Galle Lighthouse, Colonial lighthouse in Galle, Sri Lanka

Galle Lighthouse is a white cylindrical tower built on the Point Utrecht Bastion inside Galle Fort, Sri Lanka. It stands at the entrance to the harbor and remains an active navigational aid for vessels approaching the coast.

The first lighthouse at Galle, a 24.4 m iron tower made from cast-iron plates imported from England, was designed by Alexander Gordon and erected in 1848 on the Utrecht Bastion. It was destroyed by fire in July 1936. The present 26.5 m concrete tower was built by the British about 100 m from the original site in 1939.

The lighthouse is operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and its light station is the oldest in the country. The original lantern used a glass prism lens floating in a bath of mercury to reduce friction, powered by a weight-driven machine. Visitors walking the ramparts can see the tower rising from the Point Utrecht Bastion.

The tower itself is not open to visitors inside, but the surrounding fort walls can be walked freely and offer clear views of the lighthouse and the sea beyond. Visiting in the early morning or late afternoon makes the walk along the ramparts more comfortable in the heat.

The tower rises from the bastion walls at about 20 feet (6 meters) above street level, which extends its reach over the sea without needing extra height in the structure itself. This was a deliberate choice to make use of the existing fortification as a natural platform.