Batticaloa fort

The Batticaloa Fort (Tamil: மட்டக்களப்புக் கோட்டை, romanized: Maṭṭakkaḷappuk Kōṭṭai; Sinhala: මඩකලපුව බලකොටුව, romanized: Madakalapuwa Balakotuwa) was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was captured by the Dutch on 18 May 1638.[2] From 1795, the fort was used by the British.

Batticaloa Fort
Portuguese/Dutch Fort
Part of Batticaloa
Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
Batticaloa Fort
Batticaloa Fort
Portuguese/Dutch Fort
Coordinates7.711901°N 81.702377°E / 7.711901; 81.702377
TypeDefence fort
Site information
Controlled byGovernment of Sri Lanka
Open to
the public		Yes
ConditionGood
Site history
Built1628[1]
Built byPortuguese and Dutch
MaterialsGranite Stones and coral
Battles/warsSeveral battles

The fort has a structure of four bastions and is protected by the Batticaloa Lagoon on two sides and a canal on the other two sides. The fort is still in reasonable condition and currently houses several local administrative departments of the Sri Lanka government in new buildings, which are located within the old structure.[3]

Timeline

Timeline of Batticaloa fort in colonial time.[4]

  • 1622 – Construction began by Portuguese
  • 1628 – Construction completed
  • 1638 – Dutch captured
  • 1639 – Fort destroyed by Dutch
  • 1665 – Reconstruction started
  • 1682 – Renovation
  • 1707 – Front bastion and complex completed
  • 1766 – Ceded to Kandyan kingdom
  • 1796 – Captured by British

See also
  • Batticaloa fort
  • Antique print of the Batticaloa Fort by Baldaeus, 1672
  • A view from the main entrance (south-east)
  • Cannon at the top, looking towards Kallady bridge/Indian Ocean. Watchtower in one of the bastions

References
  1. "Major Attractions in Batticaloa District – Batticaloa Fort". Eastern Provincial Council. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  2. "Archeological remains in Batticaloa: The Dutch and the Portuguese in East". Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  3. "Batticaloa Fort". Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  4. "The "Dutch fort" - Batticaloa". Ministry of Public Administration & Home Affairs and District Secretariat, Batticaloa. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  • Nelson, W. A.; de Silva, R. K. (2004). The Dutch Forts of Sri Lanka – The Military Monuments of Ceylon. Sri Lanka Netherlands Association.
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