The Batticaloa Fort ( ta, மட்டக்களப்புக் கோட்டை, translit=Maṭṭakkaḷappuk Kōṭṭai; si, මඩකලපුව බලකොටුව, translit=Madakalapuwa Balakotuwa) 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
Batticaloa Lagoon is a very large estuarine lagoon in Batticaloa District, eastern Sri Lanka. The city of Batticaloa is located on land between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean.Batticaloa district is flourished with three lagoons, such Battical ...
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.
Timeline
Timeline of Batticaloa fort in colonial time.
* 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
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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 the out set of colonial rule in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka was occupied by several major colon ...
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Batticaloa Gate
Picture gallery
File:Antique print of the Batticaloa Fort, 1672.jpg, Antique print of the Batticaloa Fort by Baldaeus, 1672
File:Batticaloa Portuguese fort.jpg, A view from the main entrance (south-east)
File:Cannon in Batticaloa Portuguese 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
Web site of the World Monuments Fund.
{{Forts and fortresses of the Portuguese empire, state=collapsed
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
Archaeological protected monuments in Batticaloa District
Buildings and structures associated with the Dutch East India Company