| Tangalle Fort | |
|---|---|
| Part of Hambantota District | |
| Tangalle, Sri Lanka | |
  Tangalle Fort | |
| Coordinates | 6°1′21″N 80°47′53″E / 6.02250°N 80.79806°E |
| Type | Defence fort |
| Height | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Government of Sri Lanka |
| Open to the public | no |
| Condition | good |
| Site history | |
| Built by | Dutch |
| Materials | limestone and coral |
Tangalle Fort (Sinhala: තංගල්ල බලකොටුව, romanized: Tangalla Balakotuwa; Tamil: தங்காலைக் கோட்டை, romanized: Taṅkālaik Kōṭṭai) is a small Dutch fort located in the coastal town of Tangalle, Sri Lanka. The Dutch used Tangalle as an important anchorage on the southern coast of the island.
Tangalle fort differs from most other forts constructed by the Dutch, in that the fort has no massive ramparts. The four main walls, which are 12 m (39 ft) high, enclose a space similar to a rhombus, in height, in opposite corners of the structure. The fort was significantly altered by the British in the middle of the 19th century when it was converted into a prison. The British also used Tangalle as an anchorage. The fort is still being used as a prison by the Department of Prisons.[1][2]
- ^ Fernando, Kishanie S. (9 June 2013). "Colonial Forts – relics of old time warfare". Ceylon Today. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ Pieris, Kamalika (24 May 2012). "Dutch Forts in Sri Lanka". The Daily News. Retrieved 17 November 2014.