5/5 Kasun B. 1 year ago on Google
Between
the
islands
of
Kites
and
Karaitivu
in
the
Jaffna
Peninsula
is
Hamanhill
Island.
This
wonderful
island,
which
does
not
inherit
the
appearance
of
an
ordinary
island,
looks
like
a
fortress
surrounded
by
high,
strong
walls.
Many
people
opt
to
spend
their
vacations
and
have
fun
at
Hammanhill
Fort,
a
popular
tourist
destination
and
resort.
You
might
be
unaware
that
numerous
secrets
of
a
very
dark
past
are
hidden
beneath
the
fort's
gloomy
walls,
even
though
the
situation
is
the
same
now.
I'm
going
to
tell
you
about
the
history
of
this
unusual
fort.
This
fort
was
built
in
the
middle
of
the
17th
century
by
the
order
of
the
Portuguese
governor
named
Antonio
de
Amaral
de
Menaces.
It
was
first
introduced
as
the
Fortaleza
Reel
or
the
Royal
Fort.
After
the
Portuguese
construction
of
the
Jaffna
fort,
this
fort
has
been
used
to
strengthen
the
security
of
Jaffna
city
and
its
sea
route.
It
was
built
on
a
rocky
island
by
breaking
coral
reefs
and
tying
them
with
cement.
After
the
construction
of
the
Hamanhill
fort,
the
Portuguese
will
not
be
able
to
stay
in
control
of
Sri
Lanka
for
a
long
time.
As
the
Dutch
spread
their
power,
the
Dutch
attacked
this
fort
in
1658.
Although
the
Portuguese
were
strongly
defending
their
power
here,
they
had
to
surrender
due
to
the
lack
of
water
caused
by
the
attack
on
the
water
tank
in
the
centre
of
the
fort.
After
taking
over
the
fort
from
the
Portuguese,
the
Dutch,
realising
the
importance
of
its
location,
began
to
restore
it.
By
the
year
1680,
they
succeeded
in
completing
the
construction
here
by
remedying
the
weaknesses
made
by
the
Portuguese
during
its
construction.
They
are
also
working
to
strengthen
the
security
here
with
30
security
personnel.
They
call
this
rebuilt
fort
Hammenhiel.
It
is
named
so
because
of
the
shape
of
Ceylon,
which
appears
in
the
shape
of
a
pork
leg
(the
heel
of
the
ham),
and
because
this
fort
is
located
at
its
foot
(the
heel).
Inside
this
fort,
which
has
an
octagonal
shape,
there
are
nine
large
tunnels,
or
dungeons,
made
for
storing
ammunition.
In
1795,
Hamanhill
fort
fell
under
the
British.
They
have
used
this
as
a
hospital
and
a
prison
rather
than
a
fort.
It
was
also
used
as
an
air-sea
rescue
station
during
the
Second
World
War.
Hamenhill
Castle,
which
has
been
quiet
for
a
long
time,
is
once
again
in
the
news
due
to
the
youth
rebellion
of
'71.
Hammanhill
prison
is
being
used
to
hold
the
suspects
of
the
failed
attack
on
Jaffna
prison
to
free
the
Janata
Vimukthi
Peramuna
leader,
Rohana
Wijeweera,
who
was
imprisoned
in
Jaffna
prison
at
that
time.
This
prison
has
also
housed
many
prominent
figures
from
the
71st
rebellion.
Prisoners
of
the
rebellion
at
that
time
give
heart-wrenching
accounts
of
their
miserable
lives
in
Hammanhill
prison.
The
gunpowder
storage
dungeon
we
mentioned
earlier
was
used
to
keep
these
prisoners
in
prison.
About
70
prisoners
are
kept
in
the
biggest
cave.
Many
of
the
prisoners
described
life
at
Hamman
Hill
as
hell
on
earth:
half-naked,
exposed
to
high
temperatures,
filth,
harassment
from
animals,
and
suffering
from
various
diseases.
Some
prisoners
have
even
died
due
to
injuries.
However,
according
to
a
later
protest,
the
rebels
had
received
permission
to
break
the
locks
of
the
cells
and
throw
them
outside.
It
was
heard
through
various
rumours
and
media
that
Rohana
Wijeweera
Hamanhil,
who
led
it
during
the
71
rebellions,
was
in
prison.
However,
we
do
not
find
any
reliable
evidence
that
Rohana
Wijeweera
was
detained
there.
Amidst
the
struggles
of
hundreds
of
years
brought
about
by
the
waves
of
time,
Hammanhill
Fort,
which
has
hidden
the
echo
of
a
thousand
sufferings,
is
now
a
tourist
place
in
a
relaxing
silence.
The
tourist
hotel
here,
which
is
controlled
by
the
Navy,
will
undoubtedly
be
a
great
event
to
relax
your
mind
and
body.
Here
you
have
the
opportunity
to
relax
in
a
comfortable
hotel
room
in
Hammanhill
and
get
a
different
experience
by
staying
in
a
prison
cell
and
viewing
memorabilia
and
paintings
of
the
71
rebellions.
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