ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Forts of Sri Lanka

Okay kiddo, have you ever heard of forts before? Maybe you've built one with your friends out of pillows and blankets? Well, in Sri Lanka, they have forts too! But instead of just being a fun play spot, these forts were built a really long time ago to protect the country.

You see, a long time ago, Sri Lanka was an important location for trade between countries. That means a lot of ships came through to buy and sell things. But sometimes, bad people called "pirates" would try to steal the precious things being traded. That's where the forts come in! The forts were big, strong buildings with thick walls and guards who could watch out for pirates and protect the trade happening inside the fort.

One of the most famous forts in Sri Lanka is the Galle Fort. It was built by the Portuguese when they first came to Sri Lanka in the 1500s. It was then taken over by the Dutch, and finally the British, who made it the big and beautiful fort it is today! The Galle Fort is now a really popular tourist spot where people can explore the old buildings and walk along the walls that were once used to protect the fort from attackers.

So even though Sri Lanka doesn't need forts to protect it from pirates anymore, they are still very important because they are a part of the country's history and culture. And now, people can visit these forts and learn about the amazing things that happened there a long, long time ago.