The famous seaport was used by the colonial powers who controlled the maritime regions of Sri Lanka until the year 1875, when Colombo, with its re-constructed breakwaterGalle City and enlarged harbor, became the country's major port. Situated 116 km. from Colombo, Galle is reached by road or rail down the southwest coast. Taken from the Sinhala Kings in 1587 by the Portuguese who erected the first fortifications, Galle was laid siege to by the Dutch in 1640.