Elephant Pass fort

Elephant Pass Fort (Tamil: ஆனையிறவுக் கோட்டை, romanized: Āṉaiyiṟavuk Kōṭṭai; Sinhala: අලිමංකඩ බලකොටුව Alimankada Balakotuwa) was a small fort in the strategically important spot as it linked Jaffna peninsula to the mainland. It was built by the Dutch in 1776 on the banks of the Jaffna lagoon.^[1]

Elephant Pass Fort
Elephant Pass, Sri Lanka
Site information
Type	Defence fort
Condition	Destroyed
Location
Elephant Pass Fort
Coordinates	9.523343°N 80.408080°E / 9.523343; 80.408080
Site history
Built	1776
Built by	Dutch
Materials	Granite Stones
Battles/wars	Many

The fort was served as a defensive structure to protect the Jaffna peninsula. It was like a well-fortified stockade or a watch post. It had two bastions, and each bastion was equipped with four cannons.^[2] Elephant Pass Fort was linearly located with Fort Beschutter and Fort Pass Pyl in the narrow part of the peninsula. During the British rule, the fort was used as a rest house. It was destroyed during the Sri Lankan civil war.