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Lighthouse Location
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Sri Lanka
The lighthouse is believed to have been destroyed in 1996/97 during the Sri Lankan Civil War but it is included in the List of lights prepared and published by the NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Mullaitivu Lighthouse is said to be an iron structure and was described by NGA as an “iron latticework obelisk.” Built in 1896 to a height of 19.8 meters, it survived to for over 100 years. This was located near the mouth of the Vaduvakallu lagoon.
As per the Sailing Directions (Enroute) for India and the Bay of Bengal, the lighthouse is located at 09° 16.0′ N, 080° 49.0′ E in Mullaitivu. It is a metal framework obelisk with a dome top. 19.8 meters high. as per Lighthouse Explorer website, it had two white flashes every 10 seconds and had a range 10 of nautical miles
There are no photos of this lighthouse nor the exact location is known. Only one sketch of the lighthouse survives in the above mentioned book. It is said that this lighthouse was completely destroyed in 1996-1997 period due the war waged by the LTTE Tamil Tiger Terrorists. https://i0.wp.com/amazinglanka.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/mulativu-02.jpg?w=689&ssl=1
According to a report by Maritime Archaeology Unit of the Central Cultural Fund, a team who was carrying out archaeological research off Mullaitivu in 2013, found only the foundation if the above lighthouse as seen on the photo above.
https://i0.wp.com/amazinglanka.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Picture20.jpg?ssl=1
The marker in the map points to the possible area of the lighthouse and any indication of the structure may not be existing now.
References
1. 1989. Sailing Directions (Enroute) for India anf the Bay of Bengal. 4th ed. Defence Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center, p.126.
2. Lighthousedigest.com. 2022. Foghorn Publishing … Lighthouse Explorer Database … Mullaittivu Light. [online] Available at:
3. Rowlett, R., 2006. Lighthouses of Sri Lanka. [online] Ibiblio.org. Available at:
4. Wlol.arlhs.com. 2006. Mullaittivu Light – ARLHS SLI-016. [online] Available at:
| Manufacture Date | 1892 |
|---|---|
| Lighthouse Construction | 1896 |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Lens Order | 5th order |
| Lens Type | Fixed |
| Status | publish |
| Light Character | Fl (2) W 10s |
| Lighthouse Markings | 20 metres tall lighthouse which had an iron skeletal tower |
| Coastal Erosion Vulnerability | |
| Climate Change Impact Observations | no |
| Condition Observations | destroyed |
| Open Status (Tower) | Closed |
| Coordinates | 9.2902686141,80.8109127248 |
| Other | ARLHS SLI-016; ex-Admiralty F0866; NGA 27232. |
| Data Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lighthouses_in_Sri_Lanka https://msi.nga.mil/api/publications/download?key=16694312/SFH00000/NIMA_LOL/Pub112/UpdatedPub112bk.pdf&type=view |
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