The
Portuguese built in 1560 the fortress of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres. Jaffna was the last
place in Portuguese hands in Ceylon, they lost it in 1658. The Dutch strengthened the fort
about in 1680. The old Dutch fort, of considerable size, with its ramparts, bastions and
gateways was still in good preservation before the civil war. Within it was the Governors
residence and the Dutch church (Kruys Kerk or Grooteker) dated 1706 inside there were
beautiful tombstones.
In the Jaffna peninsula there are (or better there were) the remains of several
Portuguese-Jesuits churches at Chankanai (1641), Atchuveli, Myliddi, Vaddukoddai. A Dutch
church is (was?) at Chundikuli.
* It seems that the fort was half demolished in 1994 during the war between the Tamil
and the Sinhalese. I don't know the actual situation of the Dutch and Portuguese remains
in Northern Sri Lanka, if some one has photos or information on the actual situation I'll
be happy to receive and publish.
MANNAR
The fort was
built by the Portuguese in 1560, they surrendered to the Dutch on 22 February 1658, the
fort was rebuilt by them in 1686. On 5 October 1795 the Dutch surrendered to the British.
The fort has four bastions and it’s still in good condition.
In the village of Karisal (13 Km West of Mannar) there are the remains of the walls of a
Portuguese church.
TRINCOMALE
Fort Oostenburg, Trincomalee
Fort Trincomalee
The Portuguese were the first to build a fort here, they in 1623
destroyed an ancient Hindu temple and at its place built a fort. This fort was taken by
the Dutch on 2 May 1639.
The Dutch strengthened this fort in 1658 and called it Fort Pagoda (today fort Frederick).
This fort is still in good preservation.
At the beginning of XVIII century Fort Oostenburg was built on a hill East of the entrance
to the inner bay. Later also a battery was erected on the island "Dwars in de
wea". Of this fort are a few ruins.
In the village of Nilaveli (North of Trincomalee) there is an old Dutch two storied
building, the roof of which had crumbled.
BATTICALOA
This fort was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was the first
to be captured by the Dutch (18 May 1638). It’s the most picturesque of the small
Dutch fort of Sri Lanka, it’s situated in an island, still in good condition.
Near Batticaloa the Portuguese had a tiny fort at Tanavare (there is a map of it). No
remains.
KALPITIYA or CALPENTYN:
A five-bastion Dutch fort was built in 1667 it’s still in
good preservation, inside the fort there are the remains of an old Portuguese-Jesuits
church.
ARIPPU
A small fort build by the Portuguese in proximity of the
pearl-banks, was took by the Dutch after the fall of Mannar. No remains ?
MULLAITTIVU
This fort was built by the Dutch in 1715 was originally a small
wooden structure, in 1721 a quadrangular fort of earth-work was erected. The English
rebuilt it. No remains ?
KODDIYAR or COTIAAR
The Dutch had here, in the first years, a small out-post; this
out-post was strengthened in 1658. No remains ?
DELFT
This island was called by the Portuguese ilha das Vacas, they had
a fort here.
There are two ruined forts in this island. That on the eastern sea shore is the Portuguese
small fort or "tranqueria" only two ruined walls survive, the other fort was
probably built in more ancient times. I don't know the actual situation of this fort.
KAYTS
A Portuguese fort with four circular bastions, was took by the
Dutch that made no attempt to restore it. Remains (at Velani)?.
HAMMENHEIL
This fort stands in a tiny island at the entrance to Jaffna
lagoon. Here the Portuguese built a fort called Fortaleza do Cais dos Elefantes, in March
1658 was took by the Dutch. The fort has only one entrance and was garrisoned by 30 men.
It’s still in good condition (?).
KANKESANTURAI or CANGIANTURE
The Dutch originally intended to establish here the capital of
the Jaffna commandement, they begun to build a fort here but then they changed theirs
minds. No remains.
PUNT DE PEDRO
Small fort built originally by the Portuguese, rebuilt by the
Dutch. No remains.
POONERYN
This fort is situated South of the Jaffna lagoon.
A quadrangular fort with two bastions, probably built originally by the Portuguese.
It’s fairly well preserved (?).
ILPECARWE
A Dutch fort north of Mannar. No remains.
FORT PYL
A strategic Dutch fort, a raised rampart is all that is left of
it (?).
FORT BESCHUTTER
A strategic fort built by the Dutch near the village of
Koyilvayal, this little fort it’s in very bad condition.
FORT ELEPHANT PAS:
A strategic Dutch fort, it‘s the best preserved of the three
small forts in the northern shore of the lagoon in the Jaffna peninsula. I don't know the actual situation of this fort.
SOUTHERN
SRI LANKA
COLOMBO
Colombo was the capital of Portuguese Ceylon and here the
Portuguese built several churches (Sao Francisco, Sao Paulo, Sao Domingo, Sao Lourenço,
Capuchins, the Sé Matriz or cathedral etc.), many houses, an hospital, a misericordia,
many convent, a custom house (Alphandenga) etc.. The old Portuguese town was encircled by
walls and bastions. The first fort (called Santa Barbara) was built in 1518 but in 1524 it
was abandoned. In 1554 a new fort was built and the city of Colombo developed.
