The Lost Forts: Where they were and what was their fate
View(s):This month’s National Trust lecture will be delivered online on Thursday, July 29 at 6.30 p.m. by H. M. Chryshane Mendis on “The Lost Forts of the VOC”.
The period of the VOC or the Dutch East India Company in Sri Lanka, begins from around the mid-17th century till the end of the 18th century, and during their long presence in the littoral, they established numerous fortifications. Of these forts, there are about 20 remaining, several of which are very prominent heritage sites and tourist destinations. However, there were many more, as the numerous maps and archival documents attest. But where were they, and what was their fate?
Using various sources of reference such as archival maps and official records of the VOC, Chryshane Mendis, will explore these ‘lost’ forts revealing their physical characteristics, history, locations and role in the military landscape of Sri Lanka.
An old boy of St. Joseph’s College Colombo 10, Chryshane has recently completed his MA Archaeology in Landscape and Heritage from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands with a thesis on a GIS inventorying and mapping of Dutch and Kandyan fortifications. A member of ICOMOS (Sri Lanka), Chryshane is also the Secretary of its National Scientific Committee on Fortifications and Military Heritage.
Those interested could use the following links to join the lecture:
Website: https://thenationaltrust.lk/news/(which will provide the link)
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/The-National-Trust-Sri-Lanka(which will provide the link)