Although the design was Portuguese, Galle Fort was built by a Sinhalese
According to the popular saying, the Portuguese who came to Galle after 1505 were the first to build the Galle fort. After that, the Dutch (Holland) captured the Galle Fort from them around 1658 and brought it under their control. After that they further improved it. After that, in 1796, Galle was handed over to the British. They improved it further. As a result, Galle Fort became a 'city' as well as a 'military fort'. Today we see the Galle fort that was created in this way.
However, the latest news about the Galle Fort is that it is not a foreign construction at all.
It is true that the original design of the Galle fort was by the Portuguese. But the fact that its construction process and technology is a Sinhalese born in Matara, is the fact revealed by new researches. According to Mr. Tharanga Liyanarachchi, Project Officer of Galle Urumaya Foundation, that person is 'Matara Samarakon Fernando' aka 'Samarakon Mudali'.
He held the title of 'Matara District' (Disapati) when the Portuguese ruled the coastal provinces of Sri Lanka including Galle. Despite siding with the Portuguese, Samarakoon Mudali was a warrior.
Mr. Tharanga Liyanarachchi is the project officer of the 'Galu Urumaya Foundation' under the Ministry of Housing Construction and Cultural Affairs. He is a researcher who studied the history of the ancient city of Galle. Many of the things he says are things we have never heard before. Or, the stories we have heard so far are different forms of news. On a recent day, the writer evoked the memories of his studies and took an opportunity to roam the unknown paths of Galle history. This is how the story line is recorded.
According to the popular saying, the first Portuguese sailor to visit Ceylon was Lorenzo de Almeida. It is well known that in 1505 his ship ran aground in Galle due to a storm. But the real story is different. Lorenzo de Almeida landed in the port of Colombo in 1505. After that, they went to the capital of Kotte and visited the Sinhalese king, it is said in history. At that time King Dharma Parakramabahu the seventh was the king of Kotte. The saying 'Parangia Kotte Giya Rage' was created from the incident when the group of Portuguese sailors were taken to the capital of Kotte.
Also, Lorenzo de Almeida's arrival at the port of Colombo was not a storm or some other accident. It was a deliberate journey in search of oriental spices. The beginning of the story begins with the Turkish Ottomans capturing the 'city of Constantinople' in 1453 AD. As a result, the supply of spices from Eastern countries like Sri Lanka and India to Europe collapsed. After that, Europeans including the Portuguese began to search for new sea routes to reach the East by bringing spices.
By this time, Arab sailors were carrying out the trade of spices and other goods between the East and the West. Supplying spices etc. to Europe is a very profitable trade. The Europeans realized that in order to take it into their hands, they had to remove the Arab traders from the ocean. They started looking for Eastern countries with that thought in mind.
The King of Portugal assigned this task to the naval commander named Francisco de Almeida. He came by ships and chased away the Arab traders from the Malabar coast of western India and took over the trade of spices and other goods. After that, he sent his son, Lorenzo de Almeida, to the south of the Indian Ocean to plunder the ships of the Arabs. In 1505, Lorenzo de Almeida landed in Colombo while searching for Arab ships. It is not an accident. He also came to Colombo to plunder the maritime trade of the Arabs.
However, on land in Colombo, the Portuguese entered into a trade agreement with King Dharma Parakramabahu of Kotte. According to that, the commercial goods such as cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper produced in the country should not be given to the Arabs but should be given to the Portuguese. The ports of Colombo and Galle belonging to the Portuguese king should be protected. Despite the treaties, the kings allowed them to trade but not to build a fort.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit