- Strategically Located Island Fort: The fort is built on a small island. It is situated between the islands of Kayts and Karaitivu. The location allowed it to guard the entrance to the Jaffna Peninsula.
- Portuguese and Dutch Heritage: It was first built by the Portuguese in the mid-17th century using quarried coral. The Dutch later captured and rebuilt it in 1680. Thus, it shows two colonial powers’ history.
- Unique Name Origin: The Dutch renamed the fort to “Hammenhiel.” They thought the shape of Ceylon looked like a smoked ham. The fort’s location was at the “heel” of the ham.
- Historic Prison and Dungeon: The fort has nine large dungeons. These were initially built for storing gunpowder. They were later used as a maximum-security prison.
- Notable Inmates: The fort served as a prison for important political figures. These include Rohana Wijeweera, the founder of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. It also held other prisoners from the 1971 JVP insurrection.