The US has granted $ 100,000 in support of the work undertaken by the University of Sri Jayewardenapura to document historic buildings within the Galle Fort, create a strategy for long-term preservation of its architectural characteristics and to formulate a master plan to guide development within the historic area.

“We recognize that we cannot ignore the natural and human changes that continue to affect Galle Fort. The grant of $100,000 we commemorate today supported work led by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to document the historic buildings within the Fort; to create a strategy for long-term preservation of its architectural characteristics; and to formulate a master plan to guide development within the historic area, remarked US Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Hilton at an event held at Maritime Museum, Galle Fort, Galle.

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As you know, the Portuguese first established a fort on this site in the early 1500s. When the Dutch took over Galle in 1640, they soon began construction of what is now this tremendous work of architecture. Some have called this complex the finest, intact fortified city built by Europeans in all of Asia. The Dutch Fort has already been recognized internationally for its importance, as UNESCO listed it among its World Heritage Sites in 1988.

We recognize that we cannot ignore the natural and human changes that continue to affect Galle Fort. The grant of $100,000 we commemorate today supported work led by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to document the historic buildings within the Fort; to create a strategy for long-term preservation of its architectural characteristics; and to formulate a master plan to guide development within the historic area.