Rabindranath Tagore visited Sri Lanka in 1922, 1928, and 1934 and two transit halts had a deep and lasting influence in art and culture of Sri Lanka – the visit in 1934 being the most significant (this was also Tagore’s last overseas visit in his lifetime).  When Tagore was in Sri Lanka, he did not only spend time in Colombo, but went to Anuradhapura, Galle, Kandy, and Matara, as well as Jaffna, Panadura, Horana, and other places in Sri Lanka – such was his interest in Sri Lanka and its people.  

Rabindranath Tagore came to Jaffna on 9^th June, 1934 where Shaap Mochan was performed on three successive evenings.  On the 12^th of June 1934, Tagore was at Jaffna Central College. He gave a speech on “A message from the Land of Ramachandra” and Rev Dr. Isaac Thambiah presided over this gathering.  He left Jaffna on the 15^th of June and returned by way of Dhanuskodi-Madras to Calcutta by Rail.