Kalpitiya Fort

Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

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Kalpitiya Fort in Sri Lanka was built by the Dutch between 1667 and 1676 to control the entrance to Puttalam Lagoon, a key area for the lucrative cinnamon trade.

It was strategically important for overseeing maritime routes and the local trade dominated by Muslim merchants. The fort is square-shaped with four bastions at the corners and two smaller ones facing the lagoon. Constructed mostly from coral and limestone, its imposing walls are about 4 meters high.

The fort features a main entrance with an arched gateway topped by a belfry, designed to resemble a church entrance to mislead the Kingdom of Kandy, which had initially allowed only a church to be built there. Inside the fort are ruins of a chapel, barracks, a dining hall, the commander's residence, and a prison.

Two tunnels once connected the fort to the sea and a nearby Dutch Reformed Church, but these are now blocked. The fort was surrendered to the British in 1795 and later used by the Sri Lankan Navy. Today, it is well-preserved and recognized for its historical and architectural significance, serving as a notable reminder of Dutch colonial presence in Sri Lanka.