Negombo Dutch Fort
by
Honeybee Taxi and Tours
In 1588 the Portuguese were the first
Europeans to set foot in Negombo. In 1640 the Dutch invaded Negombo and
completely demolished the Portuguese fort in 1644 and erected a new fort
at the same location. During the Dutch occupation of the Maritime
Provinces Negombo was an important fort next to Colombo, Jaffna and
Galle. The British took possession of the fort in 1796 with limited
resistance from the Dutch. During the late nineteenth century the
British demolished a significant portion of the fortifications and most
of the buildings of Dutch origin to construct the court house, the
Anglican Church and prisons. At present the gateway to the Negombo
Fort is in a ruined state. However, a significant portion of its vaulted
brick masonry is still intact. Along with the clock tower, constructed
during the British period, it gives a glimpse of the majestic character
of the fort. Except the rampart at the eastern side, which is also
reduced to a heap of earth overgrown with vegetation, the traces of the
ramparts on other sides are hardly visible. The raised mounds at the
north and south ends of the earthen rampart, providing locations for the
court building and the Anglican Church, can clearly be identified as
two bastions. A considerable area of the central court within the fort
is now occupied by the Department of Prisons which has resulted in the
destroying and or altering significantly the layout and architecture
within the central court. However, the physical observation suggests
that there could be two buildings of Dutch characteristics within the
walled area of the Prison’s Department. In addition to the vaulted
gateway, the ramparts, the two buildings with Dutch and British
characteristics, the barrel vaulted structure of the Dutch Period and
the clock tower and the Anglican Church of the British period, the
character of other buildings including the courts complex and the
functions within the fort at present are totally incompatible with the
historic character of the site.
Negombo is a coastal town that substantially developed as a major centre of the fishing and tourist industries. There is great potential for the development of leisure seeking tourism in this town. Negombo also has immense potential to provide added value to the tourism sector by promoting the colonial legacy, which is unique to this colonial heritage site. (Obtain from: http://
Negombo is a coastal town that substantially developed as a major centre of the fishing and tourist industries. There is great potential for the development of leisure seeking tourism in this town. Negombo also has immense potential to provide added value to the tourism sector by promoting the colonial legacy, which is unique to this colonial heritage site. (Obtain from: http://