Entrance to the Dutch Fort, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

The rampart and the site of the Gallows in Dutch times, Fort, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

This was supposed to have been the site  of the gallows of Dutch times. I heard a legend in Batticaloa in the 1980s that some watchers at night have heard sounds of booted marching feet and shouted commands coming from this site. This was presumably coming from the ghost of a long dead commander of the Dutch Fort.

Batticaloa fort

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Print of sketch by Baldeus

The Batticaloa Fort (Sinhalese: මඩකලපුව බලකොටුව; Tamil: மட்டக்களப்புக் கோட்டை) was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was captured by the Dutch on 18 May 1638.^[2] Later, the fort was used by British from 1745.

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[edit]

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

Sights from inside the Dutch Fort, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Government offices.

A 'Sentry Box'

The protective moat.

On the rampart of the Fort.

The Dutch Fort, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Entrance to the Fort.

The story of the construction of the Fort.

The Palmyra tree with branches and the environs of the old Government Agent's bungalow, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

A similar Palmyra tree is seen at the  Vallipuram temple, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

The GA's bungalow built during British Colonial times.

Entering 'Puliyantheevu', Batticaloa by the new connecting road.

'Nongu' - the jelly like kernel of the Palmyra palm, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.