• Home
• Contact us

Galle Heritage Site

The Galle Dutch Fort in the Southern Province has remained a hub of many political , religious , social and administrative activities for several centuries since the 15 th century. The Dutch Fort built on an existing port of Portuguese, has played a singular role as an important harbor serving as an entrypot of the Eastern and Western traders from ancient times.

Since of late . the city has attracted the attention of marine archaeological activities of Australians and the Dutch resulting in the establishment of Maritime Archaeological Trust of the Central Cultural Fund.

Dutch Fort	Dutch Church

 

---

Sri Lanka's Maritime Heritage

---

Researching Sri Lanka 's Maritime Heritage

The last of our traditional sailing ships

Sri Lankan mariners existed in the north of the island, too. The Jaffna ships, called thonis, were large cargo ships, traditional inside in appearance they were copies of European and Indian ships. They had eyes on either side of the bow, a shrine to god Shiva inside, and a row of false gun-ports were painted along the sides. Before launching a ship or starting a voyage, a pooja was conducted, smashing coconuts, marking the three Shaivite ash-marks on the stem. About four centuries ago, one set sail, again to the Maldives . She coasted south up to Ambalangoda , where she was to change course westward. But she, too, became a vic­tim of the sea. Her bones are sometimes visible under certain conditions and the MAD could not find her on a quick visit. The people from the wadiya close by had taken bits and pieces and sold some. Our team was able to see what was left and list what had been removed. Small iron cannon, a statue of a god, Chinese pottery and brass cooking vessels had been sold.

The Wreck Of Jffna Ship

Sri Lankan mariners existed in the north of the island, too. The Jaffna ships, called thonis, were large cargo ships, traditional inside in appearance they were copies of European and Indian ships. They had eyes on either side of the bow, a shrine to god Shiva inside, and a row of false gun-ports were painted along the sides. Before launching a ship or starting a voyage, a pooja was conducted, smashing coconuts, marking the three Shaivite ash-marks on the stem. About four centuries ago, one set sail, again to the Maldives . She coasted south up to Ambalangoda , where she was to change course westward. But she, too, became a vic­tim of the sea. Her bones are sometimes visible under certain conditions and the MAD could not find her on a quick visit. The people from the wadiya close by had taken bits and pieces and sold some. Our team was able to see what was left and list what had been removed. Small iron cannon, a statue of a god, Chinese pottery and brass cooking vessels had been sold.

The Great Basses Silver Wreck

In the early 1960s, Sri "Lankan sports divers Arthur C. Clarke, Mike Wilson and Rodney Jonklaas found and looted many shipwrecks. One was carrying a cargo of sacks of silver coins minted in India . She broke up and sank in the Great Basses, or Maha Ravan Kotuwa. A film Ranmuthuduwa was made using this wreck. But all the tons of silver have been taken out of the island. The great majority were stolen, advertised for sale described as from "the land of Arthur C.Clarke ". They are made into jewellery and are said to be secretly sold in Sri Lanka , even today. MAU investigated the site and mapped it to assess its archaeological value. MAU recovered several hundred coins. which are the only ones officially in this country. guns beads, Chinese pottery ,cannon balls have been found.

Ancient Oru-Paru in inland waters

The UNESCO field school project

Sri Lanka has led the way in Asia in collaborating. with foreign experts while keeping policy and control in Sri Lanka . Visiting maritime archaeologists work with local teams, and provide training and equipment. In recognition of local efforts, UNESCO has proposed to fund a field school in Galle, where Sri Lankan and foreign experts will conduct basic training to trainees from other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Eventually, the Post Graduate Institute Archeaology will conduct a post-graduate course in maritime Archaeology

The capital of the southern province is a city with a colourful history. UNESCO declared World Heritage Site the magnificent Dutch fort is the most popular attraction of the town. 300 year old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the fort and amidst its many historical buildings not invaded by the skyscrapers. The beautiful beach of Unawatuna is just 6km south east of the city centre.

The southern coastal belt is the most popular among the tourists and comes to life mainly from October through April when the monsoon moves northeast and the sea becomes calm with blue skies. The earliest European administrative centre of Sri Lanka was the major port and the largest city until the British shifted the port to Colombo. The City of Galle had been the European administrative centre over 4 centuries.