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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.

Map

1. Pre-colonial forts
   1. Mapagala Fortress
   2. Sigiriya
2. Colonial Forts
   1. Arandora Fort
   2. Arippu Fort
   3. Balana Fort
   4. Batticaloa fort - Batticaloa
   5. Colombo fort - Colombo
   6. Delft Island Fort - Jaffna
   7. Elephant Pass Fort
   8. Fort Beschutter - Jaffna Peninsula
   9. Fort Fredrick - Trincomalee
   10. Fort Hammenhie
   11. Fort Macdowall
   12. Fort Ostenburg - Trincomalee
   13. Fort Pyl - Jaffna Peninsula
   14. Galle fort - Galle
   15. Hanwella / Gurubewila Fort
   16. Jaffna fort - Jaffna
   17. Kalpitiya fort
   18. Kalutara Fort
   19. Katuwana Fort
   20. Kayts Island Fort
   21. Koddiyar Fort
   22. Malwana Fort
   23. Mannar fort
   24. Martello tower of Hambantota
   25. Matara fort - Matara
   26. Menikkadawara Fort
   27. Mullattivu Fort
   28. Negombo fort
   29. Pooneryn fort
   30. Ratnapura (Sabaragamuwa) Fort
   31. Ruwanwella Fort
   32. Sitawaka fort - Avissavella
   33. Star fort - Matara
   34. Tangalle fort

Arandora Fort

Arandora Fort is a Portguese Fort used as a base camp. This was captured by the Dutch in 1665 made in to a fortification against the wishes of Rajasinghe II, King of Kandy. With strained relations, in October 1670 he attacked and captured the fort at Arandora, the erection of which he had never forgiven, and carried off the entire garrison as prisoners. The Dutch insisted on the release of their men, threatened reprisals, and closed the ports of Batticaloa, Kottiar, and Kalpitiya but the king remained unmoved.

No remains of this fort can be found today. At Narangoda?

Balana Fort

This was a strategic fort and an outpost built by King Rajasinhe II and lies on the way to Kandy. It was briefly taken by a 6000 strong Portuguese in 1638 during their last attempt to capture the Kingdom of Kandy. The the final battle at Gannoruwa resulted in over 4000 of their soldiers killed and the rest captured.

It was reported that the stones of the fort was being removed freely and transported in board day light in March 2006. What remains of this fort is unknown. A photo Taken in 2005 is here

see also :

• The Battle of Gannoruwa
  

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 1848 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.

Menikkadawara Fort

The Portuguese had here in the 1590s a fortified base camp. No remains.

Fort Pyl & Fort Beschutter

On the southern edge of the Jaffna peninsula three forts were linearly situated across the neck of the narrow peninsula. Elephant Pass was the southern most fortification out of these forts.

Three miles north east from Elephant Pass in the general area of Iyakachchi was situated the second fortification called Pas Beschutter built by the Dutch near the village of Koyilvayal. Further to the north east from this point was the third Dutch fortification named Pas Pyl. The purpose of the three forts was to protect Dutch interests in the Peninsula from attacks originating in the Wanni mainland. Nothing remains of them today.

Kayts Island Fort

A Portuguese fort with four circular bastions, was took by the Dutch that made no attempt to restore it. Remains (at Velani)?.

Koddiyar Fort

The Dutch had here, in the first years, a small out-post; this out-post was strengthened in 1658. No remains ?

Malwana Fort

The Portuguese had here in the 1590s a fortified base camp. No remains.

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

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

Mullattivu Fort

This fort was built by the Dutch in 1715 was originally a small wooden structure, in 1721 a quadrangular fort of earth-work was erected. The English rebuilt it. No remains ?

Pooneryn fort

Built in the Pooneryn area of north portion of the island first by the Portuguese to protect its possessions in Jaffna, it was expanded by the Dutch till in 1770 it was recorded that it was square shaped with two bastions at opposite corners; the rampart on each of the sides was about 30 metres and was garrisoned till the late 1700s. The British built a rest house in 1805. Since 1983 due to the civil war it was garrisoned by the Sri Lankan Army till it withdrew from the Pooneryn area in 1991; and recaptured in 2009. Ruins of the fort remains, however in bad condition.

Ratnapura Fort

The Portuguese had here a fortified outpost. Here there is a little Portuguese church with a Portuguese stone slab on a wall.

Star 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 .

Tangalle fort

A small Dutch fort exists in the coastal town of Tangalle, south of the island. Tangalle was an important anchorage. Although much altered the fort still stands and in use as a prison by the Department of Prisons.

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