Batticaloa fort explained

Batticaloa Fort Portuguese/Dutch Fort
Partof:	Batticaloa
Location:	Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
Map Type:	Sri Lanka Batticaloa Central
Map Size:	300
Type:	Defence fort
Built:	1628^[1]
Builder:	Portuguese and Dutch
Materials:	Granite Stones and coral
Condition:	Good
Open To Public:	Yes
Controlledby:	Government of Sri Lanka
Battles:	Several battles

The Batticaloa Fort (Tamil: மட்டக்களப்புக் கோட்டை|translit=Maṭṭakkaḷappuk Kōṭṭai; Sinhala; Sinhalese: මඩකලපුව බලකොටුව|translit=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.

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

• Forts of Sri Lanka
• Batticaloa Gate

References

• Book: The Dutch Forts of Sri Lanka – The Military Monuments of Ceylon. Nelson, W. A.. de Silva, R. K.. Sri Lanka Netherlands Association. 2004.

External links

• Web site of the World Monuments Fund.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Major Attractions in Batticaloa District – Batticaloa Fort . Eastern Provincial Council . 19 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222230141/http://ep.gov.lk/BatticaloaDistrict.asp . 22 February 2014 . dead .
2. Web site: Archeological remains in Batticaloa: The Dutch and the Portuguese in East. . 19 February 2014.
3. Web site: Batticaloa Fort . 14 November 2014.
4. Web site: The "Dutch fort" - Batticaloa . Ministry of Public Administration & Home Affairs and District Secretariat, Batticaloa. . 31 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181127064843/http://www.batticaloa.dist.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=28&lang=en . 27 November 2018 . dead .