Ratnapura Dutch Fort

Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

---

Ratnapura Dutch Fort in Sri Lanka was built by the Dutch after they took control from the Portuguese in 1658. The Portuguese had originally constructed a fort there around 1620, but it was later destroyed by Kirti Sri Raja Singha, the second Nayaka king of Kandy. The Dutch initially used the site of the Portuguese fort but then built a new fort on a hill in the middle of Ratnapura town.

The fort's design included two bastions and was large enough to house the governor's office and residence, court building, hospital, chapel, and barracks for about 40 men. It was captured by the British in 1817. The fort is now an archaeological monument, though partially demolished by local authorities.

Today, it serves as the offices for the National Gem and Jewellery Authority along with some private offices, and the original site includes the police station, public library, and former administrative offices. The fort's history reflects Ratnapura's colonial past intertwined with its role as a key center for gem mining in Sri Lanka.