In 1505, Portuguese ships reached Sri Lanka and began building ties with the Kingdom of Kotte. Kotte’s ruler agreed to pay tribute to Portugal, opening the door to deeper Portuguese influence in coastal trade and politics.
In December 1510, the Portuguese captured Goa on India’s west coast and turned it into a major base for naval power and trade. This strengthened Portuguese ability to project force and manage commerce across the Indian Ocean, including toward Sri Lanka.
Around 1518, the Portuguese began building a stone fort at Colombo. A permanent fortified base helped protect shipping and gave Portugal a stronger position in local conflicts and diplomacy on the island’s west coast.
In 1521, a succession crisis known as the Vijayaba Kollaya split power in the Kotte realm and helped fuel rivalry with emerging inland forces. The fractured politics made Kotte more dependent on Portuguese support, increasing Portuguese leverage in the southwest.
In the mid-1500s, the Portuguese rebuilt and strengthened their fortifications at Colombo, turning the site into a key defensive and administrative center. Control of Colombo supported Portuguese collection of trade revenues and military operations along the western seaboard.
In 1559, forces from the Kingdom of Sitawaka won a major victory over Portuguese-led troops at the Battle of Mulleriyawa near Colombo. The defeat weakened Portuguese confidence outside their fortified areas and intensified warfare between coastal allies and inland rivals.
In 1565, repeated attacks forced Kotte’s king to abandon the inland capital and move to Colombo under Portuguese protection. This shift made Portuguese power more direct, because the king’s authority became tied to Portuguese forts and troops.
In 1580, King Dharmapala of Kotte was persuaded to transfer his kingdom to the Portuguese. This decision aimed to secure Portuguese backing but also set up a legal claim that Portugal later used to justify taking formal possession after his death.
From June 1587 to February 1588, Sitawaka forces besieged Portuguese-held Colombo. The Portuguese held the fortified city, showing how coastal forts and sea supply lines could blunt large inland armies.
After Dharmapala died in 1597, Portuguese officials gathered Sri Lankan chiefs at the Convention of Malvana, where the chiefs swore allegiance to the Portuguese king. The agreement promised respect for local laws and customs, while reinforcing Portugal’s claim to rule former Kotte lands.
In 1619, Portuguese forces defeated the last Jaffna ruler (Cankili II) and annexed the Jaffna kingdom. This expanded Portuguese control in the north and tightened their grip on key coastal routes, though inland resistance remained strong.
On 23 May 1638, the Kingdom of Kandy and the Dutch Republic (through the Dutch East India Company) signed a treaty to cooperate against the Portuguese. The alliance reflected Kandy’s goal of pushing out Portuguese coastal power, while the Dutch sought control of trade—especially cinnamon.
In 1640, Dutch forces, working with Kandyan support, captured Galle, a strategic southern port. Losing Galle reduced Portuguese access to the island’s cinnamon-producing regions and signaled that Portuguese coastal strongholds could be systematically taken.
After a long siege, Dutch forces captured Colombo on 12 May 1656, taking the main Portuguese base on the island. With Colombo lost, the Portuguese position fragmented into isolated northern outposts vulnerable to attack and blockade.
On 22 February 1658, the Dutch captured Mannar, an important fort and island gateway near the Jaffna peninsula. The defeat further cut Portuguese supply lines and set up the final reduction of remaining Portuguese-held territory in the north.
In June 1658, Dutch forces captured Jaffna, the last major Portuguese stronghold in Sri Lanka. This marked the end of Portuguese rule on the island and the start of Dutch control over most coastal areas, while Kandyan rule continued in the central highlands.
Portuguese rule in Sri Lanka (1505-1658)