Dutch Entrance Gate to the Fort and the Old Canal

Next to the YMBA building is the Old Dutch Entrance Gate to the Fort, conserved by the Department of Archaeology. It is associated with the canal, the old waterway joining Beira Lake with the Colombo Harbour.

Dutch Hospital in Fort

The earliest available reference of this building is in 1677 by the German soldier Christopher Schweitzer. It was initially built and functioned as the hospital for the Dutch community residing in the Fort of Colombo and its suburbs and for the soldiers and sailors. Heydt's description of 1734 is the first eyewitness account of this hospital, and he describes this as the 'best hospital in all the Indies'. The hospital, one of the earliest public buildings of colonial occupation of the Island, had three units. The most prominent among them is the central unit, the hospital proper or wards. The second unit is identified as the Ward Master's house, dispensary and chemist's house. The central portion of this unit has an elevated storey. The third unit, known as the quarters of the hospital cook, of which there are no traces today. The verandahs of the building were additions by the British. The windows, with large fanlights and latticework, represent some of the best examples of the prevailing Dutch style.

Conserved by the Urban Development Authority, the building is now being re-used as a shopping and restaurant complex.

Heritage Day Tours Vol 1 by Nilan Cooray - The National Trust Sri Lanka 2014 P:95

Unique Sri Lanka

Dutch Hospital

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