Batticaloa fort
Batticaloa Fort Portuguese/Dutch Fort |
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Part of Batticaloa | |
Batticaloa, Sri Lanka | |
Batticaloa Fort
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Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Type | Defence fort |
Site information | |
Controlled by | Government of Sri Lanka |
Open to the public |
Yes |
Condition | Good |
Site history | |
Built | 1628[1] |
Built by | Portuguese and Dutch |
Materials | Granite Stones and coral |
Battles/wars | Several battles |
The Batticaloa Fort (Sinhalese: මඩකලපුව බලකොටුව; Tamil: மட்டக்களப்புக் கோட்டை) was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was captured by the Dutch on 18 May 1638.[2] Later, the fort was used by British from 1745.
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
Picture gallery
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Antique print of the Batticaloa Fort, 1672.jpg
Antique print of the Batticaloa Fort by Baldaeus, 1672
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Batticaloa Portuguese fort.jpg
A view from the main entrance (south-east)
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Cannon in Batticaloa Portuguse Fort.JPG
Cannon at the top, looking towards Kallady bridge/Indian ocean. Watchtower in one of the bastions
References
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Batticaloa Portuguese fort. |
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles containing Sinhalese-language text
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- Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka
- British forts in Sri Lanka
- Buildings and structures in Batticaloa
- Dutch forts in Sri Lanka
- Forts in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
- Portuguese forts in Sri Lanka