Mullaitivu fort
Part of Mullaitivu
Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka
Remains of Mullaitivu Fort
location of Mullaitivu is located in Northern Province
location of Mullaitivu
location of Mullaitivu
Coordinates9°16′59″N 80°48′00″E / 9.283°N 80.8°E / 9.283; 80.8
TypeDefense fort
Site history
Built1715
Built byDutch
Battles/warsSeveral

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.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ "Dutch fort at Mullaitivu". AmazingLanka.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  2. ^ Somasundaram, Daya (2014). Scarred Communities: Psychosocial Impact of Man-made and Natural Disasters on Sri Lankan Society. New Delhi: SAGE. p. 52. ISBN 9788132111689. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Pandara Vanniyan memorial place destroyed in Katchilaimadu". 23 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. ^ a b "The Kandy war and the reprisals". Sunday Times. 31 August 1997. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
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