Built by the Portuguese in 1618, the Jaffna Fort is one of the monumental colonial edifices in the country that still stands tall against the test of time! Featuring unique attributes and offering you a wonderful travel experience that will take your through the pages of history, it is indeed an attraction that is certainly worth adding to your travel itinerary.
When the Dutch defeated the Portuguese, the fort fell under the control of the new colonial rulers and they had immensely fortified the structure. Even though several centuries have passed after its construction, the structural integrity of the fort still remains strong. The fort features meticulous architecture and has been build precisely into a pentagon shape. Though the site and its ambience today looks and feels quite enticing, like other massive colonial structures that are scattered around the island, this too has a dark past. It is believed that slaves and prisoners of the Portuguese and the Dutch empires were forcefully employed to build this structure.
Even after the colonial rule ended the fort was under conflict due to civil war which lasted 30 years. The fort came under the control of the Sri Lankan Government in 1995 and it has been garrisoned by the Sri Lankan Army ever since. The site was renovated with the joint efforts of the Dutch and the Sri Lankan Governments. Despite being a site of great cultural and historic significance, since it is occupied by the Sri Lankan army, tourists have limited access to explore the site. The Fort can be easily reached by a tuk-tuk from the Jaffna City.
