 In January 1599 the Portuguese erected a "tranqueira" (a wooden stockade) on the site.In 1603 the Portuguese were forced to withdraw from the area by the Kandyan forces.In 1626, under the supervision of the Portuguese Governor, Constantino de Sá de Noronha, the fort was upgraded and strengthened, the rectangular fortification was known as the "Forte Santa Fe" or the "Cidadela (Citadel) of Forte Cruz", it had four bastions on each corner, named Saõ Iago, Saõ Boa Ventura, Saõ Jorge and Saõ Pedro.