The Department of Archaeology, in collaboration with the Galle Heritage Foundation and the Urban Development Authority, commenced a major restoration initiative today, September 24, 2026, across the underground stormwater and tidal drainage vaults of the historic Galle Fort.

Built during the 17th-century Dutch colonial period, the subterranean brick network relies on natural tidal movements to flush urban runoff into the ocean. Engineers and heritage conservators are clearing centuries of silt accumulations and reinforcing collapsed masonry channels along Pedlar Street and Light House Street, preventing localized street inundation during monsoonal deluges while preserving the UNESCO World Heritage fortress's architectural integrity.