An iconic structure, the Jaffna Fort is a remnant of colonial architecture, originally built by the Portuguese, later taken over by the Dutch, then the British, and then played a crucial strategic role during the Sri Lankan Civil War. The Dutch further expanded the original structure by adding more defensive triangles, which is what gives the fort its notable pentagon shape. The fort is now a popular tourist attraction, having had some restoration work done with the help of the Dutch government post-war.