Kayts Island Fort

The Kayts Island Fort (Tamil: ஊர்காவற்றுறைக் கோட்டை, romanized: Ūrkāvaṟṟuṟaik Kōṭṭai; Sinhala: කයිට්ස් දූපත් බලකොටුව Kayits Dupath Balakotuwa) was built by the Portuguese in 1629 and was abandoned in 1651. In the late 1600s, Dutch controlled the fort when they took over the Kayts island.[1] During the Dutch rule, it was not normal to undergo restoration like the former forts of Portugal.[2]

Kayts Island Fort
Kayts, Sri Lanka
Ruins of Kayts Island Fort
Kayts Island Fort
Coordinates9.700808°N 79.852035°E / 9.700808; 79.852035
TypeDefence fort
Site information
ConditionRuins
Site history
Built1629
Built byPortuguese
MaterialsGranite Stones and coral

The horseshoe shaped fort with four circular bastions was built to protect Jaffna Peninsula like other Portuguese forts in the peninsula. There was one of the primary commercial ports called “Urundai” beside the fort.[1] Therefore, the fort was known as “Urundai Fort”. The Tamil word “Urundai” literally means sphere or round-shape.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Kayts Island Fort". Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  2. "Dutch and Portuguese remains in Sri Lanka". Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  3. The Great Lifco Dictionary: English-English-Tamil. Little Flower Co. 2001. p. 1447. ISBN 8187130008.
  • 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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