Forts of Sri Lanka
Location of forts within Sri Lanka. Completely destroyed forts are marked by . (
)
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 colonial empires that from time-to-time became the dominant power in the Indian Ocean. The colonists built several western styled forts, mostly in and round the coast of the island. The first to build colonial forts in Sri Lanka were the Portuguese , these forts were captured and later expanded by the Dutch . The British occupied these Dutch forts during the Napoleonic wars .
Most of colonial forts were garrisoned up until the early 20th century. The coastal forts had coastal artillery manned by the Ceylon Garrison Artillery during the two world wars. Most of these were abandoned by the military, but retained civil administrative officers, while others retained military garrisons, which were more administrative than operational. Some were reoccupied by military units with the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War , Jaffna fort for example came under siege several times.
Anuradhapura period
Transitional period
Sitawaka forts
Portuguese forts
Image
Name
Founded
Abandoned
Location
Condition
Controlled by
Type
Notes
Colombo fort
1518, 1554
1524, 1870
Colombo fort , Western Province
Destroyed
-
Defence
Fort Fredrick
1624
-
Trincomalee , Eastern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 4]
Batticaloa fort
1628
Batticaloa , Eastern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 5]
Arandora fort
Narangoda, North Western Province
Destroyed
-
Defence
[N 6]
Arippu fort
Arippu , Northern Province
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 7]
Delft Island fort
Neduntheevu , Northern Province
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 8]
Elephant Pass fort
1776
Elephant Pass , Northern Province
Destroyed
-
Defence
[N 9]
Galle fort
1588
-
Galle , Southern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 10]
Haldummulla fort
1630
Haldummulla , Uva
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Fort Hammenheil
1618
Jaffna Peninsula , Northern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 11]
Jaffna fort
1618
Jaffna , Northern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Star fort
[N 12]
Kalutara fort
1655
Kalutara , Western Province
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Kayts Island fort
1629
Kayts , Northern Province
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Kotugodella fort
1630
Ettampitiya , Uva Province
Ruins
Defence
Mannar fort
1560
Mannar , Northern Province
Destroyed
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Matara fort
1550
Matara , Southern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 13]
Menikkadawara fort
1599
Kegalle , Sabaragamuwa Province
Destroyed
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Negombo fort
1672
Negombo , Western Province
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Pooneryn fort
16??
Pooneryn , Northern Province
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Ratnapura fort
1618, 1620
Ratnapura , Sabaragamuwa Province
Destroyed
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Ruwanwella fort
1590s
Ruwanwella, Sabaragamuwa Province
Destroyed
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Hanwella fort
1597
Hanwella , Western Province
Destroyed
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Kandyan period
Kandyan forts
Dutch forts
Image
Name
Founded
Abandoned
Location
Condition
Controlled by
Type
Notes
Fort Hammenheil
1618
-
Jaffna Peninsula , Northern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Koddiyar fort
1622
Muttur , Eastern Province
Destroyed
Defence
Katuwana Fort
1646
-
Katuwana, Southern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Kalpitiya fort
1667–76
-
Kalpitiya , North Western Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 14]
Mullaitivu fort
1715
Mullaitivu , Northern Province
Ruins
Defence
[N 15]
Star fort
1763–65
-
Matara , Southern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Star fort
Fort Beschutter
Elephant Pass , Northern Province
Destroyed
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Fort Ostenburg
Trincomalee , Eastern Province
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 16]
Fort Pyl
Elephant Pass , Northern Province
Ruins
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
Point Pedro fort
Point Pedro , Northern Province
Destroyed
Defence
[N 17]
Tangalle fort
Tangalle , Southern Province
Good
Government of Sri Lanka
Defence
[N 18]
British forts
Notes
^ It was the site of a major battle between the forces of Ellalan and Dutthagamani
^ Royal Palace. Briefly used as an outpost of the Kingdom of Kandy in the 16th and 17th centuries.
^ Located to the south of Sigiriya is the Mapagala Fortress (‘Rock of the Viceroy’), a fortress with massive stone walls, which was built prior to Sigiriya.
^ Later controlled by the Dutch and then the British
^ Captured by the Dutch in 1638
^ Captured by the Dutch in 1665
^ Handed over to the Dutch in 1658
^ Later controlled by the Dutch
^ Later controlled by the Dutch
^ Captured and rebuilt by the Dutch from 1640
^ Rebuilt by the Dutch in 1680
^ Captured and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1658
^ Rebuilt by the Dutch after 1640
^ In 1795 the fort was surrendered to the British
^ Rebuilt by British during their occupation of the country in 1795
^ Later surrendered to the British 1795
^ Later surrendered to the British 1795
^ The fort is still being used as a prison by the Department of Prisons .
^ Outpost during the Kandyan Wars
References
External links
Ancient Forts Colonial Forts
Portuguese Forts Dutch Forts British Forts
Less or no contribution/renovation works of Dutch are marked by † symbol under "Portuguese Forts", and others are considered as Dutch forts too.
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