The Portuguese town was destroyed by the Dutch during the siege in 1655-56 of the
Portuguese churches only that of Sao Francisco survived and was used by the Dutch like
Dutch reformed church until 1749 then it was demolished.
The Dutch rebuilt Colombo and strengthened its bastions.
In 1870 the Dutch fort of Colombo was demolished by the English.
The old Portuguese and Dutch fort it’s disappeared, only the wall of a bastion
remain.
The best example of a Dutch house in Colombo is the building of the Dutch period museum
that was built in the latter part of 17th. century.
Outside the fort there was and there is the Wolfendahl church; it’s a massive
cruciform building, built by the Dutch in 1749, on the site of the Portuguese church of
"Agua o Agoa de Lupo" it’s the most interesting of the few remains in
Colombo of the Dutch period. Several tombstones of the Dutch Governors (Hertenberg,
Vreelandt, Van Eck, Falck, Van Angelbeek) and Burghers are here. In the vicinity of the
church there is the old Dutch belfry.
The residence of the Dutch Governors is in front of the Colombo harbour, this building was
converted into a church (St. Peter’s church) by the British in 1804.
GALLE
It was not till the Portuguese occupation that Galle rose to
importance, they fortified it at the end of XVI century (around 1589) and called this
fortress Santa Cruz, but notwithstanding this Galle was conquered by the Dutch on 13 March
1640.
It was the principal port of the island under the Dutch, they greatly strengthened the
fortifications. Galle was the capital of Dutch Ceylon from it’s conquest (1640) till
the conquest of Colombo in 1656.
The old Dutch Government house dated from 1687.
It’s the best preserved of the VOC fortress in Ceylon with beautiful ramparts,
bastions and gateways.
Galle is a fortified Dutch city, many are the old Dutch houses, a beautiful Dutch church
dated 1752-54 is still in use, its walls are full with many tablets and family coats of
arms in this church there are also interesting old tombstones.
MATARA
The fort was built by the Portuguese about 1550 but the actual
fort was built by the Dutch when they took Matara, after the capture of Galle. The remains
of the fort (a rampart and a gateway) are in good preservation. Inside the fort there are
several old Dutch houses and a church with gravestone on the floor dated from 1686.
After the Matara rebellion in 1761-1762, a beautiful fort called redoubt "Van
Eck" was built in 1763-1765, on the right bank of the river. This fort is the unique
star shaped fort in Ceylon, over the gate of the fort is the Dutch coat of arms. It’s
still in good preservation.
NEGOMBO
The fort was built by the Portuguese at the end of XVI century,
it wasn’t a strong fort but was important for the defense of Colombo.
The Dutch took the fort by storm on 10 February 1640 but on 9 December 1640 the Portuguese
succeeded in retaking it. Negombo was finally in Dutch hands in January 1644. In February
1796 the English occupied it.
There are some remains of the walls and an arched gateway of this fort. Opposite the fort
is an ancient Dutch cemetery with 9 monuments of the Dutch period.
KALUTARA or CALITURÈ
The
fort was built by the Portuguese, was conquered by the Dutch on 15 October 1655, in 1677
the Dutch remodeled the fort, in February 1796 this fort was occupied by the English.
There are a few remains of the walls of this fort.
MENIKKADAWARA
The
Portuguese had here in the 1590s a fortified base camp. No remains.
ARANDORA
The
Portuguese had here a fortified base camp. No remains.
BALANE
The
Portuguese had here for a few years a strategic fort and an outpost on the way to Kandy.
No remains.
SABARAGAMWA – RATNAPURA
The
Portuguese had here a fortified outpost. Here there is a little Portuguese church with a
Portuguese stone slab on a wall.
KATUWANA or CATTOENE
This
fort was built before to 1697, in 1761 was destroyed by the Kandyans.
Remained only traces of the foundations on a hill.
MALWANE
The Portuguese had here in the 1590s a fortified base camp. No
remains.
ANGURUWANTOTA or ANGURATOTA
In
the years of the war with the Portuguese the Dutch erected here a strong stockade fort. No
remains.
HANWELLA or GURUBEWILA
A
stockade was built here by the Portuguese at the end of XVI century. The Dutch built a
strong fort at the end of XVII century. Disappeared, only the traces of the old moat of
the fort are visible.
SITAWAKA or AVISSAVELLA
This
fort was built by the Portuguese in 1595 it was a small fort on the top of a low hill; the
Dutch in 1675 built a strong fort with four bastions in another hill north of the old
Portuguese fort. In 1685 this fort was abandoned. Disappeared, only a few traces are
visible.
RUWANWELLA
The
Portuguese had here in the 1590s a fortified base camp. In 1665 the Dutch built here a
wooden fort, this fort was abandoned by the Dutch a few years after its construction. The
English built here in 1817 the actual fort with two bastions.
PANAMA, YALA, MAGAMA
The
Dutch had, for a short time, military posts also in these places. No remains.
THE DUTCH WATERWAYS
The Dutch waterways are by now fallen into disuse, but there is a
project to restore them. In the Dutch time they were very useful for the trade and
connected Colombo to Negombo; Colombo to Kalutara; and Negombo to Chilaw, Puttalam and
Kalpitiya. Also at Galle, Matara and Batticaloa the Dutch built canals.
Fort Oostenburg, Trincomalee
Fort Trincomalee
