King Rajasinghe’s request
Gasper Pigera managed to revive the Portuguese power that had been declining, within the span of a few months. During this time, King Rajasinghe had settled in Batugedara. A Portuguese army marched to Karantota. A request was made for
King Rajasinghe to take all his possessions and go to Kandy.
This request was made by a letter. The Portuguese were happy over this. It was a false demonstration that they made by making the king feel that he was allowed to take his army. The armies then went to Malwana and conquered land there. Meanwhile the Dutch conquered Kalutara once again and marched to Pasdun Korale.
Army contingents were sent to all the districts in Pasdun Korale to win the loyalty of the subjects, so that they could collect the spices. These armies stayed in Diyagama. Then the Portuguese marched to besiege them. Then the Dutch went to Kalutara, where they were joined by the Dutch army there.
All of them marched to fight against the Portuguese. They set up camp in Thenuwara and managed to fight a number of battles. Then the Dutch heard that the Portuguese were sending a huge army to besiege Galle. So the Dutch gave up Kalutara and marched to Galle to protect that post.
Taking this opportunity, the Portuguese stationed an army contingent in the fort of Kalutara with the intention of harming the Dutch interests. The Portuguese stationed another army contingent in Aluthgama. In the meantime, a huge convoy of five Portuguese ships, accompanied by naval officers, came to attack Galle. By that time, there were three ships blocking entry to Galle.
By Halaliye Karunathilake,
Edited and translated by Kamala Silva
Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila