwara, Kandy

Mudali-vatta: Yatinuwara, Kandy

Tala-vatta: Udanuwara, Kandy

Urulệ-vatta: Udunuwara, Kandy; Yatawatta, Matale. 1. Hurulu?: a tree or plant (Sorata): 2. Urulệ, Urulệvā: a sort of wildcat, lesser civet cat, Viverra malaccensis (Sinhala, Clough); Kuruḷai: young of certain animals (Tamil, DED 1791); Iralai, Erale: terms for a kind of deer (Tamil, Kannada, DED 476); Urulệ-taṭṭam, Urulệ-caṭṭam: "Urulệvāgē pasu koṭasehi vū maspiṭu" (Sorata); Caṭṭam: sac or gland in the anal pouch of the civet cat (Tamil, Malayalam, DED 2305)

Sādikkā-vatta: Udunuwara, Kandy. Sādikkā: nutmeg tree, Myristica fragrans (Sinhala, Clough): Sādi+kā; Sādi: cognate of Jāti: mace, nutmeg, jasmine; Jāti-phala: nutmeg, mace (Sanskrit, CDIAL 5187, 5189); Kā: cognate of Kāy: (verb) to bear fruit, (noun) unripe fruit, also hard fruit (Tamil, DED 1459)

Liyan-gaha-vatta: Udunuwara, Kandy

Piṭa-vala-vatta: Udunuwara, Kandy

Orayan-vatta: Doluwa, Kandy

Ińguru-vatta: Dolowa, Kandy; Kuliyapitiya West, Kurunegala

Aṭuvē-vatta: Doluwa, Kandy

Gam-pola-vatta: Doluwa, Kandy

Uḍa-vela-vatta: Pathhewaheta, Kandy

Būṭā-vatta: Pathahewaheta, Kandy

Oluvā-vatta: Pathahewaheta, Kandy

Pēra-vatta: Deltota, Kandy

Bavlāna-vatta: Deltota, Kandy

Ilaňga-vatta: Udapalatha, Kandy

Vẹli-goḍa-vatta: Pasbage Korale, Kandy

Vera-gala-vatta: Galewela, Matale

Nabaḍa-gaha-vatta: Galewela, Matale

Baṁbara-gaha-vatta: Naula, Matale

Bōva-tẹnna-vatta: Naula, Matale

Manan-vatta: Pallepola, Matale

Kandē-vatta: Pallepola, Matale; Aranayake, Kegalle

Yaṭa-vatta: Yatawatta, Matale

Muruta-vatta: Yatawatta, Matale

Aḷut-vatta: Yatawatta, Matale; Chilaw, Puttalam

Gola-hẹn-vatta: Matale, Matale

Dun-kala-vatta: Matale, Matale

Pārā-vatta: Matale, Matale. Pāra: way, road "Mārgaya" (Sorata)

Siran-gaha-vatta: Ambanganga Korale, Matale

Mẹda-vatta: Rattota, Matale

Velan-gaha-vatta: Rattota, Matale

Al-vatta: Rattota, Matale

Vāriyapola-vatta: Ukuwela, Matale

Pan-vatta: Ukuwela, Matale

Ẹl-kaḍuva-vatta: Ukuwela, Matale

Rat-vatta: Ukuwela, Matale

Hunnas-giriya-vatta: Ukuwela, Matale

Malan-vatta: Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya

Kala-gan-vatta: Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Muň-vatta: Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Rāgala-vatta: Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Rahan-vatta: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya

Ẹṭa-vala-vatta: Bentota, Galle

Doṁba-gaha-vatta: Bentota, Galle

Hipan-vatta: Bentota, Galle

Brahmaṇa-vatta: Balapitiya, Galle

Pẹṭi-vatta: Balapitiya, Galle

Tal-gaha-vatta: Karandeniya, Galle

Hirē-vatta: Ambalangoda, Galle. Hirē: Irē < Ira: "Geviya yutu koṭasa hō badu mudala" (Sorata, App.); Iṟai: tax on land, duty (Tamil, DED 521)

Kuṭṭiya-vatta: Welivitiya-Divithura, Galle

Ūra-vatta: Hikkaduwa, Galle

Tel-vatta: Hikkaduwa, Galle

Gam-maḍu-vatta: Hikkaduwa, Galle

Kande-vatta: Galle Four Gravets, Galle

Pokuṇa-vatta: Galle Four Gravets, Galle

Peṭṭi-gala-vatta: Galle Four Gravets, Galle

Vẹli-vatta: Galle Four Gravets, Galle

Bās-vatta: Bope-Poddala, Galle. Bās: foreman (Sinhala, from Dutch, Clough)

