Koddiyar fort

Koddiyar fort
Part of Trincomalee
Muttur, Sri Lanka
Koddiyar fort
Coordinates	8°27′45″N 81°15′39″E / 8.462363°N 81.260955°E / 8.462363; 81.260955
Type	Defence fort
Site information
Condition	Destroyed
Site history
Built	1622
Built by	Dutch
Battles/wars	Several

Koddiyar fort (Sinhalese: කොඩ්ඩියාර් බලකොටුව Tamil: கொட்டியாரக் கோட்டை) was the first fort that was built by Dutch in Ceylon.^[1][2] It was constructed in 1622 and is located on the southern side of Koddiyar Bay (Koddiyar means 'fort by the river').

Kandyan king Senarat granted permission to build a fort in Koddiyar (now known as Muttur) due a treaty between the king and the Dutch. The treaty had a purpose of get rid of the Portuguese from the country. However, Portuguese destroyed the partly built fort since they had control in Trincomalee area including Koddiyar. Later, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese in the island, and Koddiyar fort was rebuilt and strengthened in 1658.^[3]

References

Further reading

• Nelson, W. A.; de Silva, R. K. (2004). The Dutch Forts of Sri Lanka – The Military Monuments of Ceylon. Sri Lanka Netherlands Association. 

Forts of Sri Lanka
Ancient Forts	Balana fort Mapagala fortress Sigiriya Sitawaka fort Vijithapura Yapahuwa
Colonial Forts	Portuguese Forts Arandora fort Arippu fort Batticaloa fort Colombo fort Delft Island fort Fort Fredrick Fort Hammenheil Galle fort Haldummulla fort† Hanwella fort Jaffna fort Kalutara fort Kayts Island fort† Malwana fort† Mannar fort Matara fort Menikkadawara fort† Negombo fort Pooneryn fort Ratnapura Portuguese fort† Ruwanwella fort Dutch Forts Elephant Pass fort Fort Beschutter Fort Ostenburg Fort Pyl Kalpitiya fort Kankesanthurai fort Katuwana fort Koddiyar fort Mullaitivu fort Point Pedro fort Ratnapura Dutch fort Star fort Tangalle fort British Forts Fort MacDowall Martello tower
Less or no contribution/renovation works of Dutch are marked by † symbol under "Portuguese Forts", and others are considered as Dutch forts too.