Jaffna fort

This was captured by the Dutch under Raiclop Van Goins in 1658 and expanded it. In 1795 it was taken over by the British, and remained a British garrison till 1948. Considered as the only large military fort in the country, due to the presence of only government and military buildings within its ramparts it was garrisoned by a detachment of the Ceylon Army. With out set of the Sri Lankan Civil War

it was the seen of pitched battles and came under sieged on several occasions. From 1986 to 1996 it was under the control of the LTTE and was recaptured by the Sri Lanka Army in 1995 after a 50 day siege during the Operation Riviresa. Today it remains garrisoned by a detachment of the Sri Lanka Army with limited access to visitors and is under renovation. Found inside the fort was the Queen's House, Jaffna, the Garrison Parade Ground, Police quarters and a several buildings from the Portuguese era.