Madakalapu Coast

The Madakalapu coast faces the lagoon country of eastern Sri Lanka, where Batticaloa's old town stands on the island of Puliyanthivu. In 1602 the Dutch admiral Joris van Spilbergen anchored off the coast and sent a messenger inland to propose trade. The Portuguese built a fort on the lagoon island in 1628, but Dutch forces captured it on 18 May 1638 during their campaign against Portuguese positions.