Vala- vatta: BopePoddala, Galle

Kaha-dūva-vatta: Bope-Poddala, Galle

Aṁbalan-vatta: Akmeemana, Galle

Nā-gaha-vatta: Akmeemana, Galle

Goḍa-vatta: Habaraduwa, Galle

Para-gaha-vatta: Akuressa, Matara

Beli-vatta: Dickwella, Matara

Kōṭṭa-vatta: Thihagoḍa, Matara

Uyan-vatta: Matara Four Gravets, Matara; Mawanella, Kegalle

Mẹdda-vatta: Matara Four Gravets, Matara

Gan-darā-vatta: Matara Four Gravets

Kehel-vatta: Katuwana, Hambantota; Aranayake, Kegalle

Hẹḍi-vatta: Katuwana, Hambantota

Ran-dunu-vatta: Thissamaharama, Hambantota

Rubber-vatta: Thissamaharama, Hambantota

Poliyar-vatta: Ambalantota, Hambantota

Valavē-vatta: Ambalantota, Hambantota

Tal-vatta: Katuwana, Hambantota

Pahaḷa-vatta: Walasmulla, Hambantota

Nāyaka-vatta: Beliatta, Hambantota

Dīgannệ-vatta: Kotavehera, Trincomalee

Bakmī-gaha-vatta: Maho, Kurunegala

Karuvala-gaha-vatta: Maho, Kurunegala

Pohora-vatta: Polpithigama, Kurunegala

Dig-gala-vatta: Ibbagamuva, Kurunegala

Ganē-vatta: Ganewatta, Kurunegala

Pahaḷa Kos-vatta: Bingiriya, Kurunegala

Ihaḷa Kos-vatta: Bingiriya, Kurunegala

Baṇḍāra-kos-vatta: Paduvasnuwara West, Kurunegala

Akara-vatta: Panduwasnuwara west, Kurunegala

Ī-taṇa-vatta: Bamunukotuwa, Kurunegala; Bibile, Moneragala

Kavuḍā-vatta: Maspotha, Kurunegala

Aram-pola-vatta: Mawathagama, Kurunegala

Del-golla-vatta: Mawathagama, Kurunegala

Dunukē-vatta: Mawathagama, Kurunegala

Uḍa-ińguru-vatta: Mawathagama, Kurunegala

Ikiri-vatta: Rideegama, Kurunegala. Ikiri: a plant, Kaṭu-karańḍu, Barleria (Clough)

Patin-vatta: Weerambugedera, Kurunegala

Nakkā-vatta: Kuliyapitiya East, Kurunegala. Nakā: "Nikāyaya, Vihāraya" (Sinhala, Sorata); Nikāya: heap (Sanskrit, CDIAL 7140); collection (Pali, CDIAL 7140). Note another place name Nakkā-viṭa, Deraniyagala, Kegalle

Yā-kara-vatta: Kuliyapitiya West, Kurunegala. Yā-kara: 1. Yā: a field such as a cultivation field; "Hēnkuṁburu ādi iḍampeḷa hō rẹsa" (Sinhala, Sorata); Yāya: open champaign country (Sinhala, Clough); Āy, Āyvu: width, breadth (Tamil, DED 366); Kara: side, neighbourhood "Samīpaya" (Sinhala, Sorata); 2. Yā: neighbourhood, "Samīpa" (Sinhala, Sorata); Yā: (verb) to bind, be inseparable from (Tamil, DED 5149); Kara: meaning the same; 3. Yā-karu: ironsmith, "Yakadīn karmanta karannā" (Sinhala, Sorata); Yā: iron, "Yakaḍaya" (Sinhala, Sorata); Ayil: iron (Tamil, DED 192); Ayas: iron (Sanskrit, CDIAL 590); Karu: worker, "Karmātikāraka" (Sinhala, Sorata). The first two meanings seem to be more appropriate. Note the place names Yā-karai in Vadamaratchi Southwest, Jaffna; and Yā-vattai in Kōpāy, Jaffna.

Diya-dora-ihaḷa-vatta: Kuliyapitiya West, Kurunegala

Vatu-vatta: Udabaddawa, Kurunegala. The banana garden; Vatu in this place name means plantain; Vatu: "Kehel-gasa" (spoken Sinhala, Sorata); probably related to Vāḻai: plantain (Tamil, DED 5373); Vay: plantain (Kota, DED 5373); Ai/ At change is possible

Raṇa-vatta: Narammmala, Kurunegala. Raṇa: bamboo, "Uṇagasa" (Sorata)

Uḍa-vela-vatta: Narammala, Kurunegala

Vil-gamuva-vatta: Alawwa, Kurunegala

Nẹbaḍa-vatta: Alawwa, Kurunegala

Nava-tal-vatta: Alawwa, Kurunegala

Ẹṁbala-vatta: Polgahawela, Kurunegala

Palliya-vatta: Kalpiṭṭi, Puttalam

Uppala-vatta: Anaimadu, Puttalam. Uppaḷa-vattai

Vīra-kẹlē-vatta: Chilaw, Puttalam

Taṁba-galla-vatta: Madape, Puttalam

Bōla-vatta: Wennapuwa, Puttalam

Hēna-vatta: Mihinthale, Anuradhapura

Kirińdi-vatta: Palagala, Anuradhapura

Vệ-vatta: Mahiyanganaya, Badulla. Vệ: Vẹva

Arā-vatta: Rideemaliyadda, Badulla. Arā: Arāva

Kẹṭa-vatta: Meegahakivula, Badulla

Pālā-vatta: Passara, Badulla

Tola-bō-vatta: Passara, Badulla

Puhul-vatta: Passara, Badulla

Baṭa-vatta: Lunugala, Badulla

Maḍu-vatta: Lunugala, Badulla

Mal-vattē-gama: Uva paranagama, Badulla

Luṇu-vatta: Uva Paranagama, Badulla

Vẹli-maḍa-vatta: Welimada, Badulla. The settlement attached to Velimaḍa

Miraha-vatta: Welimada, Badulla

Liyan-gaha-vela-vatta: Bandarawela, Badulla

Doḍam-vatta: Haputale, Badulla

Nāraň-vatta: Badalkumbura, Moneragala

Riṭi-gaha-vatta: Madulla, Moneragala

Ṭẹň-vatta: Moneragala, Moneragala

Aliyā-vatta: Moneragala, Moneragala

Mayiyokkā-vatta: Badalkumbura, Moneragala. Mayiyokkā: Maññokkā: Cassava yam, Manihot cassava (Sinhala, Sorata, from Portuguese, called Mandioca, Manioc in Brazil)

Kīna-vatta: Damana, Ampara

Ẹhẹliya-goḍa-vatta: Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura. The garden or settlement attached to Ẹhẹliyagoḍa

Ẹllē-vatta: Balangoda, Ratnapura

Ampiṭiyā-vatta: Balangoda, Ratnapura

Kempanā-vatta: Ratnapura, Ratnapura

Hal-vatta: Rambukkane, Kegalle

Kottana-vatta: Rambukkana, Kegalle. Kottā: Vẹl-penela (Sorata); Kottān in Tamil

Ō-vatta: Mavanella, Kegalle. Probably Oya-vatta

Ẹpalāva-vatta: Aranayake, Kegalle

Ak-vatta: Warakapola, Kegalle

Mōrā-vatta: Ruwanwella, Kegalle

Dōḍā-vatta: Deraniyagala, Kegalle

Pol-gas-vatta: Deraniyagala, Kegalle

Nāmal-vatta: Morawewa, Trincomalee

* * *


Vattala: Vatta+la affix?


Vattala: Wattala, Gampaha

Bala-vattala: Rideegama, Kurunegala

Vattal-poḷa: Panadura, Kalutara; Udunuwara, Kandy

* * *


Vatta/ Vat/ Vatu/ Vattē: middle component


Pol-vatta-kanda: Rattota, Matale; Rattota, Matale

Pol-vatta-hēna: Opanayake, Ratnapura

Pol-vattē-gedara: Narammala, Kurunegala

Mal-vatta-gama: GI Korale, Kandy

Maha-vatta-gama: Hali-Ela, Badulla

Dan-vatta-goḍa: Beruwala, Kalutara

Mal-vatu-kanda: Walallavita, Kalutara

Ala-vattē-gama: Thumpane, Kandy; Hanguranketha, Nuwara Eliya

Ala-vatu-giri-gama: Kundasale, Kandy

Amu-vat-deniya: Harispattuva, Kandy

Mal-vatta-gama: GI Korale, Kandy

Vệ-vattāva: Naula, Matale

Daḷu-vatu-mulla: Hikkaduwa, Gale. Dalu-vatta: garden planted with the betel creeper (Sinhala, Clough); Daḷu: young shoot of the leaf, "Aṅkuraya, Nomerệ koḷaya" (Sinhala, Sorata); Taḷir: (verb) to shoot forth, sprout, put forth leaves; (noun) sprout, tender shoot (Tamil, DED 3131)

