The Queen's Tower (), also known as Quindah Tower; ) is a tower that was built by the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

during their rule in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

. They built it as a trigonometric point and a light navigation point for diurnally operated ships. It is located on the southeastern coast of

Neduntheevu Neduntheevu or Nedunthivu (; ) (also known by its Dutch language, Dutch name Delft) is an island in the Palk Strait, northern Sri Lanka. This island is named as Delft in the Admiralty Chart unlike the other islands, whose names are Tamil. The isla ...

, also known as Delft Island. It was used by the British as a tower to measure the land by setting up an instrument on the top of the tower. However, an incorrect theory suggests that this tower had been used as a lighthouse. According to it, a fire was lit at the bottom which created a vacuum, forcing air upwards. Its light was passed through the tower's

chimney A chimney is an architectural ventilation structure made of masonry, clay or metal that isolates hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by a boiler, stove, furnace, incinerator, or fireplace from human living areas. Chimneys are typical ...

-like tube to the top where sailors would be able to see the light from a distance. Another tower known as the "King's Tower" was operated during the period of British rule in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon. Only the basement of the King's Tower survives to this day.

References

{{Reflist Neduntheevu Tourist attractions in Northern Province, Sri Lanka Archaeological protected monuments in Jaffna District Buildings and structures in Jaffna District