Elephant Pass fort

Elephant Pass Fort
Elephant Pass, Sri Lanka
Elephant Pass Fort
Coordinates	9°31′24″N 80°24′29″E / 9.523343°N 80.408080°E / 9.523343; 80.408080
Type	Defence fort
Site information
Condition	Destroyed
Site history
Built	1776
Built by	Dutch
Materials	Granite Stones
Battles/wars	Many

Elephant Pass Fort (Tamil: ஆனையிறவுக் கோட்டை) was a small fort in the strategically important spot as it linked Jaffna peninsula to the mainland. It was built by the Dutch in 1776 on the banks of the Jaffna lagoon.^[1]

The fort was served as a defensive structure to protect the Jaffna peninsula. It was like a well-fortified stockade or a watch post. It had two bastions, and each bastion was equipped with four cannons.^[2] Elephant Pass Fort was linearly located with Fort Beschutter and Fort Pass Pyl in the narrow part of the peninsula. During the British rule, the fort was used as a rest house. It was destroyed during the time of Sri Lankan civil war.

References

• Nelson, W. A.; de Silva, R. K. (2004). The Dutch Forts of Sri Lanka – The Military Monuments of Ceylon. Sri Lanka Netherlands Association. 

External links

• Pass of a thousand battles PDF (640 KB)

Forts of Sri Lanka Ancient Forts Balana fort Mapagala fortress Sigiriya Sitawaka fort Vijithapura Yapahuwa Colonial Forts Portuguese Forts Arandora fort Arippu fort Batticaloa fort Colombo fort Delft Island fort Fort Fredrick Fort Hammenheil Galle fort Haldummulla fort† Hanwella fort Jaffna fort Kalutara fort Kayts Island fort† Malwana fort† Mannar fort Matara fort Menikkadawara fort† Negombo fort Pooneryn fort Ratnapura Portuguese fort† Ruwanwella fort Dutch Forts Elephant Pass fort Fort Beschutter Fort Ostenburg Fort Pyl Kalpitiya fort Kankesanthurai fort Katuwana fort Koddiyar fort Mullaitivu fort Point Pedro fort Ratnapura Dutch fort Star fort Tangalle fort British Forts Fort MacDowall Martello tower Less or no contribution/renovation works of Dutch are marked by † symbol under "Portuguese Forts", and others are considered as Dutch forts too.