Pali-vatu-goḍa: Bope-Poddala, Galle

Annāsi-vatu-goḍa: Habaraduwa, Galle

Aṭa-dahe-vatu-goḍa: Habaraduwa, Galle

Ala-vatu-tis-goḍa: Habaraduwa, Galle

Kaha-vatu-Goḍa: Habaraduwa, Galle

Mal-vatu-goḍa: Kirinda Puhulwella, Matara

Tala-vattē-gedara: Polgahawela, Kurunegala

Kitul-vatta-gama: Soranathota, Badulla

Velē-vatu-goḍa: Kolonna, Ratnapura

Kiri-vatu-ḍuva: Homagama, Colombo

Tala-vatu-goḍa: Maharagama, Colombo

Ala-vatu-piṭiya: Katana, Gampaha

Badu-vatu-goḍa: Gampaha, Gampaha

Kesel-vatu-goḍa: Gampaha, Gampaha

Mal-vatu-hiri-piṭiya: Mahara, Gampaha

Tala-vatu-hēn-piṭa: Kelaniya, Gampaha

Ala-vatu-goḍa: Akurana, Kandy; Welimada, Badulla

Mā-vatu-pola: Akurana, Kandy

Muň-vatu-goḍa: Yatinuwara, Kandy

Ala-vatu-vala: Ukuwela, Matale

Vẹli-vatu-goḍa: Balapitiya, Galle

Pol-vatu-mōdara: Weligama, Matara

Amu-vatu-goḍa: Imbulpe, Ratnapura

Pol-vatta-hēna: Opanayake, Ratnapura

Kehel-vatu-goḍa: Rambukkana, Kegalle

* * *


Vatu/ Vatta/ Vatte/ Vattē/ Vatō: prefix


Vatu-mulla: Ratmalana, Colombo; Minuwangoda, Gampaha; Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Vatte-mulla: Divulapitiya, Gampaha

Vatte-gedara: Minuwangoda, Gampaha; Maharagama, Colombo; Ukuwela, Matale; Mallawapitiya, Kurunegala; Pannala, Kurunegala; Deraniyagala, Kegalle

Vattē-gedara: Yatawatta, Matale; Aranayake, Kegalle

Vatu-gedara: Balapitiya, Galle

Vatu-piṭi-vala: Attanagalla, Gampaha

Vatta-mulla: Kalutara, Kalutara

Vatta-hēna: Dodangoda, Kalutara

Vattē-hēna: Udapalatha, Kandy; Niyagama, Galle: Yakkalamulla, Galle

Vattē-gama: Pathadumbara, Kandy; Dickwella, Matara; Siyambalanduwa, Moneragala

Vatu-liyadda: Medadumbara, Kandy; Pathahewaheta, Kandy

Vatu-vala: Harispattuva, Kandy

Vatu-landa: Walapane, Nuwara Eliya

Vatō-gala: Yakkalamulla, Galle

Vatu-kola-kanda: Kirinda Puhulwella

Vatu-kanda: Katuwana, Hambantota

Vattē-hēn-goḍa: Walasmulla, Hambantota

Vatu-kana: Bamunakotuwa, Kurunegala

Vatu-pola: Pallama, Puttalam

Vattē-vệva: Kebithigollewa, Anuradhapura

Vatu-yāya: Kuruvita, Ratnapura

* * *


Bulat:


Bulat-vẹl-kańdura: Minipe, Kandy

Bulat-golla: Harispattuva, Kandy

Bulat-gama: Ambagamuwa, Nuwara Eliya; Balangoda, Ratnapura

Bulat-kohu-piṭiya: Bulathkohupitiya, Kegalle

Bulat-sinhala: Bulathsinhala, Kalutara

* * *


Appu:


Puňci-appu-jańdura: Lunugamvehera, Hambantota

* * *


Baňgalā:


Baňgalā-hata: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya

Vaṅkaḷāvaṭi: Kayts, Jaffna


Revised: Saturday, 04 February 2017, 23:30

First published: Tuesday, 28 August 2007, 01:00

Previous columns:

 

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