inscriptions is unknown although one could deduce that they are either from Eela a geographic location or were an ethnic group known as Eela. From the 19th century onwards, sources appeared in South India regarding a legendary origin for caste of toddy drawers known as Eelavar in the state of Kerala. These legends stated that Eelavar were originally from Eelam. There have also been proposals of deriving Eelam from Simhala (comes from Elam, Ilam, Tamil, Helmand River, Himalayas). Robert Caldwell (1875), following Hermann Gundert, cited the word as an example of the omission of initial sibilants in the adoption of Indo-Aryan words into Dravidian languages. The University of Madras Tamil Lexicon, compiled between 1924 and 1936, follows this view. Peter Schalk (2004) has argued against this, showing that the application of Eelam in an ethnic sense arises only in the early modern period, and was limited to the caste of "toddy drawers" until the medieval period. Suggested Biblical names Tarshish. According to James Emerson Tennent, Galle was said to be the ancient city of Tarshish where King Solomon drew ivory, peacocks and others. Cinnamon was exported from Sri Lanka as early as 1400 BC and as the root of the word itself is Hebrew, Galle may have been the entrepôt for the spice. Dambadiva, Jambudvipa Although now referring to India, The name had also, earlier been used to name Sri Lanka. As several ancient and pre-colonial sources like an 19th century English book titled Ceylon and the Cinghalese (written by Sir, Henry Charles) first published in 1850. On page 203, it says that a conference in Dambadiva (57 miles from Colombo) had been requested. Nickname/Special names Pearl of the Indian ocean Teardrop in the Indian ocean See also Sri Lankan place name etymology References External links Ancient Names of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Sri Lanka