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Ratnapura Portuguese fort
Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
Ratnapura Portuguese fort
Coordinates	6°41′27″N 80°22′46″E / 6.690866°N 80.379547°E / 6.690866; 80.379547
Type	Defence fort
Site information
Condition	Destroyed
Site history
Built	1618–1620
Built by	Portuguese

Ratnapura Portuguese fort (Sinhala: රත්නපුර පෘතුගීසි බලකොටුව Rathnapura Pruthugisi Balakotuwa; Tamil: இரத்தினபுரி போர்த்துக்கேயக் கோட்டை, romanized: Irattiṉapuri Pōrttukkēyak Kōṭṭai) was built by the Portuguese in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.

The Portuguese constructed the fort and a church, between 1618 and 1620, on the ground of Saman Devalaya (an ancient devale or Hindu shrine) following the defeat of the King of Sitawaka, Rajasinha I. The town and the fort was later captured by Kirti Sri Raja Singha (the second Nayaka king of Kandy, who destroyed the church and the fort and constructed a Buddhist temple, Maha Saman Devalaya, on the site. In the temple grounds there is a stone sculpture, which depicts the Portuguese General Simao Pinnao, on horseback brandishing a sword, whilst trampling a Sinhalese soldier.

See also

• Ratnapura Dutch fort

References

1. "Colonial Forts – relics of old time warfare". Ceylon Today. 6 September 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
2. "Ratnapura". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
3. "Ratnapura Portuguese Fort". AmazingLanka.com. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
4. "Maha Saman Devala, Kuruvita Korale, Devalegama". Living Heritage Trust. Retrieved 24 November 2014.

v t e 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 Kotugodella 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.

• Forts in Sabaragamuwa Province
• Portuguese forts in Sri Lanka
• Buildings and structures in Ratnapura District
• Archaeological protected monuments in Ratnapura District