A magnificent star-shaped fortress standing for over four centuries on the shores of the Jaffna Lagoon, bearing witness to Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial legacies.
The Jaffna Fort is one of the most significant colonial-era fortifications in South Asia. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1618 under Phillippe de Oliveira, and dramatically expanded by the Dutch from 1658 onward, this pentagonal star fortress covers over 22 hectares of land near the coastal village of Gurunagar, overlooking the shimmering Jaffna Lagoon.
Constructed from limestone, black coral, and mortar, the fort served as a military stronghold, administrative centre, and seat of colonial governance for over three centuries. Within its massive ramparts stood the Governor's Residence, Queen's House, Kruys Church, a garrison parade ground, and numerous military quarters — a self-contained colonial township guarding the northern frontier of Sri Lanka.
Phillippe de Oliveira constructed the original square fort with four bastions and a moat to consolidate Portuguese control over the Jaffna Peninsula. Named "Fortress of Our Lady of Miracles" after a nearby church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it served as a barrier against local uprisings and external threats.
Rijcklof van Goens led the Dutch forces to capture the fort after a prolonged siege, ending Portuguese rule in Sri Lanka. By 1665, the Dutch completely demolished the four-sided Portuguese fort and rebuilt it as a pentagonal star fortress — the most advanced military design of the era — with five bastions named Holland, Zeeland, Gelderland, Utrecht, and Friesland.
The Dutch transformed the fort into a self-sufficient military township, constructing the Governor's Residence (King's House), Queen's House, Kruys Church (1706), a hospital, prison, armoury, parade ground, and 21 wells. The moat was widened to 8 metres and rumoured to have been filled with crocodiles. Coral and limestone walls rose 10-12 metres high.
On 28th September 1795, British forces arrived at the Jaffna Fort, which surrendered without a single shot fired. With only 55 Europeans and 97 native soldiers in its garrison, the most perfectly designed Dutch fort in Asia capitulated peacefully. The British maintained it as a military garrison until Ceylon's independence in 1948.
During the Sri Lankan Civil War, the fort endured multiple sieges and pitched battles. Under LTTE control from 1985 to 1995, many historic buildings including the Kruys Church were destroyed. The Sri Lanka Army recaptured it in 1995 during Operation Riviresa after a 50-day siege — proving the 17th-century fortress could withstand even modern warfare.
Following the end of the civil war, extensive restoration began with financial assistance from the Dutch government. The gateway arch, ramparts, and internal buildings are being painstakingly rebuilt. Today the fort is open to visitors, featuring a small archaeological museum, panoramic lagoon views from the ramparts, and the quiet grandeur of centuries of history.
The fort's distinctive five-pointed star layout with angular bastions represents the most advanced European military architecture of the 17th century, designed to eliminate blind spots and maximise defensive fire.
Each bastion bears the name of a Dutch province — Holland, Zeeland, Gelderland, Utrecht, and Friesland — strategically positioned to guard against attacks from the lagoon, city, and coastline.
A continuous 8-metre-wide moat surrounds the entire fortress, once rumoured to be filled with crocodiles. Water channels connected to the lagoon kept the moat perpetually filled as a first line of defence.
Built in the form of a Greek cross, this Dutch Reformed Church was one of Sri Lanka's oldest Protestant churches. Though damaged during the civil war, its foundations and layout remain identifiable within the fort.
The Governor's Residence (King's House) and the adjacent Queen's House formed the administrative heart of the fort. The Queen's House remains the best-preserved building, with its Dutch-style parapet still standing.
Walking the 10-12 metre high ramparts offers stunning panoramic views of the Jaffna Lagoon, the city skyline, and the surrounding coastline. The walls, hidden beneath grassy slopes, reveal gun placements and observation posts.
The Jaffna Fort stands as the most geometrically perfect Dutch fort in Asia. Its pentagonal design with five ravelins, massive coral-limestone walls, and strategic positioning made it virtually impregnable. Over four centuries, it served Portuguese traders, Dutch governors, British garrisons, and Sri Lankan military forces — a testament to the enduring genius of its construction.
Whether you are a history enthusiast, architecture lover, or curious traveller, the Jaffna Fort invites you to walk its ancient ramparts and discover centuries of colonial heritage.
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