Excavations at the Jaffna Dutch Fort have revealed structural remains from a Portuguese guard tower dating back to 1613, shedding new light on the site's layered colonial history.

Archaeological work at the Jaffna Dutch Fort has uncovered evidence of a guard tower constructed during the Portuguese occupation of the site, according to officials overseeing the dig. The discovery marks a significant finding in understanding the fort's complex architectural history spanning multiple colonial periods.

The Jaffna Fort was originally constructed by the Portuguese as a square-shaped structure in 1613, according to Excavation Officer Madhuka Dilshan Perera. Following Portuguese control, the Dutch captured the fort in 1658 and substantially rebuilt it into the distinctive pentagonal, star-shaped configuration that remains visible today. During this reconstruction, the Dutch incorporated elements from the earlier Portuguese structure into their own fortification.

The ongoing excavation, conducted as part of the Jaffna Project under the Central Cultural Fund, has now identified remnants of one of the original Portuguese guard towers from the 1613 construction. Officials stated that these remains will eventually be made available for public viewing, allowing visitors to better understand the site's historical development and the successive waves of European colonial presence in the region.