Forts of Sri Lanka

Forts and fortifications in Sri Lanka date back thousands of years with many being built by Sri Lankan Kings, these include several walled cities. With out set of colonial rule in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka was occupied by several major colonial empires that from time-to-time became the dominant power in the Indian ocean. The colonists built several western styled forts, mostly in and round the cost of the island. The first to build colonial forts in Sri Lanka were the Portuguese, these forts were captured and later expanded by the Dutch. The British occupied these Dutch forts during the Napoleonic wars.

Most of colonial forts were garrisoned up until the early twentieth century. The coastal forts had coastal artillery manned by the Ceylon Garrison Artillery during the two world wars. Most of these were abandoned by the military, but retained civil administrative officers, while others retained military garrisons, which were more administrative than operational. Some were reoccupied by military units with the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War, Jaffna fort for example came under siege several times.

Pre-colonial forts

Colonial Forts

Colombo fort

The first colonial fort built in Sri Lanka, Colombo started out as a trading post of the Portuguese and became the capital of Portuguese Ceylon. The first fort called Santa Barbara was built in 1518 but in 1524 it was abandoned. In 1554 a new fort was built and the city of Colombo developed. The Portuguese town was destroyed by the Dutch during the siege in 1655-56. The Dutch rebuilt Colombo fort and strengthened its bastions. In 1870 the Dutch fort of Colombo was demolished by the English. In the late nineteenth century the walls of the fort were demolished by the British to extend the growing city. Today there is no trace of the old fort or any part of it, however the area which the fort occupied is still referred to as fort which is the central business district of Colombo.

Galle fort

Galle fort was built first by the Portuguese, then modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. During the Dutch period in Ceylon, the Dutch brought labourers from Indonesia and Mozambique to build this massive fort. Even today, after 400 years of existence, it looks new and polished. Today many Dutch people who still own most of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.

Today, the citizens of Dutch fort in Galle are trying to make this a free port and a free trade zone. If successful no taxes are levied on the companies and individuals who reside inside the city.'

Fort Fredrick

Fort Fredrick is a fort built by Portuguese at Trincomalee in 1624. This was captured by a Dutch fleet under Admiral Westerwold in 1639. Not until 1665 was a new fort built here by the Dutch defend against the advancements of the British and the French. In 1672, the year when the Dutch Republic was attacked by France, Britain, and two German states, the French captured Trincomalee and later they occupied Batticaloa. However soon the French were forced to leave. Trincomalee was important for its large all-season secure harbor. In late 18th century Trincomalee traded hands once more with the French capturing it again and later handing back to the VOC at the Peace of Paris in 1784. In 1795 it was taken over by the British, an remained a British garrison till 1948. Coastal artillery guns were added during the two World Wars. Today it remains garrisoned by a detachment of the Sri Lanka Army accessible to visitors.

Jaffna fort

The original Portuguese fort, where the remaining Portuguese had assembled after the fall of Colombo, had been captured by the Dutch in 1658 after a three and a half month siege. Since 1680 until the takeover by the British in 1795 the fort went though several phases of development. Thus making it one of the strongest forts in Asia. Unlike the Colombo and Galle Forts, which were fortified towns, the Jaffna Fort had an almost exclusively military and administrative purpose. All the civilians lived in the residential town of Jaffna, adjoining the fort. Up till the 1970s the fort and its buildings were in their original state, despite its continuous use by the British and later the Ceylon government. During the Sri Lankan Civil War the fort and the town of Jaffna changed hands several times. Notably the Sri Lanka Army garrison of the fort lead out a siege for months before being withdrawn in the 1980's. As a result of the war much of the fort has been destroyed.

Batticaloa fort

The batticaloa fort was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was the first to be captured by the Dutch (18 May 1638). It is one of the most picturesque of the small Dutch fort of Sri Lanka, it’s situated in an island, still in good condition. Near Batticaloa the Portuguese had a tiny fort at Tanavare (there is a map of it but no remains) There is a 1st century CE Buddhist Dagaba inside the Dutch fort.

Matara fort

The fort was built by the Portuguese about 1550 but the actual fort was built by the Dutch when they took Matara, after the capture of Galle. The remains of the fort are in good preservation.

tar fort

On the other side of the rive that flows throw the Matara town is the star fort. This little redoubt called "Van Eck" was built in 1763-1765 by the Dutch after the Matara rebellion in 1761-1762. This fort is the unique star shaped fort in Ceylon, over the gate of the fort is the Dutch coat of arms. It’s still in good condition .

Fort Macdowall

Fort Macdowall was built by the British in the town of Matale in 1803 as an out post during the Kandian Wars. The fort was named after General Macdowall, who led the experdition to the Kingdom of Kandy, it is one of the few forts build inland. In 1948 during the Matale Rebellion the fort came under siege of the rebels. Today only the gate way and few ramparts remain, with the interior of the fort turn into a cemetery, the Fort MacDowall Cemetery. [ [http://lakdiva.org/codrington/chap10.html TRANSITION TO BRITISH ADMINISTRATION] ]

Kalpitiya fort

Located at the northern tip of the narrow land tongue that stretches to the north for about 50 kilometres beyond Puttlam, parallel to the mainland. Built in 1667, on the spot where the Portuguese had a stockade and a Jesuit chapel. The walls are about 4 meters high and inside are the remnants of the chapel, a commander's house, barrack rooms, a prison and several go downs. Kalpitiya was important since it command the entrance to the bay. Puttlam was an area that had large amounts cinnamon cultivations. The Dutch even built a canal from Puttlam via Negombo to Colombo to bring the cinnamon. The fort was neglect for many years until it was turned into a Sri Lankan Navy base for training and operational activity escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War. The ramparts are in good condition today.

Negombo fort

A small but important fort in the town of Negombo, north of Colombo was built by the Portuguese to defend Colombo. In 1640 the Dutch destroyed it and rebuilt it not on the usual square pattern, but on a pentagonal one, though it had only four bulwarks. The fort was located on a narrow strip of land between a lagoon and an inlet of the sea. It was surrounded by moats, and the gate was accessed via a drawbridge. The English occupied it in 1796. Today only part of the walls and a arched gateway remains of the fort. It is used as a prison by the Department of Prisons.

Mannar fort

Built on the island of Mannar by the Portuguese in 1560, it surrendered to the Dutch on 22 February 1658 and was rebuilt by the Dutch in 1696. On 5 October 1795 the Dutch surrendered to the British. The fort has four bastions and it’s still in good condition.

Martello tower of Hambantota

A Martello tower was built by the British to protect the small harbor of Hambantota. Restored in 1999, it’s still in good condition.

References

External links

* [http://www.colonialvoyage.com/remainSriL.html DUTCH AND PORTUGUESE BUILDINGS IN SRI LANKA, Written by Marco Ramerini]
* [http://wesrilanka.net/destinations.html Colonial Forts in Sri Lanka]