Sri Lanka is fondly known by many epithets, with the most known being the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’. Nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean, the island takes on the shape of a tear drop that is home to diverse climates, stunning and panoramic sceneries, and intriguing histories. Sri Lanka was colonised by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British and while it was the British that made a lasting impact in terms of the administration of the country, the impact of the Dutch occupation is still felt in the domestic legal system, as well as in the architecture in certain parts of the island.
One such area in which the Dutch left a lasting imprint is the seaside town of Negombo, formerly a quiet fishing village that has, as of late, become increasingly tourist friendly with a myriad of accommodation options such as the Club Hotel Dolphin. While staying at a Negombo resort, tourists can explore the town to their heart’s content and will undoubtedly stumble across the famous Dutch Canal in Negombo.
The famous Dutch Canal in Negombo known also as the Hamilton Canal stretches for kilometres on end and was utilised to transport goods during the Dutch Occupation. At present, those who take a stroll along the Canal will find it dotted with small colourful boats which sometimes offer tourists short rides. However, the Hamilton Canal is quite run down even though a few state sponsored projects have focused on them in order to develop the canal and its vicinity into an eco tourist attraction. Part of this project is the development and construction of a suspension bridge for pedestrians. Regardless of its present state, however, the history of the Dutch Canal is interesting and serves as a continuous reminder of the colonial legacy of the island.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.