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Historic Matale Macdonald Fort
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The historic Macdonald fort in Matale has not been maintained for fairly a long time and its protective wall is now in a dilapidated condition.
The fortress built in 1803 by the British is 19 acres in extent. The graves of Buddhists, Anglicans, Catholics, Hindus and several foreigners are located in separate sections of the cemetery inside the fortress.
A crematorium was constructed in 1965 with funds from the Mayor of Thamagava, Japan but it has not been repaired for more than ten years although about 25 bodies are cremated a month.
Englishmen still visit the fortress to see the graves of their relatives, but they are often disappointed without a way to identify the graves.
Keeper of the cemetery said the squatters in a part of the fortress have broken the granite wall around the fortress and taken away the stones to make grinding stones.
The employees said that a section of the fort has been used as a dumping ground for garbage creating a serious health hazard. The nearby Matale hospital is the worst affected.
It is of significance that the ashes of Thamagawa Mayor’s wife had been buried in a grave inside the fort according to her wishes and a monument had been erected in memory of her. It lies in front of the crematorium
Deputy Mayor, MataleV.G.Jinadasa said the Fort Mac Donald should be protected and conserved for posterity and that steps would be taken soon to repair the parapet wall and to renovate the monuments of the cemetery.
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