Galle Fort History
Sri Lanka played an important role in the centre of the trade route between Arabia and China. The strategic location of Galle with its natural harbor gave it prominence above all other ports on the island. The Portuguese, who discovered Galle accidentally, built fortifications to protect themselves Against the land enemy.

After a short battle in 1640 the Dutch took over the Fort in Galle. In the 17th century, the increase of competing European nations – British, French and Danish –in the Indian Ocean forced the Dutch to build and strengthen the sea-side defense. The Fort was designed as a stronghold of power, very similar to fortified cities in Europe. It accommodated all sectors of population who were loyal to the Dutch. At that time, it was the town in Sri Lanka, and all the important people lived there.

Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. In 1796, the Fort was surrendered to the British and has been continuing as an administrative and legal centre for the Southern province. Government institutions, like the customs, post & telecommunications, forest department, police and the courts have been permanent features within the Fort since. Galle was for centuries Sri Lanka’s main port, a position which strengthened during the periods of Portuguese and Dutch colonial rule. Galle only lost its primacy in the late 19th century, when the British expanded – Colombo as seat of the British Government – and developed the harbor at Colombo to become the island major port. Galle harbor has lost much of its regional importance (De Vos, 1975 ).

After 1875
The ancient port city of Galle is Sri Lanka’s fourth largest town, with a population of around 80,000 inhabitants. It is Sri Lanka’s oldest living city. Located on the Western shore of the island it is situated about 115 Km south of Colombo.

Galle as the main city and provincial capital of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka plays a significant role in the administrative functions of the province. Out of various factors, the combination of being an important transport hub ( rail, proposed national highway, further development of natural harbor, closeness to a regional airport ) and the significant cultural heritage of the Fort, the town of Galle has the potential of developing in to a centre of national and international importance.

Today the town spreads in to the hinterland. The Old Fort of Galle with 38 ha occupies just a small part of the city area of Galle – in terms of population approximately 1/40 of the city as a whole – is one of the few still inhabited Fortifications from Dutch colonial times in a South – East Asian context, and was therefore listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1988 as a ‘living monument’) . Within a ‘living monument’ modern settled population is an integral part of the social and economic life of the people.