Dutch Fort of Galle – ගාල්ල කොටුව
The pride of a nation and the country in the eyes of the world is enhanced by its civilization,
Dutch Fort of Galle – ගාල්ල කොටුව
The pride of a nation and the country in the eyes of the world is enhanced by its civilization, its culture and its natural beauties. Endowed with these qualifications with a 2500 year old history supported by ancient archaeological treasures, Sri Lanka is rated as a bio diversity hot-spot of the world.
The historical importance of the Galle Fort is unchallenged. The origins of Galle though lost in antiquity still survive through artifacts which confirm its existence in pre Christian and Roman eras. Through medieval ages, the Galle Fort emerged as Ceylon’s major southern international port attracting Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Persian, Roman and Arab traders.
The Galle Dutch Fort is a rare historical jewel protected by dark, thick stone walls – with the endless ocean on one side. The roads inside the Galle Fort have hardly changed, like the squares on a chess board crisscrossing in regular patches. Straight and narrow lanes branch in and out inviting the visitor to a delightful walk into the 17th century.
Today’s Peddler Street was called “Moorse Kramerstraat” by the Dutch, Lighthouse Street was “Zeeburgstraat and Middelpuntstraat”, Hospital Street as `Nieuwe Lijnbaanstraat and Lijnbaanstraat (New Ropewalk Street), Old Ropewalk Street as Oude Lijnbaanstraat (Old Rope-Walk Street), Church Street as Kerkstraat, Parrawa Street as “Parruasstraat” and Chiando Street as “Chiandostraat”. Through this memory walk one would however miss the 17th century familiar vendors who traded in cinnamon, lace, elephants, tortoise and turtle shell ornaments besides the famous down south sweetmeats like “bondi aluwa” hanging in garlands from the shoulders of vendors.
In 1505 a group of Portuguese sailors led by Don Lorenzo de Almeida arrived in the island and they built the first fortification in Galle on a cliff, jutting out into the sea. It was called the Swart Bastion or the Black Fort in 1520. Later it was fortified and enlarged by the Dutch in 1667.
14 bastions has been identified on the fort today.
It is recorded that by about 1620 this deference bastion was very strongly built by the Portuguese. It was named by them as Sao Iago.
On 4 th August 1667 it was renamed by the Dutch as the Zon (Sun) Bastion. On this occasion the first canon shots fired as a guard of honour from this bastion was in honour of the fiancé of the Dutch Governor Hester D. Solomin Razikloff Van Govassas.
In 1697 the base of the bastion was further strengthened. By about 1760, there were about 15 canons installed on this bastion.
The Portuguese had named this bastion as Conceycao, which meant “the pure conception.” The Dutch originally identified as the Middle Point. In 1667 it was officially named as Mark or the Moon Bastion.
By 1760 there were 19 canons installed on this bastion. The main entrance to the fort lies between the Sun Bastion and the Moon Bastion. This entrance was made by the British by carving out the rampart.
This bastion was named by the Portuguese as Sao Antonio (St. Anthony’s). The Dutch first named it the Zee Punt (Sea Bastion). In 1667 it was officially named by them as the Star Bastion. After it was renamed, the first canon shot was fired by the daughter of the then Dutch Commander of Galle Adrian Ruthas.
There were about 6 canons installed on this bastion.
To defend the western approaches to Galle Fort the Dutch built a long rampart wall linked by four gun platform bastions between the Sun Bastion in the north west corner of the fort and Flag rock in the south west corner. All these bastions are open to public and ideal locations for enjoy the sunset over the sea.
Aeolus means the sea breeze. It is believed that it was so named because the Dutch Naval Commander’s official residence was located here and due to the importance of wind for ships.
Clippen means jutting into the sea and burg means village. It has obviously been named due to its setting. During the British period a naval signal station had been located here called the Lloyd Signal Station owned by the Lloyd Company. There are still remnants of the equipment which was installed here.
This is a minor bastion on the western ramparts on the fort. During the Dutch period it had been named Neptune’s Bastion. In British period maps it is marked as Neptune Bastion. This bastion was occupied by flag staff and a signalling station during world war II.
Another minor bastion is seen on the exploratory map of Galle Fort which was drawn by chief engineer Reimer in 1790. It is recorded that there was a windmill erected here to draw water which filled tanks with sea water to supply carts which went through the roads of the fort spray