RotaVentures to Galle: Rediscovering the mysteries behind a city

BY Rtr. Kaveesha Ruwindi

On the 10th of October, I had the opportunity to travel to Galle along with the Organising Committee and the participants of RotaVentures to Galle. This event, which was organised as a joint venture with the Rotaract Clubs of NIBM Kandy, The Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, and Mannar Town, was not just an insightful fellowship experience to me, but one one that opened my eyes to the hidden stories and unspoken histories that Galle had to offer. 

Dharmapala Park

Once we reached Galle, the first of the many sites of history and tourism that we visited was the Dharmapala Park, where we spent many hours getting acquainted with the members from other clubs. Located snugly between other tourist hotspots such as the Galle Railway Station, Galle Fort and the dazzling blue sea, the park was originally called the Victoria Park at the time of its establishment in 1889, during the British Colonial period. Since then, the park has undergone many different changes, surviving perils such as the 2004 tsunami through USAID funding and other renovation projects. 

Galle Fort

Following a fruitful session of fellowship-building, the attendees of RotaVentures to Galle were free to choose their own areas of sightseeing. While there were diverse sites that could have entertained us, we chose to stick to one of the most sought after tourist hotspots in the area: the Galle Fort. 

Founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese, the Galle Fort was also occupied by the Dutch and the British, making it one of the most significant sites of colonial history in Sri Lanka. To this day, the Fort is filled with many landmarks that stand as remnants from bygone times, now withstanding the weathers, natural disasters and the ever flowing influx of tourists. To this day, the Galle Fort remains a melting pot of both Sri Lankan and European cultures and histories which are waiting to be explored. 

Galle Maritime Museum

This is one of the more prominent landmarks found inside the Galle Fort. While it can be considered a treasure trove filled with relics from Sri Lanka’s colonial past and other eras of Sri Lanka’s history, this museum also serves as a memorial of the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that once devastated this coastal city. Amidst the models of former Dutch ships and other water-based modes of transport, and the socio-cultural representations from the colonial eras, I also found ruined remnants of different objects that had been recovered after the tsunami. 

Thus, the story that Galle has to share with us becomes not one of colonialism and tourism alone. As the sun set behind that ancient fortified city, I was walking back to the train station with a specific realisation in mind: that what this quaint and artistic city has to offer is not just a story of Sri Lanka’s complicated past, but also of the quiet strength and resilience of its present.