Trincomalee, historically known as Gokanna or Gokarna, is a major resort port city located on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee District within the Eastern Province. The city is situated on a peninsula of the same name, which serves to divide its inner and outer harbours.
The area has been a primary center for Sri Lankan Tamil-speaking culture for nearly a millennium. Notable landmarks include the Koneswaram temple, from which the city derived its historic Tamil name Thirukonamalai. Other significant historical sites in the town include the Bhadrakali Amman Temple, the Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall, and the Trincomalee Hindu College, which opened in 1897.
Trincomalee also serves as a transport hub, housing a railway station and providing an ancient ferry service that connects to Jaffna and the southern side of the harbour at Muttur. The city has a population of approximately 99,135 residents.