1. The ships that sailed from Mallaca to Ormus and Persia, had to go round Ceylon. This is why the 'Yuvaraja' later thought it advisable to erect a fort in this country. So he requested the King of Portugal to do so. This 'Yuvaraja' was 'Dharma Parakramabahu' according to some scholars. Some others say there was no such ruler.

2. According to the Portuguese documents, there had been a Dharma Parakramabahu. He had engaged himself in a tussle for power with his brother Vijayabahu. From the time of their father King Veera Parakramabahu, Dharma Parakramabahu had enjoyed friendly relations with the Portuguese. Because of this, some of the citizens of Kotte did not like him.

3. Most people took the side of his brother, Vijayabahu. The Yuvaraja, Dharma Parakramabahu, sought the help of the Portuguese to defeat the brother. Letters were sent to the Viceroy in India, asking for a Portuguese army. This was a busy period for the Portuguese. They were erecting fortresses to chase away the Muslims from the Indian Ocean. These Muslims had come for trade, from Malacca, Aden and Ormus.

4. Malacca, which is situated between Sumatra and the Malay peninsula was a convenient centre for trade between China and India. The sea-route that ran across the Persian harbour to Basra extended up to Damascus. It is Ormus that protected even the caravan routes of the time.

5. It is from these places that the Venetian ships took the merchandise from India to European
markets. The port of Aden protected the sea-route up to the Suez Canal. Those days, camels were used for the transportation of goods. They carried these to Alexandria and from there to Venice. Because of these reasons, Malacca, Ormus and Aden were important places for Indian trade.

6. It is during this time, that the Viceroy of India changed. In place of Almeida, Alfonso de Albukerk became the new Viceroy. He intensified the military power of Goa and the adjoining towns which were under the Portuguese. He also strengthened the fortresses of Ormus and Malacca. Thereafter, the next Viceroy Leposorez de Alberg tried to capture Aden.

7. This attempt proved a failure. At this time, the Portuguese king ordered a fortress to be built in Ceylon. Thus in 1518 A.D., the new Viceroy came to Colombo. He too got caught to a storm and was washed ashore at Galle. When he landed in Galle, he had to wait there for a while. He then decided to build a fortress in Galle. But he changed his mind later.

8. In a few days, Viceroy Alberg came to Colombo. He sent a messenger to the king in Kotte, saying that he was here to build a fortress in Colombo. It is mentioned that King Dharma Parakramabahu then came to Colombo and met the Viceroy.