Pooneryn Fort | AmazingLanka.com

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Pooneryn Fort, located at the northern edge of the island, was initially constructed by the Portuguese during the later stages of their occupation. Its primary purpose was to safeguard their stronghold in Jaffna and to suppress illicit trade activities in the area. Although the Dutch later took control of the fort and carried out some developments in 1770, they did not undertake significant reconstruction (Nelson, 1984).

The fort was described as having a square layout with two bastions diagonally opposite each other. Each side of the rampart measured approximately 30 meters. It continued to be used as a garrison until the latter part of the 1700s. By 1792, it had already fallen into ruin. In 1805, the British adapted the remaining structure into a rest house (Nelson, 1984).

Fort during the LTTE Terrorism

During the Sri Lankan civil war, beginning in 1983, the fort was occupied by the Sri Lankan Army until their withdrawal from Pooneryn in 1991. It remained under LTTE control for over a decade until the military recaptured the area in 2008. Following the defeat of the LTTE, Pooneryn and its fort became accessible to the public, though today only remnants of the original structure survive.

History of Pooneryn

Pooneryn, historically referred to as ‘Punakari’ in local records, lies on the southern shore of the Jaffna lagoon and is the northern end of the A32 highway that follows Sri Lanka’s northwestern coastline. It gained renewed attention in the media following its liberation by government forces on November 13, 2008.

Though it is unclear when people first settled in Pooneryn, its strategic significance was recognized early by colonial powers—first by the Portuguese, then the Dutch—mainly as a defense point for Jaffna and a barrier against invasions by Kandyan or Wanni forces. It played a notable role in the colonial administration of the northern region, especially under Dutch rule.

The Jaffna peninsula, connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land, along with nearby islands and districts such as Mullaitivu to the east, Mannar and Arippu to the west, and Wanni to the south, formed the Dutch administrative unit known as the ‘Jaffna Commandement.’ The region’s geographical openness, with access to both the sea and lagoon, made it ideal for trade.

The Dutch fortified Jaffna and controlled commerce involving elephants, textiles, cinnamon, rice, arecanuts, and salt. Rich fishing grounds around Mannar also provided valuable pearls and chanks. Though seasonal, the pearl trade attracted numerous South Indian merchants who rented the fishing rights and contributed to a thriving market.

The Portuguese seized Jaffna in May 1619, integrating it into their Indian empire, ‘Estado da India.’ The Dutch took control in 1658, followed by the British in 1796. All three colonial powers established Jaffna as the key urban and trading center of the north. With connections to South India, particularly Coromandel, the region was integrated into a broader trading network.

The Dutch also leveraged the region’s elephant population, which was in high demand in South India for war, temple ceremonies, and heavy labor. The 1638 agreement between the Dutch and the Kandyan Kingdom allowed the Dutch to use coastal routes, including Pooneryn, to transport elephants from southern jungles to ports like Mannar and Kayts. In 1697, Dutch Governor Thomas van Rhee noted that the local hunting chief, Don Gaspar Nitcheachenaderayan of Wanni, was granted lands in Pooneryn for his services, and his hunters cultivated the surrounding land without paying taxes.

Pearl harvesting around Condatje and Mannar was another lucrative venture. Though the trade was largely privatized, the Dutch considered monopolizing it to curb disorder and maximize revenue. Governor Daniel Overbeek (1743) proposed regulating the trade, reducing migrant laborers, and deploying 25–30 vessels to streamline operations like in Tuticorin.

Arecanut, essential for the textile industry in South India, was also closely controlled. The Dutch aimed to monopolize the arecanut trade and issued strict regulations to prevent illicit trading by private parties, particularly Indian and Moorish merchants. A proclamation warned that only constant vigilance could stop such activities.

References

Nelson, W. A. (1984). The Dutch forts of Sri Lanka: The military monuments of Ceylon. Canongate Publishing Limited.

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Driving Directions to Pooneryn fort

Route I from Colombo to Pooneryn fort	Route II from Colombo to Pooneryn fort
Through : Kurunegala – Anuradhapura – kilinichchi Distance :365 km Travel time : 7 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Through :Puttlam – Silavathra – Navathkuli-Karativu-Mannar Hwy Distance :335 km Travel time : 8 hours Driving directions : see on google map