OLD DUTCH FORT GATE NEGOMBO

Negombo is one of the favorite tourist attractions in Srilanka. It is a fishing port located near the shores of a lagoon. Among the various tourist attractions the Old Dutch Fort Gate , Negombo deserves special mention. The Old Dutch Fort Gate, Negombo was constructed in the year 1672.

The Old Dutch Fort Gate, Negombo has now become a portion of a prison. A military blockade by the Dutch people in the year 1644 completely destroyed the Portuguese Fort. On the ruins of the fort, the Dutch Fort was constructed. It was constructed on a pentagonal pattern instead of the regular square pattern. It had only four bulwarks. Old Dutch Fort Gate, Negombo does not have a fifth bulwark. In between a lagoon and a recess of the sea there is a narrow portion of landmass. The Old Dutch Fort Gate, Negombo was constructed on that landmass. There was constructed a drawbridge, through which the gate was accessed. The city faced it on the other side. The city was encircled by an earth wall. Eventually the landmass on which the Old Dutch Fort Gate, Negombo was constructed was regularly washed by the sea. Thus the landmass gradually took the shape of a peninsula. “Fine defensible structure” was the term which was used by the Governor Rumpf while describing the Fort. However painter Heydt had a different opinion on the Fort when he painted it in 1744. According to him the construction of the Fort was not that strong.

The Fort was visited by Governor Rumpf, who wished to see its betterment. The improvements that attracted his attention were an addition of new watch towers and the increase in the height of its walls. Some other modifications caught his eyes. Above the gate a big bell tower had been constructed. Again he also found a new palisade, which had been constructed. A painting was made using water colors. The painting shows the Fort in a new grandness. The painting was made in the year 1720.

These days only ruins of the Fort can be seen. The British destroyed the Fort in the later half of nineteenth century. The stones of it were used to create a prison.

If a tourist wants to rejuvenate his spirits, he must visit Negombo. One who visits Negombo must see the Old Dutch Fort Gate, Negombo as an attractive tourist spot.