Batticaloa fort

7°42′43″N 81°42′09″E / 7.711901°N 81.702377°E / 7.711901; 81.702377TypeDefence fortSite informationControlled byGovernment of Sri LankaOpen to
the publicYesConditionGoodSite historyBuilt1628^[1]Built byPortuguese and DutchMaterialsGranite Stones and coralBattles/warsSeveral battles

The Batticaloa Fort (Tamil: மட்டக்களப்புக் கோட்டை, romanized: Maṭṭakkaḷappuk Kōṭṭai; Sinhala: මඩකලපුව බලකොටුව, romanized: Madakalapuwa Balakotuwa) was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was captured by the Dutch on 18 May 1638.^[2] 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. 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

• Forts of Sri Lanka
• Batticaloa Gate

Picture gallery

• Batticaloa fort
• 
  Antique print of the Batticaloa Fort by Baldaeus, 1672
• 
  A view from the main entrance (south-east)
• 
  Cannon at the top, looking towards Kallady bridge/Indian Ocean. Watchtower in one of the bastions

References

• Nelson, W. A.; de Silva, R. K. (2004). The Dutch Forts of Sri Lanka – The Military Monuments of Ceylon. Sri Lanka Netherlands Association.

External links

Ancient FortsColonial Forts

Portuguese Forts	Arandora fort Arippu fort Batticaloa fort Colombo fort Delft Island fort Fort Fredrick Fort Hammenheil Galle Fort Haldummulla fort† Hanwella fort Jaffna fort Kalutara fort Kayts Island fort† Kotugodella fort† Malwana fort† Mannar fort Matara fort Menikkadawara fort† Negombo fort Pooneryn fort Ratnapura Portuguese fort† Ruwanwella fort
Dutch Forts	Elephant Pass fort Fort Beschutter Fort Ostenburg Fort Pyl Kalpitiya fort Kankesanthurai fort Katuwana fort Koddiyar fort Mullaitivu fort Point Pedro fort Ratnapura Dutch fort Star fort Tangalle fort
British Forts	Fort MacDowall Martello tower