What is the meaning of Trincomalee?

The name of "Trincomalee" is translated from the Tamil words Thiru-kona-malai, which mean "Sacred Hill of the Lord."

Thiru = Sacred or Holy

Kona = Hill/Peak; an angular shape

Malai = Mountain/Hill

The name Trincomalee carries strong historical and cultural significance, which is closely associated with the Koneswaram Temple. It is a well-known ancient historic Hindu temple situated on Swami Rock, overlooking the Indian Ocean.

From the very start, the original Tamil name morphed into the English version of "Trincomalee" because of colonial interventions by the Portuguese, Dutch, and English.