Mullaitivu fort | |
---|---|
Part of Mullaitivu | |
Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka | |
Coordinates | 9°16′59″N 80°48′00″E / 9.283°N 80.8°E |
Type | Defense fort |
Site information | |
Open to the public | yes |
Site history | |
Built | 1715 |
Built by | Dutch |
Battles/wars | Several |
Mullaitivu fort (Tamil: முல்லைத்தீவுக் கோட்டை, romanized: Mullaittīvuk Kōṭṭai; Sinhala: මූලදූව බලකොටුව Mūladūwa Balakotuwa) was built by the Dutch in Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka. The original fort, a small wooden structure with palisades and earth, was erected in 1715. In 1721 the Dutch constructed a quadrangular fort on the site. The fort was initially erected to control the unauthorised commerce between the Chetties and the Kingdom of Kandy, it subsequently formed part of a strategic defence of Dutch territory against the Vannimai.
The fort was rebuilt by British during their occupation of the country in 1795.[1] On 25 August 1803 the fort was captured and destroyed by forces led by Pandara Vanniyan.[2][3] The commander of the fort, Captain von Driberg, and his troops garrisoned at the fort managed to escape by boats to Jaffna.[4] Pandara Vanniyan and his forces were subsequently defeated by Captain von Driberg and the British troops at Kachchilamadu on 31 October 1803.Now it is located into Mullaitivu Kacheri. [3][4]