 Prior to the arrival of Portuguese in 1622 and then Dutch colonial overloads in 1656, leaders of the Tampalakamam Pattu and others around it were independent rulers sometimes subject to Jaffna kingdom or Kandyan kingdom.Tampalakamam is surrounded by lush paddy fields and was a prosperous settlement.The presiding deity is known as "Ati Konanayakar" and the consort as "Hamsagamanambikai", another name for Mother goddess Amman).