Vavuniya is a city located in the Vavuniya District within the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It serves as a municipality administered by a Municipal Council and functions as a significant border town that divides the country's Tamil and Sinhalese populations, with the Sinhalese residing to the south and the Tamils to the north.
Historically known since ancient times, the area was once heavily forested and had a population of fewer than 100,000 people prior to the Sri Lankan Civil War. The city was originally named Vanni due to the abundance of Vanni trees in the region. Today, Vavuniya is home to a diverse population consisting of Tamils, Muslims, and a significant number of Sinhalese. It also serves as the location for the Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni.