It was believe that Matara Fort was build Portuguese. Though it was accept that the fort was build by them. At Matara with the assistance of King Don Juan Dharmapala in 1595 A.D. the fort.
Which exists now in the triangular piece of land of the estuary of Nilwala River between the lagoon and the sea was build by the Dutch in 1645 A.D. The date inscribed on the entrance is 1789 A.D. It could be the date the fort was repair and not the date it was build.
The fort that the Dutch built was taking possession to the Sinhala army in 1761 A.D. At the time of the invasion from the hill country was know as Matara Rebellion.
Again on 02nd February 1762 the Dutch managed to take possession of the fort.
On 24th February 1796 Matara Fort was hand over to the British by the Dutch.
Matara Fort was build with granite and limestones. And its gateway at the entrance and the rampart are very well preserved. There had an elephant kraal, the official residence of the Government Agent an old church, stores of cinnamon, arecanut, and a gunpowder store during the Dutch occupation. The oldest remains of a building existing now. Are the Old Dutch Church, with a circular apex and an upper floor depicting the Dutch architecture.Among the Dutch tombstones in the church, the oldest tombstone was date 1686 A.D. During the British occupation, the Courts Complex, Rest House and the Matara Police Station had add.
( copyrighted by archaeology.gov.lk)
