Batticaloa Dutch Fort — Attraction in Puliyanthivu East

The Batticaloa Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was captured by the Dutch on 18 May 1638. 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 As a country that had been repeatedly colonised, Sri Lanka’s architecture from the past few centuries is a bit of a mix-and-match of various cultures. This includes the Batticaloa Dutch Fort, located approximately 40 minutes from Pasikuda.

The Beginnings The fort was originally built by the Portuguese in 1628 and used as an administrative centre. It was established on a small island, with the fort protruding into one of the swamps of the Batticaloa Lagoon, which borders it. It was later captured by the Dutch 10 years later. Over a century passed before the fort, again, switched hands and was taken over by the British in 1745.

Present-day Fort Today, the fort still stands strong, though arguably not as formidable as it used to, and houses a few government departments within it. The fort has four bastions, with the Batticaloa Lagoon and two canals on either side of its walls. The location of the fort also holds some religious significance, as indicated by the Ruhuna era stupa that remains on its premises. The stupa, which has been traced back to the 1st century B.C.

The Batticaloa Dutch Fort took some damage during the 2004 tsunami, which battered its fortifications and outer structure; and over the years, sea erosion has certainly taken a toll on it. Despite this, surrounded by the lulling lagoon and lush greenery, it still stands as a marvellous piece of architecture reminiscent of times gone by, ramparts, canons and all!

Promising you open views of the coast and some truly astonishing dated monuments, the Batticaloa Dutch Fort is a must-see for any...

Originally a Portuguese settlement, the Fort of Batticaloa was first constructed in 1628 as a trading and administrative center. Set upon a small island, the fort protrudes into a swampy lagoon, surveying the brackish waters protected by the city’s outer banks. The Dutch had arrived in 1602, drawn to the prospects of trade and the abundance of pepper and cinnamon grown by the local community. However, it was not until King Rajasinghe in Kandy urged Dutch intervention that the European colonial power took action, capturing the fort in 1638 and establishing sovereignty in the region. Bordered by a moat on two sides and the lagoon on the others, the stone fort remained in Dutch hands for nearly two centuries before the British entered the country in the late 18th century and took control of the Dutch fortifications. The site has significant religious implications dating back to the 1st century B.C., evidenced by a Buddhist stupa and shatra from the Ruhuna Kingdom that remains in the area. Sea erosion, insufficient funding, encroaching development, and the tsunami of 2004 have all conspired to damage the structure and its surrounding fortifications. Further, ethnic violence that has rocked the island for much of the last 30 years has prevented conservation efforts while dividing communities and threatening security in the area. However, plans to open the fort for public use can help unite the community and have the potential to further promote the fort as a religious and historic symbol.

Following are the time line of fort been under influence of power

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 –...

The Batticaloa Fort was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was captured by the Dutch on 18 May 1638. From 1745, 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.

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

மட்டக்களப்புக் கோட்டை அல்லது மட்டக்களப்பு இடச்சுக் கோட்டை (ஒல்லாந்து கோட்டை) அல்லது மட்டக்களப்பு போர்த்துக்கீச கோட்டை என அழைக்கப்படும் கோட்டையானது 1628ஆம் ஆண்டு போர்த்துக்கேயரால் கட்டப்பட்டு, ஒல்லாந்துக்காரரால் 1638இல் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டது.இலங்கையிலுள்ள அழகிய சிறிய ஒல்லாந்துக் கோட்டைகளில் இதுவும் ஒன்று. மட்டக்களப்பு தீவுகளில் ஒன்றான புளியத்தீவில் அமைந்துள்ள இது, இன்னும் பழுதடையாமல் காணப்படுகிறது.

1622 – போர்த்துக்கேயரால் கட்டுமானம் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டது 1628 – கட்டுமானம் நிறைவுற்றது 1638 – ஒல்லாந்தரால் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டது 1639 – ஒல்லாந்தரால் கோட்டை அழிக்கப்பட்டது 1665 – மீள் கட்டுமானம் ஆரம்பமாகியது 1682 – செப்பணிடப்பட்டது 1707 – முன் கொத்தளமும் மேற்பகுதியும் கட்டி முடிக்கப்பட்டது 1766 – கண்டிய அரசுக்கு விட்டுக்கொடுக்கப்பட்டது 1796 – பிரித்தானியரால் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டது

මඩකලපුව බලකොටුව, 1628දී පෘතුගීසීන් විසින් ඉදිකරන ලද්දකි. එය 1638 මැයි 18 වන දී ලන්දේසින්ගේ පාලනයට නතුවිය. පසුව, 1745 වර්ෂයේ පටන් බලකොටුව බ්‍රිතාන්‍යයන් විසින්...