Cankilian Thoppu facade or Poothathamby arch, simply known as Cankilian Thoppu, is an ancient facade and one of the remnants of the Jaffna kingdom. The arch is located on the Jaffna-Point Pedro Road, near Nallur, Jaffna.

This is situated 800m from Nallur Kandasmy Temple on the Jaffna Point Pedro Road. This being the entrance structure to the Sangiliyan Palace is said to be a part of the Sangiltyan Palace. The arch or the entrance is well preserved. Presently a shelter had been erected above it.

This monument is named after King Sangilian or Sangili(1519 A.D), who was the last king of the Jaffna Kingdom. Thoppu of Sangiliyan Thoppu is an arch or facade; hence, it is presently known as the Arch of King Sangili. This facade ornately designed with various mouldings is made of brick and mortar and plastered with lime mortar.

Dr Kunarasa says that it was the headquarters of Poonathamby Mudaliyar, Poonathamby Mudaliyaran, efficient Tamil administrator of the Dutch period.

The site was designated as an Archaeological Protected Monument by Government Gazette notification. No: 1486 published on 23 February 2007

(THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF THE JAFFNA PENINSULA - Dr Malini Dias M. A. (Kelaniya) PhD. (London) Sunil Bandara Koralage B.A.(Hons), MSc. (Kelaniya) M. V. G. Kalpa Asanga B.A., Post Graduate Dip. Archaeology (Kelaniya) - Department of Archaeology 2016 P:207)

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Sangili Toppu (Poothathamby Arch) in Jaffna

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