Portal:Sri Lanka/Selected article/09 2008
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Trincomalee (ත්රිකුණාමලය in Sinhala; திருகோணமலை in Tamil) is a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, about 110 miles northeast of Kandy. The town is built on a bold peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbors. The Bay of Trincomalee is landlocked; the harbor is renowned for its extent and security; unlike every other in the Indian Sea, it is accessible to every description of craft in every variation of weather, but it lies out of the course of trade, Colombo Port having in this respect a great advantage over it.
The long and wide beaches here offer surfing, scuba diving and fishing and whale watching. This sea town is home to the Thirukonesvaram Kovil, which is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Sri Lanka. The town also has the largest Dutch fortress of Sri Lanka. Home to the Sri Lankan naval base & Sri Lankan Air Force base. The town is claimed by the LTTE as the capital of Tamil Eelam.