Galle Fort in the bay of Galle on the south west coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the protuguese,then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th Century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 432 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri lanka.
The fort has a colorful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and muti-religious population. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people still own some part of the properties.
The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCOand the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv, for its unique exposition of ‘an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
T Galle fort is also known as the Dutch fort or the :Ramparts of Galle.
