Portuguese-Era Guard Tower Discovered At Jaffna Dutch Fort

COLOMBO (News 1st): Excavations at the Jaffna Dutch Fort have uncovered evidence of a guard tower belonging to the original Portuguese fort that stood at the site.

The excavation is being carried out under the Jaffna Project of the Central Cultural Fund.

According to Excavation Officers, the remains will be made available for public viewing in the future.

Excavation Officer Madhuka Dilshan Perera, explaining the history behind the evidence, said that the Jaffna Fort was originally built by the Portuguese as a square-shaped fort in 1613 before being captured and reconstructed by the Dutch in 1658 into the pentagonal, star-shaped structure seen today. 

He further explained that the Dutch incorporated parts of the original Portuguese fort into the new structure, and that the ongoing excavations by the Central Cultural Fund have now uncovered evidence of one of the original guard towers, built by the Portuguese back in 1613.