This is Sri Lanka`s oldest light station dating back to 1848, but the original 24.5-metre-high 80 ft lighthouse built by the British was located about 100 metres 330 ft from the current site; however, it was destroyed by fire in 1934. The existing 26.5-metre-high 87 ft lighthouse was erected here in 1939.The original light was furnished with a glass prism lens floating in a bath of mercury to reduce friction and was powered by a weight driven machine. The light station is within the walls of the ancient Galle Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site and well known tourist attraction.The lighthouse is strategically located at the southern end of the promontory, built approximately 6 metres 20 ft above the road level on the ramparts, at what is known as the Point Utrecht Bastion, giving it full view of any ships entering Galle Harbour.
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