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| Saturday, 25 January 2003 |
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A legacy of our colonial past by M. R. M. Niyas, Hambantota Special Correspondent The immediate action of the colonial rulers who conquered the maritime provinces of Sri Lanka then Ceylon, was to take measures to ensure their secured power. They followed various kinds of tactics to defend their power and set up fortresses and defence towers where there were major threats to their domination. The historical fortresses at Galle and Matara depict their architectural competence and defence expertise.
Though the Martello Tower at Hambantota is not spread in a large area, it could also be considered as a defence watchtower. Visitors to this historical seaport town of Hambantota through the western gateway, will not fail to see from afar, adjoining the sentinel like lighthouse the prominent historical landmark the Martello Tower at the tip of the seaside promontory. This defence watchtower is a relic of the colonial era, believed to be a Dutch fortification, but actually built by Capt. Goper of the Army Engineers during the British Period. The Martello Tower (from Martello in Corsica, where a fortification of this kind made a strong resistance to an English naval force in 1794) is a small circular-shaped fort, with thick walls, and embrasure look-outs atop, and armoury and living space in the covered room below. The building consists of three storeys. Anyone looking at the sea from the top of the Martello Tower could see as far as 25 miles of the Indian Ocean. This is the only one of this kind in Sri Lanka and one of the few in the world. Visitors to Europe would come across only a few in countries such as France and Germany, while others have been destroyed by war or the ravages of time. On the initiative of then Minister of Fisheries and the present Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, this historical landmark was converted into a fisheries museum in the year 1999 as a measure to conserve this colonial landmark. After a couple of years owing to lack of proper maintenance and care, this relic of colonial era was neglected and is now in a deplorable condition. The Martello Tower is the foremost archaeological site situated in the Hambantota Kachcheri premises. Since this Martello Tower at Hambantota is a legacy of our colonial history, it is imperative that authorities concerned take very early steps to protect and preserve it for posterity. |
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