Galle Fort

The pride of a nation and the country in the eyes of the world is enhanced by its civilization, its culture and its natural beauties. Endowed with these qualifications with a 2500 year old history supported by ancient archaeological treasures, Sri Lanka is rated as a biodiversity hot-spot of the world.

Ocean-swept walls of Galle Fort
A recent visit to the Galle Fort World Heritage Site, the writer came face to face with evidence of 'disintegration' of this historical location.

The Galle Dutch Fort is a rare historical jewel protected by dark, thick stone walls - with the endless ocean on one side. The roads inside the Galle Fort have hardly changed, like the squares on a chess board cris-crossing in regular patches. Straight and narrow lanes branch in and out inviting the visitor to a delightful walk into the 17th century. Today's Peddlar Street was called "Moorse Kramerstraat" by the Dutch, Lighthouse Street was "Zeeburgstraat and Middelpuntstraat", Hospital Street as `Nieuwe Lijnbaanstraat and Lijnbaanstraat (New Ropewalk Street), Old Ropewalk Street as Oude Lijnbaanstraat (Old Rope-Walk Street), Church Street as Kerkstraat, Parrawa Street as "Parruasstraat" and Chiando Street as "Chiandostraat". Through this memory walk one would however miss the 17th century familiar vendors who traded in cinnamon, lace, elephants, tortoise and turtle shell ornaments besides the famous down south sweetmeats like "bondi aluwa" hanging in garlands from the shoulders of vendors.


Galle Fort - an august presence in the South