S.W. coast of Sri Lanka, 115 kms south of Colombo.

Pronounced in Sinhala as "Gaar-le". The origin of the name "Galle" is disputed: some associate it with the Sinhala "gal" (rock) or "gala" (cattle shed) others with the Portuguese "galo" (cock)

Galle is an ancient port dating back to pre-Christian times - possibly the ancient town of "Tarshish" mentioned in the Old Testament as the source where King Solomon acquired gems,spices and peacocks - it gained in importance after C12th A.D. Visited by Arab traveller, Ibn Batuta in 1344.

Strategically located for maritime trade between the Arabian peninsular and South-East Asia. Well sited for local and regional trade with Southern India and the Bay of Bengal. Provided safe anchorage in most weather conditions arising from the two seasonal monsoon periods.

By the time of the first arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 it had become the most important port on the southern and south-western coast of Sri Lanka, as well as a major entrepöt. However, it was not until 1587 that it was seized by the Portuguese from the Sinhala kings. In 1589 they built a small fortlet here which they named Santa Cruz. The fort was strengthened with additional walls and bastions but these were later destroyed by the Dutch.

Galle was the second most important harbour of the Dutch United East India Company (Verenigde Oost -Indische Compagnie or VOC) in Asia. After capturing Galle from the Portuguese in 1640 the Dutch made it the main base for their cinnamon trade in Sri Lanka as well as the main staging port for voyages between the East Indies and Europe.

Captured by the British in 1796 - Captain Lachlan Macquarie led the military force that accepted the surrender of the fort from Commandeur Dietrich Thomas Fretz (the last governor of Galle) on 23 February.

The Portuguese, Dutch and British used the natural harbour at Galle as their main port in Sri Lanka until 1875 when the reconstruction of breakwaters and the enlargement of the harbour at Colombo led to the decline of Galle.