Chankanai is a town located 12 km north-west of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Chankanai has a Peripheral Unit government hospital, called Chankanai Divisional Hospital, with 76 beds as of 2010. It is controlled by the provincial government in Jaffna and is also the only hospital in Northern Province that provides telemetry services for neurorehabilitation. There is a church from Dutch colonial rule that was built by the Portuguese and later improved by the Dutch.

Etymology

It is believed that the name Chankanai originated from its market roots. This was a famous trading place. The measurements used for rice in old era were "Changazhi", "Nazhi" and "Uzhi". The name originated from a combination of these three measuring containers. There is a similar place name found in Kerala is known as Changanassery. Both the places are related with markets and trading places.

Geography

Chankanai is surrounded by Nitchamam, Thottilady, Sandilipay, Kattudai, Sithankerny.